Just watched this, 5 years after you posted it. Thank You! A very special treat for us long time fans who started our Adventures in Utopia back in Central Park in '75
I think Roger was trying to express its like this ... a very very rare type of synergy that happens between a group of musicians .. and when it all comes together that sound resonates with listeners on a spiritual . or what I like to call the HAPPY level .... Singing so many of Utopia's songs just makes me exceedingly happy ..... but the total experience is SO much larger than the sum of the parts making up Utopia .... I first heard RA in 78 and it was like instantly a part of who I was and continue to be to this day It's been a miserably hot summer here in TX and my business has been quite slow ... so singing Utopia tunes and jamming along has really saved my sanity ....
dear God yes...he was the only person to put up the money and produce Bat Out of Hell...Jim Steinman said he is the only genius he ever worked with. Truth...
I had heard Rush around 1979 and then thought Peart played almost every note I would have played. Then on reading an interview he liked all the same drummers I did. No wonder we sounded similar.
agreed, I saw the first Utopia and noticed that it didn't look like Kevin's drums and out they come, its this Willie guy, he is no Kevin Ellman, needless to say I was disappointed
I've been a Todd/Utopia fan since the mid-70s. His own stuff, not his work as a producer for others. I'm aware of there being a strong, loyal fan base in the UK from the late 70s.
Finished. This was my 4th long interview re Utopia this past year. Educational and enjoying. It's nice to see four guys, in their 60s-70, still have their wits about them. No plastic surgery needed, unlike Simmons and Stanley from KISS. What if Kasim wasn't able to borrow $20 from his uncle for band tryout bus trip? Utopia wouldn't be the same without Kasim.
Because he Loosens up. He is wired pretty tight. With all due respect he is Analytical not a hardcore rock star. He started his life with Engineering family. His dad worked for DUPONT as an Engineer and at age 10 he was playing with computers. He is in to Math, wiring, thinking, planning, engineering, sound. etc. Not drugs, alcohol women, and rock & roll. That pays the Bills. yes but, it is NOT Todd
@@jameshall8455 he is the least rock star-y musician from that era that I can think of. he is absolutely wired differently. I wish I could experience what the inside of his mind is like. I bet he thinks in 3D
@@jameshall8455 This is an astute observation. In his autobiography, he says exactly this. Music is pretty much the last thing he is interested in but it’s the only thing he can make real money with. He’s been at his happiest working in IT.
Since the 70s I've been an avid fan and collector of Rundgren and Utopia. Candidly speaking by far the most technically and musically advanced band of all time. From my perspective, they were getting better as a band the further on they went. Too bad the majors didn't take that into consideration.
All the members of Utopia impressed me over the years when they were recording and touring, but from this interview, the one member I knew the least about impressed me the most: Willie.
Listening to Todd leads me to believe that THIS may have been a better time to release music for Utopia. At least the playing field is equal and a company can't be responsible for albums falling through the cracks. That album was perfect and neglected. This should've been a band that conquered the world. Weren't we lucky to find them?
4 роки тому+2
Yes it is Gail, the only thing I can do is spread the message.
Just starting the Kasim section. Trapperatus. That was a great drum kit. I listened to another '18 Todd radio interview. I didn't know Nazz opened for The Doors in Philly.
I know several 30 year olds who have NO IDEA who Al Pacino and Robert Duvall are so how would Millennials know WHO TODD RUNGREN is? Thatbis a damned shame too. He is so underrated and mostly unknown unless you've seen Daryl Hall Band, At Daryls House.....youtube.
I wanted to hear more about the tension during the creation of POV. I know Willie wanted to program the drum tracks, which went against his philosophy of bringing more soul and feel to the group. Also wanted to hear more about Deface The Music and that following tour.
3 роки тому+2
Willy worked for Akai Linn Drumcomposers so programming was a challenge for him I presume.
Later on I found Willie's website on the net and he had some tune as the intro where he was playing all of the instruments and it was definitely programmed drums as well as all synths and it had sound effects of rain and all kinds of stuff, very elaborate. I think he's done pretty well for himself too.@
Just watched this sgain. I'd be scratching my neck if I wore that neck sweater Kasim wore. I watched Utopia final Chicago show last night. I wonder as they toured in '18, if any old grievances raised their heads from back in the day. It was probably much more relaxed than back in the day due to time away.
I like these kinds of interviews were musicians talk about the creative process, and I realize it's totally universal and almost commonplace. But Todd is the more conceptual thinker.
It's clear Willie Wilcox and Todd butted heads a lot....creative tension as Joe Walsh once called it. I think Willie wanted more of a commercial bent on the band.
@ well they always made eclectic records. But ra, oops, oblivion, and pov were better than the three records I mentioned. I saw them a schmillion times as well as Todd solo. Love the stuff. Just those three records left me wanting better.
@@patrickthometz6365 I’d rather hear Swing To The Right than Ra or Oops, at this point. RA is especially tedious to my ears, these days. I love POV more than Oblivion, mostly for “Man Of Action” which I believe was only on the cassette.
