Biography Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren is an American singer-songwriter and producer with a full twenty-five albums to his name. Starting in the 60s with the psychedelic band Nazz in Philadelphia, his solo career started out successfully with such hits as "I Saw the Light" and "Hello It's Me" (a reworked Nazz tune). With his 1972 release 'Something/Anything?' seen as a magnum opus due to its mix of power pop, rock n roll, and more, Rundgren's new band called Utopia (or Todd Rundgren's Utopia) concentrated on eccentric progressive epics. His acclaimed production effort started early, with work for Sparks and the New York Dolls, and continued with Meat Loaf, XTC, The Psychedelic Furs, and many others. Continuing to release solo albums over the years, he's created many other hits, the novelty tune "Bang the Drum All Day" in particular seeming timeless.

Todd Rundgren is well known among his fans as being an electronic music revolutionary. His skilled production techniques, matched by his belief that he has ability to play just about any instrument at a mastery level, has allowed him to release some of the most honest and personal music of his time. Many of his solo albums, including the critically-acclaimed 'Something/Anything?' were made completely by himself. That is, he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, did all of the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.

Oddly enough, the particular case of 'Something/Anything' involved the album actually having one side (side four) that specifically featured songs performed by a studio band, placed on the album to show Todd's ability in working with musicians. For over fourty years now, Rundgren has had a successful musical career that's involved performing with other famous artists. For example, he fronted, recorded, and toured with the group The New Cars, which featured two of his own band members and two of the remaining The Cars members. In addition, he released a solo album in 2004 entitled 'Liars', which featured songs on the recurring theme of deceit and broken promises, and his touring group included his long-time bassist Kasim Sulton being put alongside former The Tubes drummer Prarie Prince.

Rundgren's latest work is 'Global', a release set to come out on April 7th, 2015 that has found his name back in the news (not that its ever that far from it in the first place). He also has recently famously collaborated with former Beatle Ringo Starr, both in terms of Starr's studio output and Starr's acclaimed touring. Several music journalists have praised his recent burst of activity as that of a rock n roll veteran, looking forwards to future endeavors.

Website: http://www.tr-i.com/

Core discography (live releases not fully represented yet):

With Nazz:

1968 - Nazz

1969 - Nazz Nazz

1970 - Nazz III

Solo:

1970 - Runt

1971 - Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren

1972 - Something/Anything?

1973 - A Wizard, a True Star

1974 - Todd

1975 - Initiation

1976 - Faithful

1978 - Hermit of Mink Hollow

1978 - Back to the Bars (live)

1981 - Healing

1983 - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect

1985 - A Cappella

1989 - Nearly Human

1991 - 2nd Wind

1993 - No World Order

1995 - The Individualist

1997 - With a Twist

1998 - Up Against It

2000 - One Long Year

2003 - Can't Stop Running (live box set)

2004 - Liars

2008 - Arena

2011 - Todd Rundgren's Johnson

2011 - (re)Production

2013 - State

2015 - Global

2015 - Runddans (collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm)

2017 - White Knight

With Utopia:

1974 - Todd Rundgren's Utopia

1975 - Another Live

1976 (released 2001) - Disco Jets

1977 - Ra

1977 - Oops! Wrong Planet

1980 - Adventures in Utopia

1980 - Deface the Music

1982 - Swing to the Right

1982 - Utopia

1984 - Oblivion

1985 - P.O.V.

2003 - Last of the New Wave Riders (live box set)

Creative Commons By-SA License