Conference mr1pst::music

                       <<< Note 55.0 by FORTSC::CHABAN >>>
                           -< Todd Rundgren/Utopia >-

>    is sponsoring a Utopia tour.  Rog says the boys will rehearse for two weeks
>    and head for Tokyo in March.  He's hoping there might be a record in the
>    works.  
    
Hey Ed,  any word on an American tour?  

thanks,
bob

    
    Nope.  Rog says that they might do a club gig or two here in CA before they
    leave.  The problem is finding someone to finance a US tour.  If they do
    another album (and if it is distributed in the US) you might see a tour.
    
    
    -Ed
    

California Todd fans:  This word from a friend on the net...

Outstanding news.  Todd will be playing at the Rheem Theatre
in Moraga Friday, December 27th and Saturday, December 28th.
I just returned with my tickets from Bass.  I got first row seats -
center stage!  You can score too.  Tickets are available at Bass 
right now for $27.50 plus the service charge.  Haven't heard
who he's playing with.

The Rheem Theatre is quite comfortable (even cushion seats),
it has plenty of parking, and it's in a good neighborhood.

Todd finally goes over the 
east bay hills for a show.  What a great Christmas present!

    The ad says "Second Wind Tour" I'll ask Rog if he knows anything.
    
    -Ed
    

    
    I saw a blurb in the Sunday entertainment section of the S.F. Chronicle.
    Rhino has just released an 18 track CD called:
    
    	"An Elpees Worth Of Productions"
    
    Tunes by XTC, Meatloaf, New York Dolls, The Tubes, Patti Smith etc.
    
    Produced by guess who?
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Utopia at One Step Beyond in Santa Clara CA May 3rd.  Warmup gig for
    upcoming Japanese tour.  Roger clued me in last night.
    
    -Ed
    

	Ed, any chance of Utopia recording or releasing a new album,
	live or otherwise, in conjunction with this tour?  Have they
	written or are they performing any new material?  Do you have
	any idea what the setlist looks like?

	This is the most exciting news I can think of.  How long has it
	been since their last live performance?  Must be 6 years or so.

	Now, if only I could win the lottery between now and May 3rd.
	Although I imagine it will be very difficult to get tickets to
	this show. 

    
    No new material as far as I know.  Roger isn't saying much about record 
    deals although I suspect the guys might be interested since they don't
    have a contract with any labels at this point (excluding any deals with
    Rhino)
    
    Rog and I spent most of the time talking about the promotional deal and
    free equipment he's got with Kurzweil.  He thinks this synth is awesome.
    
    I'll keep you informed.
    
    -Ed
    

	Word has it that Todd will appear with Ringo Starr on David
	Letterman this Friday night, along with other members of the
	All-Starr Band - Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, and Burt Cummings.
	Should be a great jam!

    
    Went to One Step Beyond last night and caught the gig.  The guys
    sounded *GREAT*!! OSB is a horrible venue to play,  but the people
    behind the board did a hell of a good job with the mix.  
    
    The highlight of the evening was a rendition of "Hiroshima" from
    "RA".  Todd commented that they were debating whether to play it 
    in Japan.
    
    -Ed
    

	Ed,
	Any chance they would appear on the Dennis Miller show?  I heard
	a rumour they were slated for last Friday, but no soap.

	How much of the set list can you remember?  Please post if you
	can, thanks!

	Tom

    
    Re: Dennis Miller, dunno.
    
    Setlist (subject to faulty memory and not in order)
    
    Itch In My Brain
    Zen Machine
    Play This Game
    Swing To The Right
    Only Human
    The Ikon (abridged version)
    Caravan
    Back On The Street
    Trapped
    Love Is The Answer
    Princess Of The Universe
    Just One Victory 
    One World
    Hiroshima
    Abandon City
    
    
    -Ed
    

        <<< Note 55.12 by FORTSC::CHABAN "Only you can prevent VMS!" >>>
>>    Setlist (subject to faulty memory and not in order)
  
Wow!   Looks like a fun show.  A "greatest hits" tour....
Ed, do you know if they played anything new?

So when's Todd coming back 'round these parts?  
This west coast stuff is for the birds :)

bob

    
    Can't say.  The key is funding.  If they have to finance a tour out of
    their own pockets it won't happen.  Financing is difficult because Todd
    has no contract with any label at this time (Boycott Warner Bros.!)
    
    Hopefully the Japanese company funding this tour has US operations too!
    
    -Ed
    

    
    
    Anyone know who did the remake of "I Saw The Light"?  
    
    I remember hearing it a long time ago and thought it was OK.
    
    -Ed
    

	Could it be "Mood 6"?

Are we talking about the Hank Williams gospel song here?

    Re: .17
    
    Yer kiddin' right?  Obviously not a Toddophile  8^)  8^)
    
    						Brian

	June 22 - the date of the Ringo Starr date at Great Woods in
	Massachusetts - happens to be Todd Rundgren's birthday!

	Any other Todd fans on the net planning on being at this show?

>>	Any other Todd fans on the net planning on being at this show?


I thought about going but wasn't sure if what Todd would be doing.  What
I mean is I am not too interested in Ringo or some of the others but if Todd
and Nils were going to be featured, well I'd probably go.

Any ideas how this tour will work?
thanks
bob

    
    everybody gets their turn at headlining. Expect Todd to do Todd, Joe
    Walsh to do jw, timmy schmitt eagles,poco, etc, etc..

So did anyone go to the show last night (Ringo's All Starr Band)...

Did each all star do an individual "set" ?  If so, how was Todd's and what 
did he do?  Sing, play guitar (doubt that considering Walsh and Lofgren)....??

thanks!
bob

I went to last night's show. While maybe not *great*, it was quite enjoyable.
Here's a breakdown of some of the songs:

Burton Cummings: No Time, These Eyes, America Woman
Todd Rundgren: Bang On The Drum, Black Maria
Dave Edmunds: Girl's Talk, I Hear You Knocking
Joe Walsh: In The City, Desperado, one other I didn't recognize
Nils Lofgren: Shining Brightly, Cry Just A Little Bit (the Beau Brummels song)
Timothy B. Schmidt: I Can't Tell You Why, old Poco song I forget the title to
Jimmy Cipaldo (sp? the sax/keyboard player): song I didn't recognize

Ringo: Sixteen, Act Naturally, The No-No Song, Yellow Submarine, With A Little
       Help From My Friends, Weight Of The World, couple other

I was disappointed he didn't do "It Don't Come Easy", easily my favorite
song from Ringo.

The sound was a little muddy when everyone was playing, which was most of
the time. They tried to mix in all 4 guitarist at the same time, plus
keys and percussion, and it wasn't that crisp of a sound. But when they
pared down to smaller units, it sounded a lot better. Overall, it was just
a real *fun* show to be at!

alan

    
    Todd is doing a benefit gig at Shoreline Ampetheatre in Mountain View 
    CA.  There are a number of other acts on the bill.  The proceeds are
    going to support programs that help Native Americans. 
    
    Oh the gig is on October 11th.
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Todd is doing another benefit gig w/ Kantner's Starship this weekend.
    I might attend if I can get some cheap seats.
    
    -Ed
    

    
    	Has anyone heard of, or know of, a TR or Utopia Box set?
    
    
    
    					fred deady

    Hi, fred -

    Rhino is planning a TR/Utopia rarities cd that will contain a number
    of B-sides and unreleased songs that have not been generally 
    available, perhaps including:

Umbrella Man                    B-side to Set Me Free single.
Madmen and Metal Machines       Didn't make final press of Adventures.
                                Don't know if it was actually a B-side.
Special Interest                Didn't make the Network album.
God 'N Me                       Didn't make Swing.
Man of Action                   On POV CD, but not LP.

    I think that a box set is also in the works, but I'm not sure
    the relation between that and a rarities release.

    Also in the works (this is a very exciting year for Todd fans)
    is the new album (due to be released in Japan this month), a
    video & cd of the Utopia reunion gig(s) in Japan this past summer;
    a re-release of the very hard to find Ever Popular Tortured
    Artist Effect (and Videosyncracy? and Utopia Live at the Royal Oak?) 
    video(s) on BMG; 

    and... I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE... a tour.  Personally, I'm betting & hoping
    it'll be something like the "Am I President Yet?" tour in '87:  just
    the man, the machine(s), and the music.  For my $, the most enjoyable
    version of TR.


    Tom

    
    Tom,
    
    	Thanks for the detailed info. I was wondering what TR was up to
    these days. The last I had heard his "label", Warner I think, had not
    re-newed his contract. I had always thought the Bearsville label was 
    his own. Funny how music video has taken off ie. MTV, VH-1, and I have
    not seen a Todd Rundgren or Utopia video. Todd was very active in the
    mid-late seventies in pioneering "music videos".
    
    
    			thanks again,
    				fred deady

    fred, you're welcome.  it's always fun talking todd.

>    his own. Funny how music video has taken off ie. MTV, VH-1, and I have
>    not seen a Todd Rundgren or Utopia video. Todd was very active in the
>    mid-late seventies in pioneering "music videos".
>
    You should see some of them!  They are pretty primitive by today's
    standards but he was definitely out front on this, I think he likes
    taking advantage of and experimenting with the latest technology
    (he's been quoted as saying that if he weren't a musician he
    would have probably been a software engineer) but then he grows
    tired of it and moves on.  Right now, the new album is a CD-I
    (CD-Interactive) disc which - if you have one of the new Philips
    players - allows you to mix your own version of the album.  Sounds
    neat, huh?

    
    Tom I think I have found the RHINO CD you mentioned. I was rootin'
    around a local CD shop and found  the following;
    
    	Todd Rundgren Anthology (1968-1985)
    
    Disc 1
    	Open My Eyes			Nazz
    	We Gotta Get You a Woman        Runt
    	Wailing Wall			Runt
    	Be Nice To Me			Runt
    	Hello It's Me			S/A
    	I Saw The Light			S/A
    	It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference	S/A
    	Couldn't I Just Tell You	S/A
    	Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel	AWATS
    	Just One Victory		AWATS
    	A Dream Goes On Forever		Todd
    	The Last Ride			Todd
    	Don't You Ever Learn?	Todd
    
    Disk 2
    	Real Man			Initiations
    	Black And White			Faithful
    	Love Of The Common Man		Faithful
    	Cliche				Faithful
    	All The Children Sing		HOMH
    	Can We Still Be Friends		HOMH
    	You Cried Wolf			HOMH
    	Time Heals			Healing
    	Compassion			Healing
    	Hideaway			TEPTAE
    	Bang The Drum All Day		TEPTAE
    	Drive				TEPTAE
    	Johnee Jingo			Cappella
    	Something To Fall Back On	Cappella
    
    The liners also mention a "Utopia Anthology (1974-1985)". Both are on
    the RHINO label.
    
    				fred	

    Oh yeah, these discs are a great collection, I didn't realize
    that might have been what you were referring to or asking about.
    Shoulda thot of that...

    At any rate I think a rarities package is still sort of being planned.
    Dunno about any further packages of the mega variety.


    Tom

    
    Talked to Roger again last night.  Seems like the stuff from the Japan 
    tour will be coming out on Rhino next month.  There is a CD and a
    Video.   I'll be having some beers with him this weekend and will fill
    y'all in later.
    
    -Ed
    

    "No World Order" - Todd's new album - is out in Japan, and due
    to be released in the U.S. on Rhino this summer sometime.  Also,
    the CD-I version is to be released by Philips.

    "No World Order" is an awesome disc.

