4.03.2018

TODD RUNDGREN'S REUNION WITH UTOPIA PLAYING THE DETROIT FILLMORE


Todd Rundgren's Utopia Reunite!

Reuniting for First North American Tour in 32 years - Releasing Limited Edition “The Road To Utopia” Box Set

FOR 32 YEARS, FANS HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR A REUNION - The wait is over.

No longer able to turn a deaf ear to the unceasing requests from fans and the media alike, Todd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton, Willie Wilcox and Ralph Schuckett are reuniting for their first North American tour since the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded. Presented by Sirius XM and produced by Live Nation, TODD RUNDGREN’S UTOPIA will be performing across North America beginning on April 18.



In celebration of the upcoming reunion tour, Friday Music will be releasing a 7-disc box set, THE ROAD TO UTOPIA: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS (1974-82). This limited edition collection will bring each of their seven classic albums to life, now in first-time CD digipak gatefold covers featuring the original album artwork elements, rare inner sleeve art, newly written commentary from the band, and more. The box set has a scheduled street date of April 20. Fans can pre-order now at Friday Music, Amazon and Record Store Day.

Todd Rundgren’s Utopia was formed in 1974 out of Todd’s desire to explore new musical territory. Starting as a prog-rock-progenitor septet the band’s music ranged from extended synth experiments to four-song albums, while their live shows were distinguished by their ahead-of-the-curve video backdrops and computer-generated music.

In 1976 the band evolved into “Utopia”, the shiny mainstream power-pop rock quartet, uniting Todd Rundgren on guitar, Willie Wilcox on drums, Roger Powell on keyboards, and Kasim Sulton on bass. Known for their hallmark lyrics, lush inventive background vocals and a voracious appetite for the highest level of musicianship. Utopia became known as the quintessential “musician’s band”. Every member took his turn singing lead on every album, and all songwriting was collaborative.


By 1980, Utopia had developed into a hit-making entity in its own right. Standout Utopia albums included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion, spawning hits including “Rock Love,” “Set Me Free,” “Mated,” and “Love Is The Answer”, which also became a global #1 for England Dan and John Ford Coley.

Utopia’s tours, among the first to aggressively incorporate then-state-of-the-art video technology, produced at Todd’s groundbreaking Utopia Video Studios, featured some of the most lavish and audacious stage productions in rock history.

Their headline concerts frequently featured opening acts as future superstars Cheap Trick and The Cars, and the band performed at some of the 70’s most epic rock festivals, including Knebworth Castle in the UK --- once with the Rolling Stones in 1976 and twice with Led Zeppelin in 1979, before a combined audience of over 1,200,000 (amongst them a Who’s Who of rock royalty, including Paul McCartney and David Gilmour) .


Always on the bleeding edge, Utopia chalked up a long history of groundbreaking media “firsts”, including:

• 1978: The first interactive television concert, broadcast live over Warner/QUBE, the experimental interactive cable system in Columbus, Ohio (the home television audience chose each song in real time during the concert by voting via QUBE’s 2-way operating system).
• 1978: The first live nationally broadcast stereo radio rock concert (via microwave), linking 40 cities around the country.
• 1982: The first live national cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network), simulcast in stereo to over 120 radio stations.
In 1986, after ten years of non-stop recording and arena touring cycles, the band declared they were “going on sabbatical”, and Todd, Willie, Roger and Kas each embarked on their own career paths.

What’s been happening with the Utopians during the world’s longest ever sabbatical?

Todd Rundgren returned to his stellar solo recording and producing career. His myriad production projects ranged from Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, XTC, and Psychedelic Furs to Grand Funk Railroad, Hall & Oates, and Meat Loaf’s seminal Bat Out Of Hell, while his solo offerings catapulted Todd further into the superstar limelight with hits like “Can We Still be Friends”, and “Bang The Drum”; in addition to his own tours, Todd has been an erstwhile member of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band for the past 28 years.

Kasim Sulton continued touring and recording with a long list of diverse artists including Joan Jett, Hall & Oates, Blue Oyster Cult, Patti Smith, Celine Dion, and Meat Loaf.

In 1993 Kasim joined Meat Loaf’s live band after the release of Bat Out Of Hell II, touring extensively and becoming his Musical Director. In 1999 he produced Meat Loaf’s critically acclaimed VH1 Storytellers album. Releasing four solo albums of his own, Kasim has continued his long musical relationship with Todd as the bass player in his solo bands.

Willie Wilcox continued to pursue his songwriting career. Having written songs for & performed with Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Meat Loaf, Hall & Oates, and Kylie Minogue positioned Willie perfectly for his segue into television writing.

