Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Todd for Hall of Fame?

U2, the Pretenders, Buddy Guy, the O'Jays, and Percy Sledge, as well as touring business architect Frank Barsalona and Sire Records head Seymour Stein as non-performers were all inducted into the Rock n Roll Hallof Fame today.

Hard to argue with any of them as far as I am concerned. But my one loyal reader J, asks me 'do you think Todd will ever get his rightful spot in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame?'

Last year Todd was asked the question and told the Scotsman that it was for guys who were dead or retired; and told the Australian Financial Review that if they put him in, the citation would say "If elected, will not serve".

I have to say, if I am honest, I think the dead or retired route is the one that will probably take him in; but it would be good to see it happen before then.

Speaking of messers Rundgren and Jackson ...

The Bristol Evening Post has an interview with the wonderful Jill Sobule who is in the UK for a handfull of gigs to promote new album 'Victorious Underdog' and both Todd and Joe get mentioned

Her first album [Things here are different'] was a critical success but this was not reflected in commercial sales.

"I think on that first album I hadn't really developed properly. I didn't really know who I was. It was a strange album. It was produced by Todd Rundgren. Todd's a great guy but he's crazy and he doesn't have many of the social graces.

"I mean, like it was the first time I had ever been in a studio and I would sing my first track and over the speaker you would hear 'Alright, that was adequate, let's move on to the next song'.

"So then I decided for my second record that Joe Jackson was going to produce me and that never came out."

I have mentioned this before, but 'Things here are Different' is a wonderful record, and one that should be in every music lover/singer songwriter lovers music collection.

Rundgren, Jackson tour hits UK

Good news folks, the Joe Jackson/Todd Rundgren tour is hiting UK shores in May.

The first set will consist of a 20 minute solo acoustic performance by string quartet Ethel, followed by 45-60 minute solo acoustic set performed by Joe Jackson, followed by a 45-60 minute set by Todd Rundgren. Finally, Todd and Joe will perform together with the string quartet backing them up for an extended encore.

Was worried that after last year, we may not see Todd back here for a while, so this is good news, and with the promise of a more 'best of' selection of material may please some of those people who just moaned constantly about last years Liars tour set.