    
    Tom,  
    
    Have you heard it yet?  Is "Jesse" on it?
    
    -Ed
    

    Yeah, it's a great record.  "Jesse" is not on it.  Stay 
    tuned for a review.  p.s. Word is it is selling very well
    in Japan.  The importer I spoke with yesterday said it's
    flying off the shelves.  

    
    Hmmm.. You saying it is being imported to the states?  What label is
    it on?
    
    -Ed
    

    "No World Order" (non-interactive version) is on the Pony Canyon label
    in Japan. It is to be released on Rhino here in the States (I think in 
    June). Philips (makers of the Dream Machine, I think that's what they
    call their interactive CD player) is releasing the CD-I version
    of "No World Order" around the same time, and everybody (TR-I included)
    is supposedly doing a big promo thing this summer, including visits
    to electronics stores and so forth.

    The new album is the first totally-Todd work since 1985's "A Cappella".
    It has a strong disco-type beat, strong bass guitar, some "rap" flavor,
    and the usual catchy hooks, erudite lyrics, and lush production values.
    Guitar solos are back.

    The album is said to be selling extremely well in Japan.  If he aimed
    it at any audience at all, I would say it's the synth-pop-industrial-
    new-music crowd.

The grokster leads off a front page story in the March 8 USA Today,
titled "CD Player Allows User to Join In".  It's a good-sized
article about CD-I (Compact Disk Interactive), and notes that
the CD-I players are selling much better than CD players did
when first introduced.  Here's the first few paragraphs:

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. - Todd Rundgren, long hair streaked in
three or four shades of blond, is showing off his groundbreaking
next album at the Home Media Expo.

"My mission," the rocker says, "is to expand the experience of
listening to music."

His 'No World Order,' the first interactive audio CD, has 1,500
tiny musical parts the listener can assemble using a simple
remote control.

It may sound odd, but this new technology is poised to take home
entertainment on its wildest ride since the VCR.

- - -

"A few artists feel threatened by the public messing with their
music," says producer Thomas Dolby.  "A few are rising to the
challenge."

- - -

The article notes that Peter Gabriel is working on a
CD-I disk with videos.  

         <<< Note 55.38 by RANGER::WESTERVELT "just a state of mind" >>>

>>    Guitar solos are back.

Great!  I thought they were gone for good.

bob

    
    BTW, anyone seen the import in stores yet?  I don't wanna wait for 
    the Rhino release.
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Todd on Letterman tonight.
    
    -Ed
    

    ...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TODD.....I wish I was in NY tonight, I'd LOVE to see
    TODD , especially on his 45th birthday....I'm going home to play
    TODD all night on the box...hey, why don't we all play Todd..maybe
    we generate enough db's to send some Todd into space!!!!
    
    Happy Birthday, TODD!!!!!!
    
    mac
    

    
    Ha ha!  maybe a wee taste of "No World Order" tonight!!
    
    

    Well, I stayed up to watch/tape Todd on Late Night, but he was not
    announced as being on, either by the announcer, or Dave....so I didn't
    leave my tape going, and crashed....
    
    was he on anyway ??

    ...i fast-forwarded thru most of my tape of the show..never saw hide
    nor hair of Todd.....anyone else have any info on this???
    
     oh, well...i still palyed TODD all night for his B'Day...
    
    mac
    
    

    bummer, eh ??!!
    
    and I'm listening to "Nearly Human" right now...

    
    I'm blasting "One World" from the new live album.  Got a verbal offer
    for a new job with DEC after getting served with TFSO papers last week.
    
    I WANNA PARTY!!!!
    
    -Ed
    

    RE: last
    
    a new live album ??   I don't remember hearing about that...can you
    give us some details ??    what's the name, is it out ??  all that...
    
    also, any update on when "No World Order" will be released in US ??
    
    thanx
    
    Wes

    
    Utopia Live In Japan on Rhino.  Frankly, not the best live gig I've
    heard, but certainly passable.  The mix has a little too much reverb
    for my taste.  There is also a Video of the concert on BMG video.
    
    Todd's comments in the liner notes for the CD seem to indicate he was 
    not satisfied with the performance either.  My take is that someone
    in Japan was willing to spin tape at a certain venue in exchange for 
    Japanese distribution rights.  Like the "Royal Oak" gig, Utopia got
    the US rights.
    
    I think "No World Order" comes out next month.  
    
    -Ed           

    "No World Order" is out.

    Also, on July 29 at Lechmere in Boston Todd Rundgren will
    appear to demo cd-i technology and promote NWO.

    
    Great, now I hope Blockbuster will rent the CDI version (They already 
    rent CDI machines).  
    
    -Ed_who_can't_justify_getting_a_CDI_machine........yet.
    
    

    
    
    Went out and got NWO today.  FINALLY a TR disc I can put on for a party
    and not have someone complain.  The rapping is not overdone and the
    whole disk is lush and includes sufficient "Rundgrenisms" to convince
    me this is not just a blatant commercial effort.
    
    I'll bet that WB wishes they had not terminated the wizard's contract.
    
    The only complaint I have is that there are no lyrics printed on the
    sleeve.
    
    I especially like the quote of "Lost Horizon" in "Love Thing" and "No
    World Order" I wonder if it is a sample or the actual MIDI data?
    
    Review follows:
    
    You cannot talk about this album in terms of tracks especially if you
    are lucky enought to to have a CDI unit.
    
    The first thing that hits me about this disc is the LUSHNESS of the
    production.  This is a DANCE album.  Too bad Todd took so long to do
    one.  If you have a copy of the "Lost In The Stars" collection where
    Todd does his dance version of "Call From The Grave" from
    _Threepenny_Opera_ you'll have an idea what this album is about. 
    
    In addition to the apocalyptic lyrics combined with "party" rhythms and
    riffs, Todd's philly soul roots shine through.  This disc has SOUL!
    
    Todd takes shots at all his favorite targets: Religious
    fundimentalists, Yuppie scumbag businessmen, jealous lovers.  The
    difference here is that your mindless non-Toddhead friends can listen
    to the disc and comment about it being a great party album.  I can just
    see someone reviewing it American Bandstand:
    
    "It has a great beat!"
    
    
    

    amen!  (-.1)  Give it up one more time for the King of Soul!

    re: .29, Bearsville
    
    Bearsville was owned by manager Albert Grossman and was largely
    populated by acts he managed.  When Grossman died, the label fell apart
    rapidly.  It was always a custom label, anyway...Ampex distributed it
    at first until they faded out themselves, then Warners took over
    distribution.  
    
    Rhino has been reissuing some Bearsville stuff (NRBQ, Jesse Winchester,
    Todd) but I don't know if they actually bought the masters or are just
    licensing them.
    
    						Brian

    
    Seems "Lockjaw" is quoted in "Facist Christ" too.  I think I hear the
    opening riff from "Drive" in "Word Made Flesh" truly a headbanger.
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Killer Bees finally make it to Tokyo....
    Juliet never made it with Romeo.....
    
    

  But check out the video later
  Terminator III's gonna preview the next fifty years or so!

    Do I love this.  Todd Rundgren on the Howard Stern Show July 23.

    
    Damn.  Is Stern's show national yet?  Is there a Bay Area station that
    carries it?
    
    -Ed
    

    Stern is in New York, Philly, Dallas, LA, Wash DC that I know of.  I'm
    pretty sure he is not in SF.....yet!
    
    KRock is playing "best of Howard Stern" this week while he's on vacation...
    ..some really classic "roast Richard Simmons" stuff was on earlier.
    
    sd

>KRock is playing "best of Howard Stern" this week while he's on vacation...

Gee, how can you tell whether it's the "best of Howard" or if the tower has
stopped broadcasting??? <evil g>

    
San Jose KOME FM 98.5 broadcasts into S.F., although I understand somewhat
weakly.  The show airs at 6 a.m. on tape-delay.  I guess that means Friday's
show shows up Monday morning, but I'll let you tell me for sure.

Tom

    
    Hmmm...
    
    I thought you were talking about Stern's TV show.  I'll be listenin'
    tho...
    
    -Ed
    

    Howard Stern's interview program on TV is broadcast on the E! network.
    I haven't heard that Todd has any plans for that.  He'll probably get
    roasted enough on the radio show.  I'm looking forward to hearing the
    interactions.

    Today's Best of HS tape was the James Taylor interview.  Howard was
    really kissing up to JT.  What a voice, what tone!  Joe Walsh walked in
    uninvited at the end...they played a tune together.
    
    FWIW
    
    sd

    Stern=Ass_Munch.    Nuff_Said.
    
    Todd Produced Paul Shaffer's new Double_CD Album.It's a Cover of
    A_Bunch of Party_Tunes done by Paul and his Usual_Band(With Some
    Guests).
    
                       Crazy_Stern_Will_Burn_Al

    
    Ok, anyone hear the Howard Stern show?
    
    -Ed
    

    Yeah,
    
    Todd handled HS pretty well.  Of course Howard seems to kiss up to all
    his musical guests.  Todd seemed pretty shy about playing live, and
    Howard is always whiny about making his guests play their 'best hits'....
    
    The thing I hate about Stern's interviews with musicians (and others)
    is he won't shut up lonf enough to let them answer a questionb or play
    a tune......
    
    Steve

    
    I heard Todd got a little annoyed when Stern pressed him about his love
    life and his living situation.
    
    is this true?
    
    -Ed
    

    >I heard Todd got a little annoyed when Stern pressed him about his love
    >life and his living situation.
    
    I dunno if annoyed is the right word.  I thought Rundgren did a
    masterful job at revealing just what he wanted to and no more, without
    Stern giving him a hard time....Todd was pretty quiet about his love
    life.
    
    steve

    
    I caught a glimse of Todd & Michelle's young 'un before Utopia left for
    Japan.  Cute kid.  Rex & Randy are big boys now.  As much as I like
    Todd, I gotta admit his living arrangements are kinda weird.
    
    -Ed
    

>     I thought Rundgren did a
>    masterful job at revealing just what he wanted to and no more, without
>    Stern giving him a hard time.

    I agree.  I think Howard was more impressed with Todd than he 
    expected to be.  HS really had no idea what Todd has been up
    to (like most folks) lately.  You could see how disconnected
    Todd is from his "hits", he couldn't even remember how to play
    them.  He should have played Jesse as intended (Howard would
    have *loved* it but doesn't realize that) but perhaps that was
    just a bluff anyway.

    All in all, I thought it was fun but not overly informative.    
    I enjoyed the fact that two of the studio techs professed to    
    being TR fans.  

    Todd Rundgren will be doing an in-store appearance at
    Lechmere in the Cambridgeside (MA) Galleria on
    Thursday July 29 at 6pm.
    

    According to my information, Todd will also do an interview
    with WBCN which will be aired tomorrow night following The
    Howard Stern Show (which ends somewhere around 11 p.m.).

    Today's Boston Globe carries a review of No World Order.

    
    Whaddey say?
    
    

    I personally haven't read the review yet, but here's a bits & pieces
    summary from someone who did:


 - At first sign (listen) he may lose people
 - The music is primarily created via computer, with recurring sound bytes
 - Thankfully, Rundgren also sings
 - His Pop shines in "Property" and plays one of the album's two guitar solos
 - "Fascist Christ" also stands out
 - "Day Job" high speed rap on the rat race
 - Seductive echos of Rundgren's past work, along with obtuse new horizons
 - This dense disc still may be a tall order, even for Todd fans

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A quick posting on Todd's appearance last night (29-Jul) at Lechmere's in 
Cambridge, MA.

