Utopia (rock band)

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Utopia was a progressive rock band led by Todd Rundgren that was together roughly from 1973 to 1987. After two recorded live albums in 1974 and 1975, Utopia became a four-man-band that, like The Beatles, rotated lead vocals and writing credits, though Rundgren was the undisputed leader. Aware of their many parallels to the Beatles, Utopia's 1980 album Deface the Music was a series of half-serious style parodies, not unlike the songs "Weird Al" Yankovic occasionally makes when aping a popular band's style but not a specific song.

One distinctive feature of Utopia was its range--from psychedelic 70s rock to soul to blues to arena rock to heavy metal. Another was the band's unabashed optimism, as evidenced in its very name. Though the band had satirical political songs, showcased on 1982's Swing to the Right and plenty of bitter heartbreak songs, it was best known for its hopeful, uplifting spirit, which is why its live shows often ended with the hit "Love Is the Answer" from the 1977 album, Oops! Wrong Planet. This theme resonated with its utopian fan-base--a mix of older Rundgren fans and Utopia's own starry-eyed followers, who tried to carry hippie idealism on through the barren early-1980s. "Love Is the Answer" later became a big hit for England Dan & John Ford Coley.

Although they had only one song hit the Top 40 in 1980 with Set Me Free, they achieved cult status throughout the 1980s with their albums, concert performances and videos that were shown on MTV early years.

Rundgren had a successful solo career before, during, and after Utopia, but his bandmates also had modest success beyond Utopia. Roger Powell worked in electronic music. Willie Wilcox gained modest fame for his unique motorcycle-shaped drum kit and his percussive talents, and bassist Kasim Sulton toured as a bandmember with Meat Loaf, Joan Jett and others. Though the band broke up in the mid-1980s, they reunited briefly in 1992, yielding a live album. Various members have continued to work with Rundgren in the intervening years. In 2005 Rundgren and Sulton began working together again in a new lineup of The Cars. After Elliot Easton broke his left clavical following a tour bus accident, The New Cars took a hiatus. During this hiatus, Kasim took on some work with Meat Loaf and Todd to support Bat out of Hell III'.

Since agreeing to help Meat Loaf to tour, he has himself taken a hiatus from The New Cars, but will rejoin with them as soon as possible. Currently, the rest of The New Cars (along with a stand-in bassist) are planning to resume their stalled tour along with Blondie. [1]

[edit] Discography

Albums

• Todd Rundgren's Utopia, 1974
• Another Live, 1975
• Ra, 1977
• Oops! Wrong Planet, 1977
• Adventures in Utopia, 1979
• Deface the Music, 1980
• Swing to the Right, 1982
• Utopia, 1983
• Oblivion, 1984
• P.O.V., 1985
• Trivia, 1986 (Compilation)
• Redux '92: Live in Japan, 1992

[edit] Singles

• Communion With The Sun, 1976
• Love Is the Answer, 1977
• Set Me Free, 1980
• The Very Last Time, 1980
• Second Nature, 1980
• I Just Want To Touch You, 1981
• One World, 1982
• Lysistrata, 1982
• Hammer In My Heart, 1982
• Feet Don’t Fail Me Now, 1983
• Crybaby, 1984
• Love With A Thinker, 1984
• Mated, 1985