He was the senior staff composer for NBC Universal in NY for 5 years and composed the current show theme for CNBC’s “Mad Money,” launched a major audio post production facility in Miami with clients MTV & VH1, penned famed boxer Manny Pacquiao’s ring walk music, and continues to maintain his position as senior audio director at Scientific Games, the number one gaming company in the world, where he recently completed the surround sound audio production on the blockbuster Michael Jackson game, “King Of Pop!”


Ralph Schuckett: Ralph’s tenure with Todd Rundgren’s Utopia segued into composing themes & scores for TV & Film including “Kate & Allie” & “Another World.” As chief composer for “4 Kids Productions” he scored numerous feature films & animated TV series including; “Pokémon,” “Yugioh,” “Sonic X,” “Kirby,” & “One Piece.”

He has recorded and /or toured with Carole King, Hall & Oates, Whitney Houston, George Benson, and Rodney Crowell, and provided arrangements on recordings for Billy Joel, Michael Bolton. and Joan Osborne. As a songwriter / producer Ralph has worked with Belinda Carlisle, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Clarence Clemons.

As fate would have it, in early April Todd, Kas, Willie and Ralph will find themselves back in Woodstock New York, 32 years later, right where it all started, rehearsing their newest stage spectacle.

TODD RUNDGREN'S UTOPIA North American reunion tour, featuring Todd, Kasim, Willie, & Ralph, begins on April 18 and ends on June 5 (tour dates below). Tickets and more information are available at Live Nation, Ticketmaster and all Ticketmaster outlets.



THE FIRST REUNION ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW – WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e3Wrps2zr0

TODD RUNDGREN’S UTOPIA TOUR DATES

APRIL 18 JIM THORPE PA, PENNS PEAK
APRIL 20 ENGLEWOOD NJ, BERGEN PAC
APRIL 22 HOUSTON TX, HOUSE OF BLUES
APRIL 23 DALLAS TX, MAJESTIC THEATER
APRIL 25 BROWARD FL, BROWARD PAC
APRIL 27 ST PETERSBURG FL, MAHAFFEY THEATER
APRIL 28 ATLANTA GA, TABERNACLE
APRIL 29 DURHAM NC, CAROLINA THEATER
MAY 1 HUNTINGTON NY, PARAMOUNT THEATER
MAY 2 WASHINGTON DC, WARNER THEATER
MAY 3 NEW YORK NY, TOWN HALL
MAY 5 PHILADELPHIA PA, TOWER THEATER
MAY 6 BOSTON MA, ORPHEUM THEATER
MAY 7 RIDGEFIELD CT, RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE
MAY 9 ST LOUIS MO, PEABODY OPERA HOUSE
MAY 10 CINCINNATI OH, TAFT THEATER
MAY 12 MILWAUKEE WI, PABST THEATER
MAY 13 MINNEAPOLIS MN, STATE THEATER
MAY 15 GRAND RAPIDS MI, 20 MONROE LIVE
MAY 16 TORONTO ONT, MASSEY HALL
MAY 17 DETROIT MI, THE FILLMORE
MAY 19 CLEVELAND OH, HARD ROCK LIVE
MAY 20 CLEVELAND OH, HARD ROCK LIVE
MAY 22 CHICAGO IL, CHICAGO THEATER
MAY 24 DENVER CO, PARAMOUNT THEATER
MAY 26 LAS VEGAS NV, THE JOINT @ THE HARD ROCK
MAY 27 PHOENIX AZ, COMERICA THEATER
MAY 29 LOS ANGELES CA, THE WILTERN
MAY 30 SAN FRANCISCO CA, THE MASONIC
JUNE 1 SEATTLE WA, MOORE THEATER
JUNE 2 PORTLAND OR, REVOLUTION THEATER
JUNE 4 SACRAMENTO CA, CREST THEATER
JUNE 5 RIVERSIDE CA, FOX PAC

3.13.2018

BOOKIE'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION


BOOKIE'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION
Saturday, March 17, at the New Way Bar, Ferndale
And it's FREE!

On March 17, 1978, Bookie's Club 870 became Detroit's answer to New York's C.B.G.B., The Whiskey A-Go-Go in L.A., and London's Marquee Club. Bookie's hosted shows by The Police, Iggy Pop, J. Geils, The Damned, Ultravox, The Dead Boys, and many other international punk and New Wave performers.

It also served as a home base for Detroit area bands like The Sillies, The Romantics, former MC-5 and Stooges members like Ron Asheton, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson and their then-current bands. At least three live albums have been released of Bookie's concerts and a new two-record set of Iggy Pop's five day residency is now being released in the UK.