He appeared a few minutes after 6 p.m.  I don't know how many folks
were clustered there by the entrance to the store (in the mall hallway)
because I sat right up front on the floor to take pictures.  (A
woman sitting next to me videotaped the whole thing, too.)

Todd appeared to loud applause after a (Philips?) rep explained the
format and that there would be a drawing immediately at the conclusion
of the presentation for a CD-I player.  Todd was dressed casually including
a "Blow Me" hat.  :-)  He was in his usual good spirits with a good sense
of humor.  There were large screen TV's displaying the UI for the CD-I
player.  Todd immediately proceeded to demo the material.  Most of you
know something about this.  He spoke for about 30 minutes.  He played
parts of the Don Was, Jerry Harrison, etc. mixes which will be available
on the CD-I.

What few tidbits can I recall?  The tour will start in Sept. and will
hit this part of the country in November.  (crowd cheers).  Todd says
it will be performed in the round, he will have a guitar and lots of
computer/lighting stuff.  There will be some form of audience interactivity
but of course he won't say what.  I don't think he's decided.  He said
"come prepared to dance".

During the Q&A session, he said the music needs to be re-arrangeable
(in 4-bar segments, in this case).  It does not lend itself to story-lines
with a beginning middle and end.  It is not clear how this will affect
his songwriting (I for one am curious).  He does intend to stick with this
medium for a while.  He does expect to put most
of his past material into the musical database, at some point.  Someone
asked what he sampled for this album and he gave the usual answers
(Initiation, AWATS, A Capella, a few others).  

The "scribbling" segment (as he put it) was great fun.  I managed to
get an autograph for myself as well as a friend who couldn't make it,
but I did piss off the company rep.  Todd said "see what you did to him". :-)
He was great and the line was long and people tried to snap photos
as quickly as possible while the rep/cop kept reminding people "one
autograph per person, please tell Todd your name as soon as you get
to the table".  They really did have to do this or Todd would have
never gotten out of the place.  I saw him sign someone's pants.  I
had him sign an ad for "Be Nice To Me" which appeared in Record World
in 1971.  He said "this is nice!", which I dug.  I will be framing it.

In the evening he spent 90 minutes on WBCN demo'ing the technology.
I have only listened to about half of this so far.  It's very interesting.

    Well, Tom sums it up rather nicely, I'll add a few comments. I'm a
    relatively "new" Todd "fan", I've always liked any material I'd heard
    from him, but never (for some reason) went out and bought any. Well,
    since I've come to know Tom W. well, he's turned me onto Todd in a big
    way, and I'm becoming a very interested fan buying his backlog of CD's
    etc...
    
    I saw Todd with Ringo's band last year, but never Todd alone. This was
    an interesting first experience to see Todd up close and personal, for
    both myself and my fiancee' Karen. Tom and some other Todd-heads (is
    there another term ??) have told me about how cool Todd is, and how
    nice of a guy he really is...well, from his presentation, I could sense
    that the guy is in complete control, and would be very approachable,
    and seems to be giving of his time. 
    
    Well, we were in the autograph line, and Todd signed a 45 sleeve for
    "Parallel Lines" for KAren and the CD cover to "No World Order" for
    me,and you could tell that he is a cool guy, and if you ran into him in
    a hotel lobby or something, he'd probably stop and have a chat with
    you, if you didn't keep him all day, of course, but we have some
    pictures (a whole roll actually) of the presentation, and Todd signing
    Karen's 45 sleeve, and Todd was not "posing" for pictures, but he gave
    me a look and a funny smirk on his face for one shot.
    
    I'm more of a fan than ever, and will continue to dig into his history.
    I even sing "I Saw The Light" with my band, and hopefully we'll do
    another Todd toooon.
    
    Catch this show in November, it should be quite the concert
    experience!! 
    
    Wes

    
    Anyone else of the opinion Digital Management needs to take a good hard
    listen to Todd's "Love Of The Common Man"?
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Corporate Crybaby
    I been wiser
    I'm a whole lot older
    Feeling bolder
    Suckin up to next stockholder
    With a golden parachute slung over your shoulder
    Jacked-up B-Boy
    Another fool got stuck in whirlpool
    Looking for a fast break
    Not enough cake to go round
    'Nother brother goes down
    Now he's out of the gene pool.
    ...
    Don't quit your day job!
    Don't quit your day job!
    Don't quit your day job!
    Don't quit your day job!
    
    

    Well, fans, dig out your dancin' shoes because the Tour has begun!
    Somewhere, at least...  Tickets went on sale Saturday for "An
    Evening of Interactivity with Todd Rundgren" Oct 9 at a Seattle
    club called "Under the Rail".  I am guessing TR-I will hit the
    chilly shores of Boston a couple of weeks into November.  Get
    psyched!  (And no, I haven't quit my day job yet... although
    I might not show up that day!)  FEET DON'T FAIL ME NOW

    TR plays Fairmont Hotel's Grand Ballroom in San Francisco Oct 13.

    Whoops.  That date was scheduled then cancelled due to technical
    difficulties.  Due to happen in November.

All dates are TENTATIVE.  Don't even bother to call the venue now.
Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster.

November    16	    Seattle
	    18	    Portland
	    20	    Denver
	    22	    Minneapolis
	    23,24   Chicago
	    27	    Milwaukee
	    30	    Toronto
December     1	    Montreal
	     3	    Boston
	     4	    New York
	     6	    Philly
	     8	    Columbus
	     9	    Detroit
	    11,12   Cleveland
	    14	    Kansas City
	    16	    Dallas
	    17	    Houston
	    20	    Phoenix

More dates in January and February.

    
    Picked up what I think was a Fan_Club-Produced CD called
    "For The Love Of Todd - A Tribute To Todd Rundgren"
    
    a bunch of unknowns doing covers of various toons.  The performances
    range from pitiful to so-so.
    
    Nice rendition of "Broke Down & Busted" tho...
    
    -Ed
    
    

    TR fans may be interested in the following offering:

>
>       ATTENTION TODD RUNDGREN FANS
>
>       Available November 16th!
>
>       TODD RUNDGREN - THE DESKTOP COLLECTION
>
>       Six incredible computer enhanced videos:
>       "The Want of a Nail," "Theology," "Change Myself,"
>       "Our Friend, The Brain,"  "Fascist Christ" (with
>       interview footage), and "Property."  Includes liner
>       notes written by Todd!
>       Selection # R-2885.  $14.98.  VHS Only.


        SPECTRUM MUSIC VIDEO
        P.O. BOX 1128
        NORRISTOWN, PA 19404

        Phone:  (800)84-MUSIC
        Fax:    (215)272-6074


(Presented as a public service!)

    
    I assume this could also have been titled:
    "The Stuff MTV Is Too Shallow To Play"
    
    Why is this not on BMG or Rhino video?  Any hopw of getting this thing
    at Tower Records?
    
    -Ed
    

    I think it is in fact on Rhino, being distributed (or sold)
    in this case by Spectrum.  For all I know, your local
    Strawberries might stock a whole copy.  (But I wouldn't
    hold my breath).

    The Property and Fascist Christ videos are cool.  

    Great vid, Ed did you see it yet?  

    The "Theology" video was long-heard of but not seen till now.
    I am not sure of its origin but its theme is consistent with
    Todd's ruminations on religion 'n stuff... way cool graphics.
    In fact, I think it compares favorably with the best of
    computer animation available today.  Most folks would be 
    surprised (I was) at the level of sophistication.  

    plus... only 10 days to TR in Boston!

It's quite well known among Amiga owners that Todd is a longtime enthusiastic
user of the machine. He reportedly has quite a *stable* of them, often in
fulltime use by Todd and his video team.

They really do topnotch stuff. (Oh yeah, the music ain't 'arf bad either...)

Bob

    
    Nope.  Gotta go to Tower today and see if they have it.  Roger was
    telling me about the "Theology" stuff about a year ago.  Glad to see it
    has seen the light of day.
    
    -Ed
    

    "Theology" is wicked cool.	8^)   Ed, Please ask Roger about its
    origin.  I understand he and Todd worked on it together, but that's
    all I heard.  Anything you can glean and tell us about how and why
    and under what circumstances they put it together would be greatly
    appreciated.  Who did what, etc. and so forth.

    (3 days and counting to TR-I in Beantown...)

    I'm not a fan, but I just saw the Fascist Christ video the other day,
    and thought it was *very* funny!!  :-)
    
    Lorna
    

    Yeah, some great images in there.  I like where he shoots the
    gun at the camera.  The dancing crosses and all the preacher
    outfits are fun too.

    gimme that old time religion!

    
    Plunked down my ~$14.00 for a copy last night.  This is how I wish
    all of TRs videos looked.  Is it me or did Todd look like he had a few
    before the interview at the end?
    
    -Ed
    

    The Desktop Collection is a must for TR-I fans, even us newer fans !!!
    
    Well Ed, when we met Todd in Boston this past July, he sorta looked the
    same, and it is hard to tell behind those glasses !!!
    
    PSYCHED for tomorrow night's show 

    
    Ooh!!!
    
    Please post the tour dates from the program you get at the show!!
    
    I get the feeling he'll finish up here in SF.
    
    -Ed
    

    TODD tonight !!!     taking the afternoon off, get into that TODD frame
    of mind for our first TODD concert (not counting Ringo).
    
    heard he played You've Got to Hide Your Love Away acoustically in
    Chicago, should be interesting to see what he does acoustic this
    evening
    
    Deaf and dumb in L.A., hiding in Africa

    
    Q magazine has a review of the newly released "Ringo Starr Allstar
    Band" live CD. In general it gets a favourable response possibly more
    for the novelty value than anything else. Of the individual
    contributions Todds "Bang the Drum" and "Black Maria" were seen as the 
    high spots with little Nils also getting a good reaction. Least liked
    was Joe Walshs Eagles number (can't remember what it was for now).
    Has this been released in the US yet?
    
    Derek.
     

    The interview segment at the back of "The Desktop Collection" is
    weird, but I think intentionally so.  Todd adopts some kind of
    a computer persona, I think, for the kick of it.  He answers    
    the questions in a monotone, and as if reading off a cue card.
    I think is a conscious stylistic thing.  Compare the interview in
    "Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect", he is similarly deadpan.

    My favorite cut on the Desktop Collection is "Our Friend the Brain".

    Just back from two shows, Boston and NY.  Will note some reactions
    later. 

From the two weekend shows just passed:

I've included the Boston and New York set lists.  As you can see,
Todd played a bit longer in Boston - and I would say with more feeling.
I've also read the Boston Globe review which was pretty positive but
mostly trod the party line about Todd - innovative, confusing.  The
critic wrote that fans had puzzled faces but I think it must have been
him instead - the new music obviously came as quite a surprise to him.
Less so to the fans, I would guess.  But I do agree with the reviewer
that Todd probably was making a real effort to appeal to the pop music
crowd by doing this style of music.  

Now, a few comments of my own.  The concerts are really not shows in
the traditional sense but they are more like a party thrown by Todd -
with Todd providing the music and generally festive atmosphere.  I
was fortunate enough to stand right up front - and it is only those
right up front who really have the opportunity to dance on the stage.
[And see his new purple shoes he bought in Boston!]

