Classic & Current Contemporary Non-Schlock-Rock Metropolitan Music

Todd Rundgren, Joe Jackson, & ETHEL - 2005 (Pt. 4)

« Part 3

Todd Rundgren Autographs for the Kids

When the show was over, I found myself confronted with a little issue. Avalon and Annecy wanted to meet Todd and get his autograph. They seem to think that just because I have met rock stars over the years that it's a common occurrence.

Going home was my top priority, not autographs. I also remembered that Avalon, who was a big Talking Heads fan, had acted terrified when I introduced her to former singer David Byrne a couple of years earlier. Despite the fact that she had been looking forward to meeting him, she hid behind me and grabbed my arms when David tried to talk to her. That wasn't an experience I wanted to repeat.

But my kids didn't want to go home. They insisted on meeting Todd, as if there was something I could do to make this happen. I decided to see if we could talk to Todd for a few minutes to get a quote or two about the show to follow up our interview from a few weeks eariler. After going through a couple of channels, my message reached him, but he declined.

Surprisingly, however, my girls did end up meeting Todd that evening without my intervention. He was very sweet to them and autographed both of their tickets.

Todd is a nice guy who truly cares for his fans. At that 1983 show in Chapel Hill, Todd came off the stage in mid-song despite the pouring rain and went to the fence to shake hands with the die-hards who had remained after U2's electrifying performance. That's why his hair is wet in this picture. (I have no excuse for my silly hair-do.) I had asked for an interview earlier but he said he wasn't doing any that day. Later when he saw me walking towards him backstage after the show, he said, "Oh no, here she's comes with her notebook.". I said, "No, I'm not going to bug you about that. I'm just hoping for an autograph."

Funny, this was the first time I had ever asked for an autograph from anyone. By 1983, I wasn't the obsessive Todd fan I had been years ealier due to my focus on newer artists and the exciting changes in music that had been going on in the late 70s/early 80s. But considering Todd was my idol through much of the 1970s, and I wasn't going to get my interview, I wanted to have something. So I handed him my reporter's notepad and he autographed it for me. I'm not sure where that autograph is now but at least I have this picture of him signing my notepad. During our phone interview a few weeks ago, I directed Todd to a URL with this photo. I'll never forget his laugh as the picture rendered on his screen.

I will conclude with the obvious: Todd Rundgren really is A Wizard/A True Star. Although he's musically "gone where no rock star has gone before," the fact remains he is a terrific songwriter and entertainer. So why isn't Todd in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame??? Todd is way overdue for this honor. I hope some of the "rock and roll historians" on the Hall of Fame nominating committee get a chance to see this show.

If the Ethereal Six come your way, grab a ticket and go!

-- April 21, 2005 (DDT)

• DD's Concert Preview in goTriad (April 14, 2005)
• Part 1: Intro to The Ethereal Six
• Part 2: ETHEL's Strings, Joe Jackson's Piano
• Part 3: Todd Solo, Then Mix & Match
• Part 4: Todd Rundgren Autographs for the Kids