@ i think the eclecticism came mainly from Rundgren. IIRC I read an article where the non Todd members of Utopia were wanting their records to be more straightforward as they had some commercial success at that time but TR is known for not really giving a damn for repeating himself and more into musical exploration. I think most Utopia albums are a clash of those interests. Weirdly I like the pop ones Adventures In Utopia and Deface The Music as their take on prog never did anything for me
2 роки тому
@@atomiccritter6492 These are both outstanding albums !
Thanks for all the wonderful wonderful wonderful music.
I will tell him.
Amazing set of interviews! It was fantastic to see Roger and Willie and Kaz.
Glad you liked it, spread the word!
Just watched this, 5 years after you posted it. Thank You! A very special treat for us long time fans who started our Adventures in Utopia back in Central Park in '75
It's never to late
How great it is to hear from Roger and Willie. ...
I love hearing these guys talk about their history, lives, music, and each other. Great video.
@@singersa thanx, glad you like it.
I think Roger was trying to express its like this ... a very very rare type of synergy that happens between a group of musicians .. and when it all comes together that sound resonates with listeners on a spiritual . or what I like to call the HAPPY level .... Singing so many of Utopia's songs just makes me exceedingly happy ..... but the total experience is SO much larger than the sum of the parts making up Utopia .... I first heard RA in 78 and it was like instantly a part of who I was and continue to be to this day
It's been a miserably hot summer here in TX and my business has been quite slow ... so singing Utopia tunes and jamming along has really saved my sanity ....
Glad you like it
I was at that gig at the Ritz. They were on tour supporting the Deface The Music album. Great night!
i can imagine
I know he is well known for the most part. But does anyone else still feel he is underrated
dear God yes...he was the only person to put up the money and produce Bat Out of Hell...Jim Steinman said he is the only genius he ever worked with. Truth...
@@veronaraven3099 He has also produced XTC’s best album and also the motorcycle guitar approach was genius on Bat Out of Hell
Im a Brit and to the general public here hes basically unknown
How did I never see this? This is great!
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome interviews. I saw the Ra tour while going to Bard College in the mid seventies. It was an incredible show .
lucky you
Roger was the glue in Utopia. Diplomat, brilliant musician, at the cutting edge of technology. Todd said they still talk every day.
@@WinstonTexas829 yes he's great, worked also with Weather Report and Bowie.
Kevin Ellman is one of the most underrated drummers ever. The late great Neil Peart called him one of the worlds greatest drummers
I had heard Rush around 1979 and then thought Peart played almost every note I would have played. Then on reading an interview he liked all the same drummers I did. No wonder we sounded similar.
agreed, I saw the first Utopia and noticed that it didn't look like Kevin's drums and out they come, its this Willie guy, he is no Kevin Ellman, needless to say I was disappointed
Agreed
It was great to see when they did the Utopia reunion in 2011 that he was still playing as great as ever, him and John Siegler was as good as ever.
Thanks very much for posting this -- fascinating stuff ❤
Your welcome
Terrific... thanks a mil for posting this!
Glad you enjoyed it.
It does not matter what Todd does. He pulls it off like a true wizard! 😊
A true star!
butt ass naked LMAO Willie ... OMG the stories again KILLIN ME AHHAHAHAHAAAA
I've been a Todd/Utopia fan since the mid-70s. His own stuff, not his work as a producer for others. I'm aware of there being a strong, loyal fan base in the UK from the late 70s.
Finished. This was my 4th long interview re Utopia this past year. Educational and enjoying. It's nice to see four guys, in their 60s-70, still have their wits about them. No plastic surgery needed, unlike Simmons and Stanley from KISS.
What if Kasim wasn't able to borrow $20 from his uncle for band tryout bus trip? Utopia wouldn't be the same without Kasim.
yes you get an inside view
I've watched a LOT of Todd interviews and have come to the conclusion that the best ones are when he's having an alcoholic beverage.
alcohol loosens the tongue
@ Yeah, and it's a classic Aussie beer.
Because he Loosens up. He is wired pretty tight. With all due respect he is Analytical not a hardcore rock star. He started his life with Engineering family. His dad worked for DUPONT as an Engineer and at age 10 he was playing with computers. He is in to Math, wiring, thinking, planning, engineering, sound. etc. Not drugs, alcohol women, and rock & roll. That pays the Bills. yes but, it is NOT Todd
@@jameshall8455 he is the least rock star-y musician from that era that I can think of. he is absolutely wired differently. I wish I could experience what the inside of his mind is like. I bet he thinks in 3D
@@jameshall8455 This is an astute observation. In his autobiography, he says exactly this. Music is pretty much the last thing he is interested in but it’s the only thing he can make real money with. He’s been at his happiest working in IT.
This was so awesome!!!
glad you like it
I'm glad this was on my page. I've been a Todd fan since The Nazz and the Runt album. Thanks for posting this interview.
This interview is full of rare info on early Utopia, which Todd hardly talks about because nobody asks him.
Since the 70s I've been an avid fan and collector of Rundgren and Utopia. Candidly speaking by far the most technically and musically advanced band of all time. From my perspective, they were getting better as a band the further on they went. Too bad the majors didn't take that into consideration.