Todd started with groundrules, which included the now famous injunction
"don't steal my shit!".  Unfortuntely, several in Boston ignored this
request and had to be cajoled into giving back 3 drumsticks near the end
of the show when Todd needed to do Bang On the Drum.  Todd then apologized
for berating the crowd and even let one of the folks have the stick back
after the song.  But in New York, he said "if you steal my shit security
will escort you out!"  Later in New York he said "thanks for not stealing
my shit - which is more than I can say for the people of Boston."  As
always, his good humor prevailed.  

Dancing on the stage was a real kick.  He kept giving away condoms and
dangling the toys in the audience (some blow-up dinosaurs and other stuff
to bounce arond) and shooting silly string and streamers into the crowd.
He moved around a lot and pushed a lot of buttons but never actually
played a keyboard that I noticed. (I missed this!)  But he seemed pretty
busy up there.  He played lots of guitar!  That was great.  I also
loved the song selection; and it is clear he is very flexible on what
he will play this time out.

The video monitors showed clips from The Desktop Collection, from
old Utopia videos, from Mystery Science Theatre (I think), from
TEPTAE, and from some seemingly unreleased computer graphics productions.
The little sign with the words floating across it said things like
"Kaz says hi", "Buttafuoco", and "I have become addicted to powerful
painkillers administered for painful rectal itch".  

Boston Setlist 12/3/93

1   love thing theme - groundrules
2   day job
    "Don't quit your day job" actually sounded pretty funny coming
    straight from Todd's lips.  It came across as a highly ironic song.
3   worldwide epiphany
    Great song and Todd continues to present his compelling world view
    in fine style.
4   pulse
    The multi-tracked vocals were a lot of fun.  Todd strode around the
    stage while this one went on.  The perimiter of the stage presented
    a nice medium between the isolation of the center of the platform
    (his space) and the crowd standing around outside.  Who could not
    enjoy this song?
5   love thing
    Very nice, although I would have preferred hearing Time Stood Still.
    Again, Todd presents his point of view very straightforwardly.
6   secret society
    Beautiful.  
7   if I didn't try
    Beautiful!  Although I missed the Utopia orchestration, I have 
    always loved this song and Todd sang it with real feeling.
8   no world order
    it's a new religion
9   inspiration
    Another personal favorite that he sang loud and clear on the
    acoustic guitar.  This was the acoustic "request" section and
    I was stunned when Todd pointed directly at the guy standing
    next to me and said "You!  What song do you want to hear?"
    The guy stammered for a second and said "Real Man" but Todd
    declined, as he did when the woman standing next to me suggested
    "Initiation".  He said "I haven't worked out the acoustic version
    of that but here's a song with a title that rhymes with it."  
    If I had my wits about me, I would have requested The Wheel,
    but I was too surprised at the sudden chance to make a wish come
    true.  Any acoustic Rundgren song you want to hear - right now -
    performed at your request!  I did try shouting "couldn't I just
    tell you" but the moment had passed and he went on to...
10  love of the common man
    Always nice to hear.
11  black and white
    The Globe critic revealed his ignorance by calling this one of
    the quiet numbers.  I don't think I've ever heard this live -
    and it's another personal favorite.  He played some wild guitar, too.
    Sometimes the guitar could have/should have been louder, but 
    sometimes the mix was good and you could really hear him wailing
    away.
12  word made flesh
    Rockin'!
13  feel too good
    Sounded great.  Played a nice little guitar break - and not in his
    usual style.  Some nice noodling.
14  chant
    This is the big "let's dance" number, where he gets the people on
    the podium perimiter to dance in a circle.  He joined them.
15  international feel (disco version)
    I was all of 12 inches away when he played some terrific guitar
    on this classic number.
16  bang on the drum
    Handed drum sticks out to lucky fans, including a couple who
    came on stage (in the center).
17  fever broke jam.. segue into
18  proactivity
    Seemed to go by quick.
19  fascist christ
20  chant jam - and extended dance
[Encore Break]
21  what's going on/mercy mercy
    Acoustic.
22  fever broke
    Wild guitar solo with lots of whammy-bar action.  Wish I had
    a recording of this.


New York Setlist 12/4/93

1   worldwide epiphany
2   day job
3   property
    I think he did this one in place of proactivity.  Not a more
    obvious song for a hit single, I'm surprised it didn't receive
    the emphasis instead of F.C.  I don't know a fan who doesn't like
    this song.
4   pulse
5   chant
6   secret society
7   fascist christ
8   fever broke theme
    Not sure if it was this song or not, but he had as many as 10 or 12
    people dancing like crazy on the stage (in the center section) with
    him.  It was great fun.
9   international feel
10  feel too good
11  jesse
    Couldn't remember the words, he kept waiting for the crowd to feed
    them to him.  Said "At least Tipper's had the sense to keep her mouth
    shut" since the election.
12  love of the common man
13  black and white
14  day job/worldwide epiphany/chant themes - [with mass dancing]
15  no world order - [more dancing]
16  don't you ever learn
    Wow!  Who could have expected this one?  Great!!!
[encore break]
17  bang the drum
    I think he would have done this before the break, but nobody
    made a move to get off the stage when the red light came on.
18  fever broke
    No guitar solo, unlike Boston.  I think he wanted to book.


All in all, a great experience - as usual.

Tom

    I went to the TODD show with Tom W. and some other Todd-o-philes, and
    Karen and I had a great time, it was our 3rd "Todd-sighting" as one
    Toddnut put it. The first was with Ringo last year, the second at the
    Lechmere's CD-I presentation in July, so this was our first TODD
    Concert, but like Tom said, it was more like a party...
    
    what a voice on this guy...he sounds great on studio recordings, but he
    was ON the other night...folks were taking lotsa pictures, and I wish I
    had brought my camera, and a recorder, this would have been a great
    show to have for posterity.
    
    Highlights for me were International Feel, Love of the Common Man,
    Inspiration. What a cool guy, asking the crowd for requests. Another
    friend knew where to stand so Todd would walk right past us as he goes
    on and off stage, so I shook hands with him as he went on, and was
    lucky enough to get him to sign my CD cover of AWATS (A Wizard, A True
    Star). Todd walked around the lower part of the stage (where we got up
    to dance) with his guitar, soloing in our faces. 
    
    The encores were also special, acoustic versions of What's Goin' On /
    Mercy Mercy Me / What's Goin' On
    
    A GREAT time, a great, unforgetable show, Certainly worth getting fired
    from a band to attend with my wife.  8*)
    
    Wes

    
    Here are some quotes from the Mercury News' story on MacWorld in San
    Francisco:
    
    ...There was rocker Todd Rundgren (meeting and greeting everyone,
    seeminly everywhere)....
    
    ...What could be hipper than a full-bore rock'n' roll bash in an
    interactive science museum (exploratorium) and how 'bout securing the
    services of Mister Interactive himself, Todd Rundgren?  The three-hour
    cyber-sock-hop, which an HSC staffer pegged as costing "right around
    six figures" was the hottest ticket of the week.
    
    In one hanger-sized hall crammed with tech toys past and future, the
    players in computing, rock and interactive technology stood shoulder to
    shoulder...
    
    Rundgren, the lead nerd of the rock pack, was in great form, holding
    court from tthe middle of a gleaming two-story bird-cage bristling with
    instruments and computers.
    
    
    
    Too bad I misses this gig :-(
    
    -Ed
    

    
    Saw an spot about Meat Loaf on Entertainment Tonight a few days ago. 
    Seems Kasim in playing bass in his band.
    
    -Ed
    

    VH-1 (I think) has been running a promo for a Meatloaf show,
    live stuff.  I keep looking for Kas but they don't spend much
    time on the bass player...

    p.s. Current issue of Rolling Stone has an advertisement in it
    featuring my favorite Interactive Artist... opposite a preacher
    (ad for Powerbook, I think).  Pretty neat.

    The tour is continuing, btw, if anybody in Ohio or California
    is listening.. I can post the dates if need be

    
    
    Where's he playing in California?
    
    

    whoops.  Too late for the sunny left coast.  But feel like
    visiting the great SouthEast?   :-)

Friday, 1/14    Luther Burbank Hall     Santa Rosa, CA
Saturday, 1/15  Fairmont Ballroom       San Francisco, CA
Monday, 1/17    Fairfax High School     Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, 1/18   The Metz                Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, 1/23    The Brewery             Louisville, KY (tentative)
Tuesday, 1/25   Gray's Armory           Cleveland, OH
Wednesday, 1/26 Bogarts                 Cincinnati, OH
Friday, 1/28    The Omni                Memphis, TN
Saturday, 1/29  International Ballroom  Atlanta, GA
Monday, 1/31    The Coliseum            St. Petersburg, FL
Thursday, 2/3   The Vogue               Indianapolis, IN

    
    
    I'm crushed...  
    
    Actually, now that I think about it, there was some publicity about his
    appearance here.  I remember that he made a point of saying that he
    wouldn't be doing stuff from "Something, Anything".
    
    You know, all of this Todd talk has made me curious about what his
    music sounds like in today's context.  Maybe I'll dust off the old
    turntable and give it a listen 'cause you just don't hear him on the
    radio here.
    

    
    Todd's "The Desktop Video Collection" tape arrived yesterday.  I have
    the VHS tape; apparently the CD-I version truly is interactive. 
    Unfortunately, the video tape is one of those things that looks more
    like a demonstration of SOTA (state of the art) computer graphics with
    incidental music.  Todd has managed to make the uncommon transition from
    musician to maximum propeller-head/nerd, just exactly the reverse trip
    from most of us in the software/hardware side of things.
    
    I sat through the whole tape watching some great animated images
    (including some very obvious references to "Blade Runner") which didn't
    have much connection to the music.  "Fascist Christ" did have a neat
    little motif where a graphic oscillated between crucifix and swastika,
    but that was over-used to the point where it very quickly became
    tiring.
    
    I don't currently have a CD-I installation, so I can't tell whether
    that implementation of Todd's concept for this release contains more or
    less integrity.  I think this video tape points out the difficulty that
    video presents for a serious artist, especially an artist attempting a
    long (greater than 5 minute) form video.  The emphasis naturally shifts
    from the audible to the visible -- that's human nature because our
    primary information gathering mechanisms are visual.  Therefore, the
    artist needs to spend a tremendous amount of time integrating the two
    separate media (audio and video), unless the desired effect in the
    audience is distraction or confusion.  In this case, I think Todd would
    have better served his music if he'd just video-taped a lava lamp.
    

    Just a word to say the new UltraDisc version of Something/Anything
    is out.  I'm told the sound quality is outstanding.

    Besides, I had to show off my new node name.    :-)

    
    There is now a netnews group dedicated to Todd on the internet. 
    -Ed

    Man, oh Man oh Man.
    
    No World Order.
    
    It is, at this very moment, my favorite album. I know it's almost 2
    years old, but this is a great record. A friend turned me on to it
    recently, I went out and bought it, and I listen to it at *least* once
    a day. I love this freakin' record.
    
    If you're not a Todd fan, but you're interested in hearing something
    that's, well, let's just say "not typical" check this out.
    
    BTW - if you're one of those cloistered people who hates all Rap, just
    because its there: buy this record anyway. It's just the enema you need
    to get over it.
    
    This is one Mother of a record. It is brilliant.
    
    'nuff said.
    
    Brian

    Brian,  too bad you're just getting into this now, you missed a grate
    show last December, Todd's "interactive" NWO tour...
    
    AND, there is "NWO Lite" or some such name that just came out...TR-I
    took 4-bar phrases from NWO, and remixed a new version for those of us
    who do not have an interactive player with interactive version of the
    CD
    
    Wes

Brian -

  >  This is one Mother of a record. It is brilliant.

