CD/DVD Releases: Todd Rundgren To Record ''Live'' Wizard /True Star DVD/CD

Todd Rundgren today announced that he will film and record his A Wizard, A True Star concert for a forthcoming live DVD and live CD when he plays the Palace Theater in Stamford, Connecticut on 9th September. The two-disc set is scheduled for an early 2010 release through Music Publishing Corporation of America's label, Hi Fi Recordings.

The live recordings will include an all-star line-up consisting of former members of Utopia, The Cars, Meat Loaf's band, and The Tubes: Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar), Roger Powell (synthesizers and keyboards), Greg Hawkes (synthesizers and keyboards), Kasim Sulton (bass), Jesse Gress (guitar), Bobby Strickland (percussion), and Prairie Prince (drums).

The tour will mark the first time Rundgren has performed the this highly influential prog rock album in its entirety (there are several songs from AWATS that have never been performed live anywhere, full-stop).

AWATS dates currently on sale include:

* Akron Civic Center, Akron, Ohio - 6th September 2009
* Akron Civic Center, Akron, Ohio - 7th September 2009
* Palace Theater, Stamford, Connecticut - 9th September 2009
* Strathmore Hall, North Bethesda, Maryland - 10th September 2009
* Park West, Chicago - 12th September 2009
* Park West, Chicago - 13th September 2009
* State Theatre, Minneapolis - 15th September 2009
* HMV London Hammersmith Apollo - 6th February 2010
* The Paradiso, Amsterdam - 8th February 2010

Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

From the UK press release: Rock 'n' roll icon, guitar genius, interactive progenitor, consummate singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Rundgren will perform his paradigm shifting 1973 album, A Wizard, A True Star (known to the cognoscenti as AWATS) in its entirety for the first time ever in Britain on Saturday, February 6th 2010 at the London HMV Hammersmith Apollo, which will be Todd's only UK performance of the seminal album which is hailed as an influential masterpiece by today's new bands, including Hot Chip.

Tickets for this historic concert went on sale Wednesday May 27th. Tickets are priced ?48.50, ?45.00, ?40.00, ?32.00 (Agency and credit card bookings subject to a fee).

Ticket Hotline: 08700 603 777
Online Booking: www.seetickets.com
Venue Box Office: 08448 44 47 48
Venue Website: www.hammersmithapollo.net
Venue Address: 45 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9QH

This rare British premiere will be Rundgren's first and only UK concert since last year's Arena album tour. In addition to his being a multi-talented musician and singer/songwriter and performer, Rundgren is also regarded as one of the best record producers of all time (XTC, Meat Loaf, Patti Smith Group, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad). His most recent critically acclaimed album production, 'Cause I Sez So, reunited him for the first time in 36 years with the legendary New York Dolls.

Although Rundgren's breakthrough 1972 album, Something/Anything? is considered by many to be his masterpiece, the psychedelic impact and bordering-on-disturbing innovation of the follow-up, AWATS, is arguably Rundgren's most experimental and influential album. Stand-out tracks include "International Feel," "Rock & Roll *****," [Really? ed.], "You Don't Have To Camp Around," "Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel," "Zen Archer" and "Just Another Onionhead."

The album's closer, "Just One Victory," has been included as an encore favorite in both Rundgren's and Utopia's live sets over the decades, but this will be the first time in Britain that he will perform the whole record live onstage, from start to finish. The first half of the concert will feature a selection of Rundgren's songs throughout his career, while the second half of the show will consist of the entirety of A Wizard, A True Star.

A Wizard, A True Star is hailed as one of the most influential and pioneering progressive rock album recordings of all time. Originally released in 1973 (the longest running album on vinyl, clocking in at nearly one hour of running time: 55:56), much of the album is an extended medley after the fashion of The Beatles' late recordings. The effect of the songs merging one into another was immediate, infectious and dazzling; the lyrical content was often at once both tongue in cheek and hallucinogenic.

Side One of the album includes a cover version of "Never Never Land" from the Broadway version of Peter Pan. Side Two features a legendary medley of covers of doo-wop and pop soul hits, including "I'm So Proud," "Ooh Baby, Baby," "La La Means I Love You" and "Cool Jerk." Arthur Wood illustrated the psychedelic cover painting that graced the original packaging.

First editions of the vinyl LP were die-cut and included a "band aid" poem written by the punk poet Patti Smith, and a short bio about the album, as well as a postcard encouraging purchasers to send their name to be included on a poster in Rundgren's next album; the eponymous Todd.

[Source: Noble PR]