Todd Rundgren is possibly the greatest unsung musical hero of the past 40 years. He is a remarkable singer and songwriter--not to mention producer, guitar player, and all around multi-instrumentalist--and should be mentioned in the same hushed tones as writers like Stevie Wonder and even Steve Winwood. But Rundgren was
(and is) a renegade and never played by the rules. He wanted to do things his way, and in this remarkable book,
Paul Myers writes with perception and detail about Runt's rebel ways.
The book is basically built on Rundgren's recordings and includes interviews with not only many of the musicians with whom he played but also the artists he was producing. These included Grand Funk Railroad, XTC, and Meat Loaf's classic
Bat Out of Hell album.
This is an honest appraisal of Rundgren's work and his relationships with other musicians, which could be strained at times. We find out that he was a master of sarcasm and not given to bestowing compliments on those working around him. It's not a flattering picture, but it is an unvarnished appraisal.
That's what makes this such a worthwhile read.
Todd Rundgren had the talent to be as big and successful as any superstar you can name,
but his art meant something else to him. On these pages, you'll read exactly what that was.
This is one of the better biographies you'll ever pick up.