HE’S a wizard, a true star, a songwriter, video pioneer, producer and even a computer software developer – he’s Todd Rundgren and he’s on his way to Twin Towns this week.
With a career spanning four decades, Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music.
His band includes keyboard master John Ferenzik (Jefferson Starship, Todd Rundgren), guitarist and former Guitar Player Magazine editor Jesse Gress, drummer Prarie Prince (The New Cars, The Tubes, Jefferson Starship) and on bass Kasim Sultan (Blue Oyster Cult, The New Cars, Utopia).
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential ’60s cult group.
In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the legendary Runt. But it was 1972’s seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him ‘Rock’s New Wunderkind’. It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and A Wizard, A True Star, as well as such hit singles as I Saw The Light, Hello It’s Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum.
In 1974, Todd formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship, and embarked on an extensive round of touring and recording. Standout Utopia offerings included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion. Along the way, Utopia combined technical virtuosity and creative passion to create music that, for millions, defined the term “progressive rock.”
Rundgren’s myriad production projects include albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, and Hall And Oates. Rounding out his reputation as rock’s Renaissance Man, Rundgren composed all the music and lyrics for Joe Papp’s 1989 Off-Broadway production of Joe Orton’s Up Against It (the screenplay commisioned by The Beatles for what was meant to have been their third motion picture).
Early last year Rundgren performed his iconic 1973 album A Wizard A True Star in concert for the first time ever.
And not one to rest on his laurels, Todd Rundgren has released a new studio album State on the Esoteric Antenna label.
It’s his 24th solo studio album (and that’s not including the two albums he recorded with his first band The Nazz, and the nine albums he recorded with his band Utopia).
His latest musical vision is a fusion of rock, soul, r’n’b and electronica that is at once danceable, ground-breaking, spiritual, challenging and infectious.
Who: Todd Rundgren
Where: Twin Towns
When: Saturday, 27 July
Interested?: Tickets via venue box office on 1800 014 014
