Quintessential American progressive pop-rock singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Todd Rundgren, one of the most influential and revered figures of the 70s and beyond, returns to Australia for a (curiously small scale) club tour in October. Todd’s band for the tour is super-fan guitarist Davey Lane (of You Am I fame) and his especially assembled outfit the Drunken Blue Roosters, also featuring Brett Wolfenden (drums), Tony Featherstone (keys) and Luke Hodgson (bass).
Prior to the shows, in Sydney, from October 22 to 24, hardcore Todd fans (and some Todd fans are seriously hardcore) will get the chance to spend some time with the man and his wife Michelle as they celebrate Todd’s 70th birthday with a three day camping event on Cockatoo Island and around Sydney. Called Todd-A-Roo for Australia, it’s the 4th and final occurrence of an event that has previously be known as ToddStock.
A semi-regular visitor this decade, Todd has been a seminally influential figure since his band the Nazz were the next big thing in 1968. His 70s solo albums, including classics like Runt, Something/Anything and A Wizard, A True Star are amongst the most revered records of the era, and his pop hits, “Hello It’s Me”, “I Saw The Light” and “Can We Still Be Friends” kept him in the mainstream eye. His group Utopia enabled him a sideline career from the mid-‘70s onwards that followed a more progressive path, although 1980s Deface The Music took an interesting and splendid turn into retro pop and Beatles pastiche.
Rundgren was also a major producer in the 70s, working with everyone from the Band and Jess Winchester to Badfinger to the New York Dolls to Patti Smith to – most famously of all – Meatloaf on the Bat Out of Hell album.
Todd was also famously a huge influence on Prince; as a multi-instrumentalist and producer, Todd played every instrument himself on some of his records, inspiring the purple one to do the same. His influence continues in more recent artists including Hot Chip and the Lemon Twigs.
Rundgren’s sublime ’72 track “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” is seen by many as a definitive song of the Power Pop genre, and this, together his production work with Power Pop heroes Badfinger, Cheap Trick and XTC, and covers of his tunes by the likes Big Star and Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, has seen Todd pigeon-holed as a Power Pop artist over the years, which is kind of crazy given the diversity of his output. However his bandleader for the Australian tour, Davey Lane, is something of Power Pop buff himself – his other favourites include the likes of Nick Lowe, the Move and of course the Beatles and the Who – so fans of the genre will definitely want to catch Todd on this tour.
Tour dates follow and to celebrate his return to our shores, ILYOS presents a handful of our Todd Rundgren favourites. For more Todd, have a listen to our Todd Rundgren Spotify playlist here.
Todd-A-Roo takes place in Sydney, October 22-24.
Todd Rundgren with Davey Lane’s Drunken Blue Roosters
October 25, Katoomba, Hotel Gearnins
October 26, Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
October 27, Melbourne, The Curtin Bandroom
October 31, Adelaide, Crown & Anchor
The Nazz - Open My Eyes
A highlight of Lenny Kaye’s seminal Nuggets compilation, and a high energy Power Pop precursor to rival any of the band’s influences, including the Who, this was a near hit for the great Philadelphia band that introduced Todd to the world in 1968.
Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
The classic hit from 1972’s Something/Anything.
Utopia – Couldn’t I Just Tell You
A great live TV version from 1978 of Todd’s hugely influential 1972 track, also originally from Something/Anything. Dig Todd’s wry intro “This is an example of the latest musical trend. It’s called Power Pop.”
Todd Rundgren – Love of the Common Man
A fabulous live version – the audio from this filmed performance was used on the great live album Back to the Bars
Todd Rundgren – Can We Still Be Friends
A smash Australian hit in 1978.
Utopia – For The Very Last Time
A more contemporary Power Pop-style track from Utopia’s 1979 album Adventures in Utopia.
Utopia – I Just Want to Touch You
From their fab 1980 Beatles pastiche Deface the Music.