OK, you got me interested enough to reply to your note. I
"grew up" with Todd in Philly in the 60's (Woody's Truck Stop-
he was the best blues player in town) but I stopped buying his
records after The Nazz - he got into the technology and lost the
feeling IMO. 

But maybe he's back. His talent was never in doubt. What are the
rhythms like? You say rap - is this a rap album? That would sur-
prise me...

I'm real close to coughing up $16cdn for the CD on the strength
of your last note....encourage me ;)

josh
 

    someone said Prince was the most prolific musician he can remember, and
    I thought...what about TODD ???
    
    No World Order is his 29th album I believe, and his credentials as a
    producer are more than impressive...
    
    re.115  ENCOURAGEMENT >  BUY IT !!!
    
    it's not "rap" it's Todd-rap...I can't describe it ya gotta try it
    
    Wes 

    Josh,
    
    Your comment about abandoning Todd because he was moving toward
    technology makes me think that maybe this album might not be for you -
    it is probably Todd's most technological effort to date - yet, I think
    there are reasons why you should consider this album anyway.
    
    From a technology stand-point, you should remember that this album is
    Todd's first venture in interactive media. Thus, the album is really a
    CD-ROM, using Philips CD-I format. However, since the audio in the
    CD-I format is standard "Red Book", you can play it on any old CD
    player (losing, of course, the images and other interactive elements
    of the medium). I've played it both ways, but in my opinion the music
    on this album stands well on its own, and I am recommending it purely
    from that perspective.
    
    The song-writing on this album is very 90s. The production values are
    very high, with all the instruments and voices (all Todd by the way)
    recorded in a crystal clear manner. Todd manages more than a
    tip-o-the-hat to Philly soul, jazz, rap and techno-rock.
    
    The album is divided into "themes" and "tracks" (these are my own terms
    - the liner notes provide no futher clues). Themes are usually 1 minute
    or less snipits that occur throughout the recording. One of the themes
    - Worldwide Epiphany" - is one of the tastiest bits of groove rock I
    have ever heard. Distorted power chords, synthesizer pads and a
    wonderfully groovy bass line are combined in a "I dare you *not* to
    dance" motif.
    
    Tracks, on the other hand, are full-blown songs. The whole thing keeps
    a really slick danceable groove, with Todd's characteristic vocal
    layering. Most of the tracks combine rap (particularly in the verses)
    with more traditional melodic choruses in the Todd style. Todd
    definitely distinguishes himself as a rapper; he compares favorably
    with any rap I've heard from both a lyrical perspective as well as his
    "delivery". Very very cool. In another nod to rap, the drums on this
    album are kept in-your-face, from start to finish. The drum grooves
    are happening, and Todd's bass playing is no less than amazing. He shames
    most bass players with his understanding of groove.
    
    In short, I am really impressed with this album. It definitely takes
    some getting used to, but that is one of the things that impresses me.
    Todd goes off on a tangent and it's still brilliant. I was not a die-hard
    Todd fan. For the most part, I preferred his production work with other
    people (Tubes, XTC) than what he did himself. With "No World Order"
    Todd has elevated himself above the pack. With this one album, Todd has
    moved to the top of my list of musicians who most impress me (edging
    out the likes of Peter Gabriel and Frank Zappa).
    
    In my opinion, (and it is only an opinion), no one has produced a
    better record in the 90s than NWO. I'm not taken to raving about
    records (I usually rave about other things, like how happy I was
    to see the Knicks lose last night :-). But this album is worth
    raving about.
    
    Of course, you might be convinced to buy it and then end up hating
    it. This album takes some work to like. It was work I found well
    worth the effort, and it just might change your musical perspective
    permanently (as it has done for me).
    
    Brian

    Just a couple of other things I wanted to add about Todd...
    
    When I first put NWO in my CD-player and hit play, I thought it was
    broken. In the very first track, there is a part that lasts about
    10 seconds that sounds exactly like a broken CD. I took the CD back
    to the store and asked for a new one. They put it on their player
    and it did the same thing, so they went and got another CD
    and tried that too... same thing again. The sales clerk tried
    to convince me it was *supposed* to be that way, since the time
    on the CD player did not skip. I was not convinced, but since
    they had tried the only other copy of the CD they had in stock,
    I figured I was stuck with it.
    
    Over the weekend, I asked a friend (the person who turned me on
    to NWO) to play their copy and sure enough... same thing. So,
    I guess maybe it is intentional.
    
    I just wanted to let anyone know who might buy the CD on my
    recommendation that this will happen. Do not adjust your set! :-)
    
    My friend also played Todd's previous album that he recorded semi-
    live (Second Wind?). It contains a version of the song "Feel
    It" which Tood co-wrote with the Tubes when he produced their
    album "Love Bomb". Todd's version was nice, but I still
    prefer the original (Tubes) version. Very tasty Philly meets
    SF sort of sound. Check it out if you like Todd's version...
    
    Two ex-Tubies (drummer Prarie Prince and keyboardist Vince
    Welnick) play on Second Wind. I see a lot of similarity between
    Todd and the Tubes. If you like Todd, but aren't familiar
    with the Tubes, they had some excellent records. 1981's
    "Completion Backwards Principal" is a good starting point.
    
    Brian

Brian -

OK, I'm gonna do it. I feel like I'm getting out of touch -
MJ ruled the 70's, Prince ruled the 80's, but the 90's have 
been a vaccuum for me. I've been listening almost exclusively
to African music and old reggae.....maybe Todd has a clue as
to shape the new sounds.

If I don't like it I won't hold it against you ;)

Go Canucks! We get off early today to watch game 7 ;)

josh
  

	Happy Birthday Grokster.  age 46 today. 

    
    	fyi - big article with Todd in the latest Peavey Monitor
    	Magazine.  Picked mine up at Acton Music.  Seems his whole
    	sound system is Peavey.
    

Here's something interesting I ran across today.

HEADLINE: Rundgren's Dream of a label;
Interactive venture will put listeners at controls of favorite albums

BYLINE: Jeffrey Jolson-Colburn

 BODY:
   Producer and artist <Todd Rundgren> and manager Eric Gardner are launching
the first interactive record label, which will release interactive versions of
classic rock albums from major label vaults as well as sign artists for new
I-music.

   Called Waking Dream, the label will be distributed by Electronic Arts, which 
intends to get the recordings into record retail and mass merchandise stores as 
well as computer software outlets.
                                                                                
   Releases are expected to come in a variety of formats such as CD-I, CD-ROM
and 3DO. In addition, Rundgren and Gardner plan an online service via Time
Warner's interactive TV unit that they hope will soon contain thousands of  
records in giant databases.

   Gardner said he has been in extensive negotiations with the six major label
groups. "We needed their cooperation with respect to licensing their catalog
items. That's why we went with Electronic Arts for distribution -- it's not in
competition with any of the labels."

   The only label group that declined to participate, Gardner said, was the
Warner Music Group, which itself has an aggressive interactive unit.

   Unlike CD-ROM releases from artists such as Peter Gabriel and David Bowie,
Rundgren's own albums and those on his label will be truly interactive audio
product.

   The former releases feature video clips, pictures and a few songs. Rundgren's
material lets users steer through thousands of possible variations of each song,
making them faster or slower, adding horns or lyrics, etc. He has a proprietary 
computer operating system he created for use on his "No World Order"                 
                                                                                
interactive album, and would apply it to Waking Dreams' releases. "No World
Order" has been available both as a CD-I disc and as a traditional disc on
Forward Records.

Five CD-ROM/CD-I releases are planned between now and Christmas. Rundgren
says they will also be available on Time Warner's interactive TV system, Full
Service Network, in Orlando. That online system could contain a nearly infinite 
number of recordings, according to the artist. "We are hoping to release several
hundred a year, and after a while, many thousands a year. By 2005 the entire
history of recorded music can be available online," Rundgren said.

   That much downloadable music available on a computer database would likely
make retailers quite nervous -- or angry. But Rundgren is not worried about a
backlash.

   "It's a moot point. This may drive them crazy, but people are going to be
marketing music directly to the public if it's possible, which it will be in an 
interactive TV system," he said.

   Artists get the advantage of having a superstar producer such as Rundgren
working on their material, whether newly recorded or interactive versions 
catalog titles.

   "Todd can get involved in the preproduction and songwriting process," Gardner
explained, "and work with the artist and producer so that when they record,
there is sufficient material for the interactive version. It's not conflicting
to release them together. We released regular and interactive versions of 'No
World Order' and the relevant marketing departments cross-promoted nicely."

   Gardner likened the process to a feature film pre-selling its game rights.
"The interactive team piggybacks on production and shoots a little additional
footage," he said.

   The key to the interactive music from the catalogs lies in access to the
outtakes and alternate takes that artists invariably record and that labels
customarily keep.

   "The record company gives us the original multi-tracks and Todd goes into
studio and takes the different versions and alternate takes to provide
interactive records with depth of music database," Gardner said. "Todd puts it
through his operating system so consumers can reconfigure and reconstruct an
infinite number of versions of the song, using the thousands of modules that
his program breaks it down to."

   However, many artists are quite "picky" about the versions they release, and 
may not want them tampered with. "Some will continue to be picky," Rundgren
said. "We don't want the artist to be uncomfortable. Some may be comfortable
with dropping in or out at the chorus, maybe fewer will be comfortable with
alternative mixes. But anyone who doesn't subscribe will essentially be a
Luddite."

   Rundgren added, "We want everyone to feel good about this experience. It's
not supposed to be a simple exploitation, but a revitalization of content. It
allows artists to revisit material that they might have been anal retentive
about, but eight LPs later, they might want to."

   Gardner noted that artists would be consulted on each release, even if their 
recording contract allowed the producer to sell off this sort of ancillary right
without artist permission.

   Compensation is paid through labels and the artists' publishing company.
Gardner said labels would get 50 percent of the royalties by Electronic Arts,
after studio costs, which would not exceed $ 100,000. Mechanical royalties                     
paid to publishers and hence to artists, would be paid at a higher rate than
usual "as an acknowledgment that there are various versions potentially
available on the disc," Gardner said.

   Gardner added that labels liked the program as "it creates a passive income
and a new ancillary market. They don't have to lift a finger or invest a penny, 
and it immediately catapults music divisions into the fast lane of the
information highway without having to go to the trouble of creating their own
operating system and staffing. We believe that interactive music will be an
extremely successful and lucrative subset of the music industry."

   Titles on CD-ROM will run between $ 29.95 and $ 34.95 while the online
charges per minute have yet to be decided.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

    Getting into "2nd Wind" lately. Particularly "Public Servant",
    although I like the whole album. A very hot band, that features
    Vince Welnick and Prairie Prince from the Tubes (among others).

    Cool stuff.

    -b

    Brian, the "Desktop Collection" that we've discussed has a Really Cool
    video for "Change Myself"
    
    WO

Subject:  Todd Rundgren - The Individualist '95 US tour dates

    These dates are "tentative".  However, some venues on the
    same tour have started selling tickets.

    Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June   8     Palo Alto, CA            The Edge
        10   Santa Cruz, CA           The Catalyst
     12/13   Los Angeles, CA          House of Blues
        24   Denver, CO               Concert for Colorado
        26   Salt Lake City, UT       Zephyr
        29   Oklahoma City, OK        Will Rogers Theatre
        30   Tulsa, OK                Cains

July     2    Omaha, NE               Ranch Bowl
         3    Lawrence, KS            Liberty Hall
         5    St. Louis, MO           Mississippi Nights
         6    Columbia, MO            Blue Note
         8    Chicago, IL             The Vic
         10   Indianapolis, IN        The Vogue
         11   Cleveland, OH           Nautica
         12   Cincinnati, OH          Zoo
         13   Canton, OH              The Palace
         16   Poughkeepsie, NY        The Chance
         17   New Haven, CT           Toads Place
         18   New Britain, CT         The Sting (Hartford)
         20   New York City           Tramps
         21   Boston, MA              Avalon
         23   Philadelphia, PA        Trocadero
         24   Washington, DC          Bayou
         26   Atlanta, GA             Roxy
         27   Jacksonville, FL        Club Five
         29   St. Petersburg, FL      Janus Landing or Coliseum
         30   Orlando, FL             Sunset Strip      

Aug     1-2   New Orleans, LA         House of Blues or Tipitina's
         4    Austin, TX              Liberty Lunch
        5-6   Dallas, TX              Caravan of Dreams
        8-9   Houston, TX             Rockefellers
        11    Memphis, TN             Omni
        12    Nashville, TN           Performance Hall
        14    Toledo, OH              Asylum
        15    Detroit, MI             Meadowbrook
        17    Grand Rapids, MI        Orbit
        19    Milwaukee, WI           The Rave  
        20    Minneapolis, MN         First Avenue
      25-25 San Francisco, CA         Fillmore

    ....I will call Ticket-SHAFTER today to see if the Boston show is
    on sale yet....will post info today....but man, this is great news...
    my wife said it best about "The Individualist", that it seems "more
    accessible"....and to an extent, I agree with that comment....more
    jazz-fusion style, for lack of a better phrase, and although Todd
    does some rapping on this release, it's nothing to the extent
    of "NWO"....will post info on Boston tix later....
    
    
    YESS!!!!!!  And a Friday night as well....hope the Red Sox aren't
    playing July 21st, that would make it a "horro show" trying to get into
    Landsdowne Street area....
    
    mac

    ...follow-up: Todd tix are NOT on sale thru Ticket-SHAFTER as of yet;
    will post when I get the sale date....
    
    mac

    Sorry mac..
    On July 21 The_Sox have A_Home_Game at 7.05.
    
    
    
            Crazy_Park_On_The_Roof_Al
    

    ....thx for the info, Dude...hafta get in early then...maybe get hit
    with a homer while standin' in line, eh?  
    
    mac

    should be fun fersher... definitely gettin there early, dinner, and
    madness behind the Green Monster
    
    Wes

    
    ... sounds like a good night for the T!
    

      Release To Be CD+ Format

   Todd Rundgren, in keeping with his maverick
  approach to the industry, says he will become the  first
CD-ROM-only artist. He is not signing with a  conventional
label to release his latest musical  project, "The
Individualist," but will issue it  only in the CD+ format.
     The CD+ format allows typical CD listeners to  hear the
full album of audio tracks, while PC and  Mac users can also
see graphics and other visual  elements - in effect an
interactive music video  for each song. Interactive
hypertext lyrics allow  users to click on any word in the
lyric sheet and       jump to that section of audio.
Interactive CD
  label ION will distribute the release in both  music and
computer stores.
     Rundgren, speaking recently from his Northern
California home, said he didn't sign with a label  for 2
reasons - as a testament of support to the  new technologies
and because he finds the labels  to be shortsighted.
     "The record companies don't seem to have a lot  of
imagination, so we had to put this entire  project together
ourselves," he said. Rundgren's  last disc, which was
interactive, was released by  Rhino's Forward label; he had
a decade-long  association with Warner Bros.
         The price point will be $16.98, about $8 less
  than upcoming CD+ releases coming from a slew of  artists,
though those acts are expected to release  both CD+ (about
$25) and regular CD formats (about  $15) of the albums.
     Rundgren said that "most artists are going to  do CD+
as an afterthought. It's not going to work  unless the
audience perceives a real, serious  effort from the artist
and perceives additional  value in the experience and
quality of the  content.
                            By JEFFREY JOLSON-COLBURN
                               The Hollywood Reporter
                                            (From AP)

    Fans may be interested to know that tix for TR-I's appearances
    at the following venues are now available:

 7/16    The Chance  Poughkeepsie
 7/17    Toad's Place New Haven  
  7/18    The Sting   New Britain 

     The Avalon show in Boston 7/21 was not on sale yet as of yesterday.

      The NYC show on July 20 is at Irving Plaza.


    Tom

Party Alert!

All Todd fans in the greater Boston area are invited to an all-ages
"Individualist Bash" in Marblehead, MA on Saturday, July 22 (the day after
the Boston show) to celebrate the music of TR-I, the tour, the summer, and
each other. Plenty of good music and rare videos will be provided. Bring some
food for a potluck barbecue and your instruments for a jam session. For further
details, call Kathy or John at 617-639-4026 or drop us an e-mail at
[email protected].

RSVP requested!   You can write me if you want, also, for further info.

Tom

    FYI, I've called Avalon for tix, they do no advance selling, only thru
    TicketShafter...I called them, and tix are not on sale yet for Avalon,
    and he didn't know when...
    
    they are on sale for the Irving Plaza show
    
    Wes
    

    ...jest heard from a VERy reliable source that tix for July 21st
    go on sale THIS Saturday, June 17 (ticket-shafter)...$17.00...
    will call at 10:00 to verify, then post back later....
    
    saving_my_money_mac

    OK, OK, gots my tix....anyone else in here get theirs yet? VERY
    resonably priced, considering Ticket-Shafter sold 'em...all in the
    Boston area, attention please:  We should ALL meet before the gig, eh?
    Put a face with the names?  Don't forget about the Sox game that
    night....Kenmore Square will be INSANE, especially on a Friday night!!!
    
    Any takers???
    
    very_excited_mac

    got 'em...Todd puts on a great show, if you've never seen him...altho
    I've only seen him once, worth losing a gig even...yup, Lansdowne will
    be hoppin' fersher....Boston Beer Works...Avalon doors open at 6pm
    
    Wes

    ...nice post, Wes....hmmmm, never been to Boston Beer Works....is it
    in Kenmore Sq?  I've seen Todd aprox. 8 times, but not since
    the "Nearly Human" tour....I'll be there with the wife and another
    friend and his S.O.
    
    As it gets closer, we'll lay down a plan to meet, perhaps??? 
    Anyone else???
    
    mac

    Mac, BBW is right next to Fenway...I'll also be with a bunch o' folks
    so the more the merrier !!!
    
    Wes

    I'll be there too!!! Got my tickets today.

    Anyone doing the public transport thing? I'm thinking of parking
    at the T station on 128 and taking the T. Either way though,
    it's going to be a MAJOR zoo.

    This will be my second TR outing. The first was his a cappella
    tour, at the Paradise in Boston. On New Year's Eve I think.
    Maybe 10 years ago... Just Todd, a piano or acoustic guitar,
    and a cassette deck. He'd just thumb through the boxes of
    cassettes, find one he liked, pop it in the deck, and sing
    along.

    He told very funny stories too. With the danger of repeating
    myself from an earlier note in this string (don't recall
    if I ever told this story or not, but...) Todd related the
    following with regard to his terminated relationship with
    Bearsville Records:

    "A couple in LA got a little bored with their sex life. So,
    one night while making love, they decided it would be a
    good idea if the wife tied the man up face down on the bed...
    then she took out her electric curling iron, covered the
    tip in Vaseline, and shoved it in his rectum. Unfortunately,
    two things happened. First, for some reason which defies
    reason, she plugged the curling iron in. Second, the phone
    rang and she subsequently forgot about her husband... she
    got dressed and went off to meet a friend. She didn't return
    for several hours, at which point she found her husband,
    albeit in poor condition.

    This is a true story, which I use as a metaphor to illustrate
    my relationship with Bearsville Records... except they didn't
    use Vaseline."

    -b

Courtesy of Michael Fisher, who wrote the review.

Tom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj:	HoB Review in Daily Variety Fri 6/16

Todd Rundgren
(House of Blues, West Hollywood; 999 seats; $25)

Presented inhouse.  Band: Rundgren, Prairie Prince, Larry Tagg, Jesse
Gress, John Firenzek.  Reviewed June 12, 1995.

--------------------------

   Todd Rundgren has once again re-invented himself musically, this time
in front of a taut, guitar-heavy five-piece band that brings new energy to
Rundgren's older work  but occasionally struggles with the new material.
   This new no-nonsense lineup marks a major departure from
Rundgren's live formats of the last 10 years or so, which consisted of
either the lone Todd playing with banks of computer-driven synthesizers,
or of Todd-as-conductor leading an elaborate ensemble that amounted to
a small orchestra.  The new, simpler setting allows Rundgren to have
visibly more fun with the music.
   Although most of the fifteen-song set was drawn from Rundgren's
forthcoming release ``The Individualist,'' the set also included material
spanning the breadth his extensive catalog.  These older songs were
well-served by the straight-ahead treatment.  ``Black and White'' came
out dark and swaggering, and chestnuts like ``Number One Lowest
Common Denominator'' and the Utopia rocker ``Hammer in my Heart'' had
a freshness and intensity that belied their age.  Perhaps most improved
by the new feel were the hip-hop-tinged ``Worldwide Epiphany'' and
``Fascist Christ'' from 1992's ``No World Order,'' which under the
multiple-guitar assault gained a raw potency that was lacking in prior
versions.
   Unfortunately, that same precision didn't always carry over to the new
material, which will be released in a special CD-ROM format.  It seemed
that some of the more subtly intricate passages were glossed over or
just plain bludgeoned to death.   -Michael Fisher

    Great story, Brian!

    Regarding that Paradise show, do you happen to recall what album
    the tour was in support of?

    
    	Guess it's Todd's birthday.  A local station had a 3-fer this
    	morning and will have another at 4:00.
    
    	Question - who's the guitarist?  The one playing slide on
    	"I saw the light... in your eyes" (don't know if that's the
    	name).  Is it Todd?  
    
    	Really identifiable style!
    
    	Tom
    

    Happy Birthday to Todd !!!  yup, I Saw The Light is ALL TODD...it's the
    opening cut on Something/Anything?...he does it all for the first 3
    sides of the album, side 4 is "live in the studio" with other musicians
    right Tom???
    
    great toon, I used to play/sing that...fun song
    
    Wes

    .....Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy Birthday, Todd....hope I can look that good
    and have that much drive when I'm that old....
    
    well, maybe it's not THAT old, eh?
    
    whacky-macky

    Todd's 47 today.
    Seems younger every year   ;-)

    Yup that's tr-i alright on the gittar.

    > Regarding that Paradise show, do you happen to recall what album
    > the tour was in support of?
    
    A Cappella
    
    -b

>    A Cappella
    
    I thought he had a choir traveling with him on that tour.
    Maybe they couldn't make the Boston show?

    Just curious.


    Tom

Cute note from Todd on the net!  Kelli is one of Todd's assistants.

Tom

--------------------


From:	RANGER::US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Richards, Kelli  22-Jun-1995 0001 -0500" 22-JUN-1995 00:02:01.56
To:	[email protected]
CC:	[email protected] (Richards,Kelli)
Subj:	Message from Todd in Tokyo

Hi all:
 
Thought you might get a kick out of seeing this message Todd posted to his
In(TR)active Music forum on CompuServe last night.
 