They were great
That looks like a Foster’s beer oil can size. Love it!
All the members of Utopia impressed me over the years when they were recording and touring, but from this interview, the one member I knew the least about impressed me the most: Willie.
Listening to Todd leads me to believe that THIS may have been a better time to release music for Utopia. At least the playing field is equal and a company can't be responsible for albums falling through the cracks. That album was perfect and neglected. This should've been a band that conquered the world. Weren't we lucky to find them?
Yes it is Gail, the only thing I can do is spread the message.
All is not lost. I spent six months each day straight listening to Utopia on vinyl. This was 2016, I'd say, around ~
Just starting the Kasim section.
Trapperatus. That was a great drum kit.
I listened to another '18 Todd radio interview. I didn't know Nazz opened for The Doors in Philly.
Te kit was interesting looking but sounded like total shit!
Utopia ROCKS!
They sure do
I know several 30 year olds who have NO IDEA who Al Pacino and Robert Duvall are so how would Millennials know WHO TODD RUNGREN is? Thatbis a damned shame too. He is so underrated and mostly unknown unless you've seen Daryl Hall Band, At Daryls House.....youtube.
Great interview. Got to take a break, I’ll come back to it
Saw this interview a couple of years ago. Interesting
Clichematic, thanks for putting this on here, I too am a Todd fan, always liked Willie and Kasim.
Glad you like it!
Yes thank you. What is the logo on the can?
Looks like IV
@@OccultFanOFFICIAL yes looks like that
incredible
glad you like it
I wanted to hear more about the tension during the creation of POV. I know Willie wanted to program the drum tracks, which went against his philosophy of bringing more soul and feel to the group. Also wanted to hear more about Deface The Music and that following tour.
Willy worked for Akai Linn Drumcomposers so programming was a challenge for him I presume.
Later on I found Willie's website on the net and he had some tune as the intro where he was playing all of the instruments and it was definitely programmed drums as well as all synths and it had sound effects of rain and all kinds of stuff, very elaborate. I think he's done pretty well for himself too.@
Just watched this sgain. I'd be scratching my neck if I wore that neck sweater Kasim wore.
I watched Utopia final Chicago show last night. I wonder as they toured in '18, if any old grievances raised their heads from back in the day. It was probably much more relaxed than back in the day due to time away.
Maybe it is cotton
the RA stories JUST KILLED ME ....LMFAO !!!!!!!!
I like these kinds of interviews were musicians talk about the creative process, and I realize it's totally universal and almost commonplace. But Todd is the more conceptual thinker.
He's a professor, musician and artist
Todd in the Hall of Fame 2021 :) :)
;-)
Todd working on the Fosters!
This is such a weird interview with Todd. Interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I did. Thanks for sharing!
The Network album should have been huge. Todd & Utopia have had quite a bit of bad luck in their careers!
right place wrong time
Hello It's Me ❤️☎️🎹🎬
Great interesting interview! Thanks again @UCWTwLHw6toTeFaziQ7frqoQ!
That was supposed to be "Thanks again
Clichématic"! Not sure what happened....
Venezuela
No entiendo el idioma. Es es uno de mis favoritos. Una pena
Puedes configurar la traducción automática al español.
Did his music have a connection to John Lennon ?
His music is influenced by the Beatles and he had a dispute with Lennon
It's clear Willie Wilcox and Todd butted heads a lot....creative tension as Joe Walsh once called it. I think Willie wanted more of a commercial bent on the band.
What year is this interview?
There was no date mentioned but Todd with a beard was a very short period
@ early 90's I remember him with beard.
@@thetruthissweet2847 Kasim is talking about 2006 the release was 2004 so i think 2003
Utopia is a nice album. But not great. Between Deface, Swing to the Right, and this, not a great period for the band in my opinion.
They were an eclictic band imho so the music adapted
@ well they always made eclectic records. But ra, oops, oblivion, and pov were better than the three records I mentioned. I saw them a schmillion times as well as Todd solo. Love the stuff. Just those three records left me wanting better.
@@patrickthometz6365 I’d rather hear Swing To The Right than Ra or Oops, at this point. RA is especially tedious to my ears, these days. I love POV more than Oblivion, mostly for “Man Of Action” which I believe was only on the cassette.
@ i think the eclecticism came mainly from Rundgren. IIRC I read an article where the non Todd members of Utopia were wanting their records to be more straightforward as they had some commercial success at that time but TR is known for not really giving a damn for repeating himself and more into musical exploration. I think most Utopia albums are a clash of those interests. Weirdly I like the pop ones Adventures In Utopia and Deface The Music as their take on prog never did anything for me
@@atomiccritter6492 These are both outstanding albums !
Don't like willy. He did not like it... he should have left!
A matter of taste
In the end Kasim kinda owned the band .
Ummm what??
I think by the 80s generally Kasim's were the strongest tunes and performances .
@@patrickthometz6365 I see his point, in that Kaz has a TON of featured vocals from Oblivion on.