FYI,
 
Kelli
******************************************************************************
 
From: Todd Rundgren, 71260,125
To: ALL
Topic: From TR-i in Tokyo
Msg #525
Section: General Information [1]
Forum: Music In(tr)Action+
Date: Tue, Jun 20, 1995, 7:54:16 PM
 
Ohayo!
 
No, I'm not in the midwest. At least not yet. Tonight is the final show of our
all-too-brief Japanese tour. The trip by bullet train from Osaka was interupted
by a gig in Nagoya, the chicken wing capital of Japan. Cities here on the main
island tend to have a uniformity that makes it seem like one big metropolitan
area broken by patches of rural tranquility- islands within an island. Even
small towns are thick by US standards.
 
Here we are in what is probably the most thoroughly packed knot of humanity on
the planet, only now becoming aware of online possibilities. I saw a TV show
late the other night on which a couple of hosts sat in front of a wall of
computers and sprinkled their conversation (incomprehensible to me, of course)
with catch phrases like "web site" and "cyberspace", and in typical high style,
illustrated everything with slick and colorful video graphics of surf boards
flying across Netscape screens. We are about to experience a virtual population
explosion.
 
Connectivity is still a kinky issue. I can't connect to C-serve through a local
number (Nifty-serve here in Japan) because of some hardware related
incompatibility so I have to call my local number in San Francisco. The dialup
string, including my credit card number, is about 30 characters long. It's
tricky getting the right number of commas in the right places to get in sync
with the international 'operator' (you know, that prerecorded voice that tells
you what to do and then thanks you afterward).
 
Our hotel is right across the street from Tokyo's government house, a
skyscraper that seems daringly tall for a city threatened by earthquakes. Every
morning around 8, some jabbering clown with a bullhorn accosts everyone on
their way into the building with some kind of political harangue. At first I
thought it was a broken air conditioner. Most annoying since I have no idea
what he's talking about.
 
The most interesting thing about this hotel is the space age toilets. I call it
the Buttscrubber 2000. Not since you were a baby has your rear end been so
thoroughly and lovingly washed. Everytime I go into the bathroom the thing
purrs into action, whether I intend to sit on it or not- kind of like a
faithful dog, always ready to play.
 
Well, looks like this installment has taken a questionable turn so I better
sign off. See ya stateside!
 
Sayonara for now-
TR-i
 

    RE: -1

    Er Todd, stop trying to crap in the bidet! Idjit! :-)

    -b

    this from a techno-head like Todd???!!!   leave it to Todd to come up
    with an interactive Buttscrubber !!!
    
    WO

From:   RANGER::US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Richards, Kelli  11-Ju
l-1995 1539 -0500"
To:     [email protected]
CC:     [email protected] (Richards,Kelli)
Subj:   Look for Individualist cassett

Hi everyone:

FYI, it looks good for "The Individualist" to be released on cassette this week
(likely today!) as we mentioned in the press release update a few weeks ago. It
is being released through ION, an interactive music developer/label based in
Marin -- and distributed through Navarre.

Check your local record stores over the next couple of days, and if you're not
seeing it out there, please let us know!

Thx,

Kelli

    I'll be at the Boston Beerworks with a friend by 3, possibly even
    earlier.  Look me up and say hi.

    Tom

    Gotta love the info s'hiway.  Much fun, posted for your enjoyment.
    Countdown to Beantown == 9 days!!

    Tom
    --------------------------------------------------------------------

Dateline Chicago: Todd checked in via Compuserve.


#: 933 S1/General Information
    10-Jul-95  00:44:02
Sb: #Yo From CHICAGO!
Fm: Todd Rundgren 
To: ALL

Greetings from the city with the big shoulders, whatever that means. My
apologies for not remaining more current, but a raft of excuses made it
possible for me to slack off the few times I could settle down and
write and not feel too guilty about it. After all, I'm on the road.
Just like Jack Kerouac.

Since last I checked in, we played an underpass in Tulsa, a bowling
alley in Omaha, two remarkably similar towns (Lawrence KS & Columbia
MO), in between which we had the 4th off and played a gig in St. Louis,
followed by a show last night in Chicago. The band is quite improved.
Don't take my word for it. Check The Critic for reviews.

The past week has been full of interesting show biz anecdotes with no
punch lines which I will attempt to recall for your vicarious 
enjoyment:

        On our day off in St. Louis I got a call from Vince Welnick.
The Dead were in the hotel and having a special dinner for the band and
crew at a local restaurant so he invited Prairie and me to go along.
Loud, but otherwise kind of proper, great food. After, V. P. and I
comandeered a van downtown and caught Tom Jones humping away under the
Arch, and fireworks accompanied by loud, mostly creepy prerecorded
music.

        When we got to Chicago I got a call from Arlie, Ringo's
assistant. We were in the same hotel (as were The Dead) and it was
Ringo's birthday, and of course I'd love to go the party. So that
evening I had cake with <name dropping starts here>Ringo, John 
Entwhistle (who still looks like a rock star and still sings Boris the
Spider), Felix Cavaliere(we did a record in 74), Mark Farner(we did a
record in 75), Randy Bachman(played with Burton Cummings, also of Guess
Who, on last Ringo tour), Zak who is Ringo's son(and he plays drums
like a rock star), and other fabulous family members.

        Oh yeah, we played last night. Tonite's off, which is why I
have time to write.

The Dead play their final midwestern show tonite, and as I ascended in
the elevator mere moments ago I saw that Pearl Jam was commencing their
occupation of the hotel. Things are rockin.

    isn't gravity a funny thing?   TR '78

    
    speaking of gravity, i'll be the guy wearing the blue cast
    on his left forearm, largely due to the aforementioned force
    of nature. i expect to get to the beer works sometime between
    3 and 3:30. my wife will also be along; she's the pretty
    blond. we should be easy to spot... the big geek with the
    blue cast with a pretty blond! not something you see
    _every_ day! :-) :-)
    
    -b

    
    	Keep in mind that Brian probably has more hair than she does.
    
    	8^)
    

    Hi Brian, it was nice to finally meet you and your lovely
    wife... sorry I didn't get to hang at beerworx as much as
    I had planned but I couldn't stand the thought of people
    queueing up in front of me... anywho, I'm spent after a
    week of Todd touring and ordinary reality is looking mighty
    pale right now... not sure why I'd want to go to any more
    concerts this summer, except I've already invested in the tix.

    Hi Adam, glad you could make the show too, glad you enjoyed
    yerself.  Todd rox, huh??

    Hey Bob H. you know who you are you have brain damage!!  ;-)

    And Hi Wes, thanx for everything including keeping me company -


    "All The Children Sing"

    Tom
    

>    Hi Adam, glad you could make the show too, glad you enjoyed
>    yerself.  Todd rox, huh??

Yeah, I had no idea what to expect.  I've heard he does a different kind of
show each tour.  From the opener, "Black and White", it was obvious that
this was going to be a rock and roll show.  It was great, and much better
than a band-in-a-box :-)

I didn't even know he played guitar.  I thought he was a keyboardist.

adam

I'm posting this as a matter of general interest mainly because I'm peeved
at Avalon and want to write them about their sound system.  But at any
rate the more technically inclined among you may find some of the details
interesting.  This was written by a friend of mine.

Tom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subj:	Todd in Boston - tech notes

...

Since there was a game, and Avalon turns into a dance club in the late
evening, Todd was on a strict schedule. The show started at 8 and I think
that it had to be finished by 10 pm. So we saw a somewhat abbreviated show,
based on the other postings to this list.  However, it was really tight and
rocking!

Avalon/Citi/Metro has a problem regarding the sound system. The main PA
speakers are placed in such a way that a large crowd of people close to the
stage (about 10 "rows" worth) do not get much sound energy from them. That
is, they are behind that crowd and aimed out.  So some sounds, such as vocals
and *Todd's guitar (more on this later)* were very difficult to hear at
times. I was in the 5th row of people.

If you are bored by technical details, skip the rest of this message!!!!


In a recent posting, Gary MacDougall wrote:

>For all you musicans out there:  

>It appears Todd must have gotten endorsed by Peavey.  He's playing *all*
>Peavey guitars and so is Jesse and Larry.  John's Keyboards was also a
>Peavey board.  

>This is interesting.  Peavey really does make some nice guitars (now).
>Whats cool about this is that Peavey is more know for country players!  And
>now is recently starting to gain acceptance in the rock world (Thanks to
>Eddie VanHalen haahahahahah).

I have seen other similar well meaning but incorrect info posted recently, so
I'll try to update the situation based on my proximity to the stage on Friday
night.  Tom Westervelt was at the show taking copious notes (he was standing
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF TODD) all night, so I'll leave the set lists in his
capable hands.

Todd played a P-Project guitar (torquise) and a Blade guitar (very dark wood
grain) for most of the night. The Project guitar had velcro on it so that he
could stick his sample trigger device (an Apple PowerBook external numeric
keypad) onto it for certain songs. A roadie had to assist him in plugging in
the "Apple Desktop Buss" cable before he could use the keypad. Todd also had
a second numeric keypad velcro'd to the microphone stand. In the past, Todd
controlled much of his interactive show with a Mac PowerBook computer,
running Opcode's MAX MIDI software. I'll bet that he has MAX configured to
trigger MIDI notes when keypad keys are pressed.

In this age of wireless guitars and MIDI, it is difficult to know who is
playing what, and when! Contrary to other postings, Todd is not using a Mesa
Boogie amp on this tour.  I am fairly certain that he is going into some
effects device(s) and then directly into the PA. I know this because it was
extremely difficult for me to hear his guitar!  Larry's bass and Jesse's
guitar were very clear, but they both had amps on stage.

Larry Tagg played a Fender Jazz bass and a Peavey bass. The Peavey bass was
used for one tune in which Larry tuned the low "E" string down to a "D", and
Todd came over later to adjust the tuning. The Jazz bass also had a special
device on the low "E" tuner to bring the pitch down and back up in a
controller manner, which Larry used in the middle of some tune.

Jesse Gress played a Fender Stratocaster with a beautiful florentined paint
job, and also a red P-Project guitar with a Roland MIDI guitar pickup on it. 
I was very surprised at how many "keyboard" parts were actually played by
Jesse. For example, the marimba/vibes part in "The Individualist", the intro
to "Tables Will Turn", and crucial parts to "Fascist Christ" and "Worldwide
Epiphany".  Due to the way MIDI works, and the fact that his rack was not
visible to me, I do not know what brand of synths Jesse was using.  Jesse
also used a classic 2 amp configuration, a Roland Jazz Chorus for clean
sounds, and a Mesa Boogie in a hardwood case for the dirty sounds.  This is
the cause of the Todd/Mesa confusion. I'm sure that somebody noticed 2 amps
near Jesse, saw that the Mesa was closer to Todd, and drew the wrong
conclusion. No harm done, but this is a standard guitar setup.

John Firenzik played a Fender Telecaster and some other strat-like guitar,
through a lot of effects pedals, which he switched frequently during his solo
in "Broke Down...". He also used a Peavey DPM-C8 MIDI keyboard controller,
which has NO BUILT-IN SOUNDS. Again, I could not see his rack, so we don't
really know what brand of synths he is using.

Prarie Prince also had Roland drum triggers for some sound effects, used
mostly during the "No World Order" tunes. Again, no synth info, sorry.  He
had a cool set which incorporated 2 snare drums (for different snare sounds
in different tunes) and a double hi-hat setup.  He is a definite asset to the
band. There were many tunes in which you couldn't help but marvel at his
chops and feel. Some have complained about the "slow" tempo of "The
Individualist", but I would rather characterize it as "deliberate".

One last technical note: Todd is still using in-ear monitors, but the rest of
the band is not.

In summary, another fine show from Todd and his band, and again as different
as can be from previous shows. I am a relative newbie compared to some of you
(first Todd album "Something/Anything" but first Todd/Utopia show not until
"Swing to the Right"). I have seen 2 Utopia tours and 5 "Todd" tours, and he
never fails to amaze me.

Rick Cohen

    A quick note:
    
    Avalon's sound system has been like that for years -- if you're right
    up front, you hear sound from the stage and the monitors more than you
    hear sound from the PA.  Most places are like that, but Avalon is worse
    since the PA speakers are further in front of the stage than other
    places.
    
    'Tis why I always stand on the raised floor at the railing -- for good
    sight *and* sound (and, also, I'd rather watch the show than mosh into
    people -- yes, I realize that probably wasn't happening at Todd's show
    :-) ).
    				- Paul

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
TODD RUNDGREN'S ENHANCED-CD THE INDIVIDUALIST
LAUNCHES DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT INTO MUSIC LABEL ARENA
 
Leading Interactive CD Publisher Bows
With First Licensing & Distribution Deal
 
 
New Hope, MN, October 5, 1995 - While the major record labels are still
exploring the uncharted enhanced-CD waters, a new but already seaworthy label
specializing in interactive entertainment has now entered the fray.  Digital
Entertainment, publishers of a variety of interactive titles, expands to
full-fledged label status with the licensing and November 7th release of
Todd Rundgren's latest enhanced-CD The Individualist.
        "It is entirely appropriate that pioneering content such as this will
be distributed and marketed by such a pioneering company as Digital
Entertainment," said Rundgren.  "Together we look forward to establishing a
broad-based market for enhanced CD products."
        According to Wim Stocks, vice president and general manager of Digital
Entertainment, "We are very proud to be taking our first independent steps with
an artist of Todd's stature.  We will continue to publish product by major
artists like Kitaro and to distribute titles by the Cranberries, Sarah
McLachlan, and others, but now we're increasing our role to include licensing
and promotion."  Digital Entertainment plans a significant radio and retail
promotion campaign to support the audio component of The Individualist. The
title will be released simultaneously to music and software retailers, and
will be available to retailers either in jewel boxes or larger, traditional
software boxes.  Suggested list price for The Individualist is $16.98.
 
- more -
 
        The Individualist stands as one of Todd Rundgren's -- and indeed the
music industry's -- most adventurous interactive efforts to date.  Each of the
album's 10 songs is linked to a separate visual journey, offering interactive
lyrics, navigatable animated 3-D virtual environments, and in one case, a
five-level "DOOM-like" adventure game.  The user can even direct a music video
using live footage from Rundgren's "No World Order" tour.
        The Individualist's groundbreaking multimedia component was developed
by Rundgren himself in association with interactive music publisher Ion. This
new licensing deal was negotiated between Eric Paulson, CEO of Navarre/Digital
Entertainment, and Rundgren's longtime manager Eric Gardner, CEO of Panacea
Entertainment.
        Multimedia pioneer and rock'n'roll legend Todd Rundgren boasts a
career that spans almost three decades. From his first psychedelic explorations
in the '60s with his group The Nazz (of "Open Our Eyes" fame,) to '70s pop icon
("Hello It's Me",) and leader of '80s art-rock group Utopia, Rundgren has
become a fixture in the rock firmament.  He is also a much sought-after studio
producer, crafting hit albums for the likes of Meatloaf, XTC, Patti Smith and
others.
        In 1993, Rundgren became the first musician to explore the interactive
frontier with "No World Order" on CD-i, Macintosh and PC platforms, which
garnered Video Magazine's award for Best Interactive Disc of the Year.
        Fresh off of a successful summer tour of the United States performing
material from The Individualist, Rundgren is poised to once again stretch the
interactive envelope, and Digital Entertainment is ready to assist.
 
 
- more -
 
 
Digital Entertainment Inc., based in Minnesota, is a subsidiary of
Navarre Corporation.  Digital Entertainment develops, licenses, publishes and
distributes interactive CD titles focusing on music and entertainment.  In
addition, Digital Entertainment merchandises, markets and distributes computer
software titles to traditional and non-traditional software retail outlets.
 
#   #   #
 
Editor's Note: Enhanced-CDs are compact discs that are playable in both audio
CD players and computer CD-ROM drives. When played in a CD-ROM drive, users can
access all the multimedia components of the title.
 
 
For more information, contact:
Ashley Kahn, Glenn Mandel                               Wim Stocks
Technology Solutions, Inc.                              Digital Entertainment
212/696-2000                                            612/535-8333
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
Publicist for Todd Rundgren:
Henry Eshelman
Baker, Winoker & Ryder
310/277-6200
 
 

From:	RANGER::US1RMC::"[email protected]" "01-Oct-1995 1705 -0400"  1-OCT-1995
17:05:34.23
To:	[email protected]
CC:	
Subj:	"BLACK & WHITE"

A Proclamation!!!!
It is Hereby Decreed
that a new publication is forthcoming!!!

The Seriously Rundgrenized Network  presents:

"Black & White"

A Printed Newsletter for Todd Rundgren Enthusiasts All!

This 8-12 page, bi-monthly publication will be available starting November,
1995, and will contain all the latest info about TR, along with such features
as:

THE MISSING LINK-a companion to Todd happenings on the Internet
(allowing the "non-on-line" to get "in-line".)
ALL THE CHILDREN SING-where we get to find out just what's up with
Kas, Roger, Willie, Prairie, Shandi, and the rest.
SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT-an exploration of the mystical aspects
of the man and his music.
PROPERTY-info and answers to questions about all that
TR/Utopia stuff we love to collect!
FAMILY VALUES- reports on the gatherings, projects and special announcements
concerning our greater Utopian Family-US!
MATED-"The Utopian Love Connection"! ($2 per ad)
Honest Work-a classified ad section for those
looking for/offering something/anything.($4 per ad)
SWEETER MEMORIES--for the nostalgia buffs in us all!
and MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

$20-US,$29-International, will give you a year's subscription to B&W (6
issues)
Mail all checks, money orders, or inquiries to:
Seriously Rundgrenized
PO Box 356
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Phone-201-438-7227 (fax available-call first)

Also, photos, articles, input, questions (and answers) will be greatly
appreciated, (including photos and artwork for the upcoming calendar we'll be
hurriedly trying to put together.)

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% Date: Sun, 1 Oct 1995 16:37:30 -0400
% Message-Id: <[email protected]>
% To: [email protected]
% Subject: "BLACK & WHITE"

    I got a call from another Todd fanatic who informed me of the
    following:
    
    Todd will be "talking" on the Internet 2nite at 10pm...
    
    Todd will be on the discovery chanel 2morrow (Wednesday 11/8) nite
    10pm talking about interactive cd's etc...
    
    While exploring the wilds of Hawaii in search of waterfalls, TR fell
    face first on a rock and lost 2 front teeth
    
    Newbury Comix does not have "The Individualist" on cd, rumored to be
    released today...
    
    no other details on the above info
    
    Wes

    > While exploring the wilds of Hawaii in search of waterfalls, TR fell
    > face first on a rock and lost 2 front teeth
    
    My TR-I Christmas shopping problems are solved!
    
    -b

From:   RANGER::US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Richards, Kelli  04-No
v-1995 0107 -0500"
To:     [email protected]
CC:     [email protected] (Richards,Kelli)
Subj:   Confirm IRC chat time w/Todd

Hi everyone:

Mark your calendars -- it's confirmed that we'll have the IRC chat with Todd on
Monday, November 13th at 7:00pm PST.  More technical details and other info to
follow from either myself and/or Roger Linder on this soon...

Cheers,

Kelli

    
    I have in my happy little hands TR-I's "The Individualist".
    The version that I purchased is the multi-session CD-ROM
    (which is also both Mac and PC compatible). Multi-session
    CD-ROMs play in your standard CD (audio) player, but they
    also have additional multimedia goodies which are unlocked
    if you use the CD on a computer...
    
    Technical details:
    
    On PCs, the suggested platform is Windows 95 since it
    contains the multi-session driver.
    
    On Macs you may need to download a driver from Apple's BBS.
    
    I won't get into the multimedia content right now (because,
    after careful consideration, I've decided not to spoil any
    surprises), however, I will discuss the music. This is,
    after all, the music conference, not the multimedia conference.
    
    The songs:
    
    	Tables Will Turn
    	If Not Now, When?
    	Family Values
    	The Ultimate Game
    	Espresso (All Jacked Up)
    	The Individualist
    	Cast The First Stone
    	Beloved Infedel
    	Temporary Sanity
    	Woman's World
    
    This album is a natural extension to "No World Order". The amalgum
    of rap, rock, jazz and soul continues. On the other hand, the
    record stands on its own. The songwriting and production are very
    strong. As with NWO, all instruments and most vocals were done
    by Todd.
    
    One of the things that attracted my to NWO was the lyrics. Believe
    it or not, the lyric content is even stronger here. Todd cames
    out swinging on this record, and quickly lands punches, particularly
    with the so-called "Religious Right".
    
    Another great TR-I record. Do not miss it.
    
    -b

    Brian, where did you find it?  Newbury's didn't have it Tuesday when I
    called...it was due out that day
    
    WO

    
    Newbury Comics, route 9 Shrewsbury. According to Diane, there
    were only two copies in the store, one of which now spins at
    chez Markey...
     
    If you want to check out the multimedia stuff, let me know...
    
    -b

    
    By the way, the song that's currently my favorite on the
    new album (I say currently, because I know that will change)
    is "Cast The First Stone". I remember it from the Boston
    (Avalon) show... it's AWESOME!
    
    Other songs I remember from the show: "Tables Will Turn" and
    "The Individualist". I'm not sure, but "Family Values" and
    "Temporary Sanity" might have been in there too...
    
    -b

    Temporary Sanity was early in the show, from what I recall, but he
    didn't do Family Values at Avalon, tho the Quayle mask was displayed on
    Prairie's drum kit...I also wish he played Espresso (All Jacked Up)

How much does this CD-ROM cost?  I do not own a CD player, but I have a Mac
with a CD-ROM and stereo audio.  I was curious if these multimedia CD-ROMs
carry a price premium over audio-only CD's (which are usually under $15
when they are first released).

I'm also thinking of getting the Stones new CD-ROM, if it's not
outgrageously priced (over $20).

adam

    
    I paid $17 (well, $16.95 plus Mass sales tax)...
    
    -b

    
    The more I listen to "The Individualist", the more addicted
    I get. What really grabs me is the bass/drum grooves... played
    by Todd, no less...
    
    -b

    TR-i fans may be pleased to know that the March 29 issue of Goldmine
    will have a cover story (includes extensive interview and complete
    discography) on Todd.  Hits the stands March 15.

    Tom

    
    Thanks to a certain very kind Todd fan, I am in possession of
    several TR/Utopia laserdiscs, containing a treasure-trove of
    material including live versions of "Hammer In My Heart", "Want
    of a Nail" and and acoustic (solo) version of "Love of the
    Common Man". My wife and I have been all but glued to the
    tube the last couple of nights...
    
    -b

    TR-i makes an appearance on the Comedy Channel's "Politically
    Incorrect" tomorrow Tuesday March 5.

    My tv-guide says it's aired at 11 p.m.

    Tom