The Bookie's 40th Anniversary Reunion will be held Saturday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) at the New Way Bar on Woodward, roughly 3 miles north of the original Bookie's. Admission is FREE. There will be posters and photos on display that night as well as live performances from The Sillies (who started the club) the ORIGINAL members of R.U.R., plus members of Coldcock, Flirt, The Seatbelts, and other guests.


The New Way Bar is at 23130 Woodward Avenue, 3 blocks north of Nine Mile (1/2 block north of Cambourne) in Ferndale.

3.04.2018

CONGRATULATIONS! JIM BAADE WINS SILVER MEDAL AT AAF ADDY AWARDS


Documentary filmmaker: writer, producer, editor and director. Broadcast creative director & voice over talent Jim Baade was honored with a silver medal!

Silver Medal Award Winners at the 41st Annual American Advertising Federation AAF Addy Awards Ceremony at Northbank Center, Feb. 23. Pictured from left to right is newest inductee Jim Baade, Stephanie K. Confer, Chris McDonald, John Tracy, Tom Reynolds, Laurie Prochazka, Lueida Grady, Karl Olmsted and Dave Perry. (photo by Eric Dutro)

Jim Baade holds his Addy with CARS 108 Mornings Hosts Pat and AJ (left) and Dave Perry
(photo by Eric Dutro)
Jim Baade was awarded the Silver Medal Award at the 41st Annual American Advertising Federation Awards Ceremony. Established in 1959, the honor represents outstanding contributions in advertising and furthering the industry's standards of creative excellence and responsibility in social concern.

Dave Perry awards Jim Baade with the AAF Silver Medal Award.(photo by Molly Baade)

Beginning his career at the legendary album rock station: 105 FM "Flint Best Rock" when Flint radio legend Peter C. Cavanaugh hired him. 'Badboy Baade" soon was spinning vinyl on the all-night show at the number one station in America. Afterward, establishing himself with awarding winning commercials and campaigns, Baade remains one of the most recognizable voices in Greater Flint.

WATCH LOCAL DJ HERE



LOCAL DJ - THE STORY OF FLINT ROCK N' ROLL - 2016 Documentary - HD (Best Quality) from JIM BAADE on Vimeo.

2.27.2018

NEW BOOK: THE GHOSTS OF JIM MORRISON PHANTOM OF DETROIT FATES OF ROCK N ROLL


My name is R.D Francis, a U.S based rock journalist. I have self-published my first book, “The Ghosts of Jim Morrison, The Phantom of Detroit, and the Fates of Rock n’ Roll,” the story behind the 1974 Capitol Records’ release, Phantom’s Divine Comedy: Part 1, which many rock fans believed was a Jim Morrison solo album—not realizing “The Phantom” was a Detroit-based musician who worked alongside Bob Seger and Suzi Quatro during his career.



In 1974, Capitol Records issued an unremarkable hard-rock album. Receiving a low-key release and promoted through an underground marketing campaign, the album received limited—sometimes scoffing, sometime favorable—press attention for its eerie similarities to a famed rock ‘n’ roll icon who perished under mysterious circumstances three years earlier.

Some audiophiles questioned the recordings as a lost solo album recorded prior to that iconic musician’s death; others believed the icon still alive, in hiding and recording music; others believed the album an elaborate hoax—a prefabricated band created by musicians and producers looking to profit on the celebrity of a deceased rock star.



To this day, some music journalists dismiss this phantasmal effort as a “comical” concept album: a parody of the then trendy, excessive and bloated rock operas created during the emergence of the progressive-rock epoch of the late Sixties and early Seventies.

This is the ethereal tale of that wizard of Detroit and his epic encounter with the storied Lizard King of Los Angeles. This is a historical journey of the Phantom’s time; a melodious trek through the excitements and the innovations, a musical expedition through the hypes and excesses and the successes and failures of the rock ‘n’ roll music industry and one of its mythical creations: 1974’s Phantom's Divine Comedy: Part 1.

This is the story of the man who replaced Jim Morrison in the Doors.

2.18.2018

BLUES LEGEND POPA CHUBBY IS BACK AT CALLAHANS MAR 9-10


Blues legend Popa Chubby will be performing at Callahan’s in Auburn Hills, MI on March 9-10, 2018. The Chubbster will be playing selections from his latest release "Two Dogs", as well as selections from Chubby's prolific 25 year career.

Popa Chubby Tour Dates:
February
26 - New York, NY - BB King’s
March
2-3 - San Francisco, CA - Biscuits & Blues
8 - Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club
9-10 - Auburn Hills, MI - Callahan’s
16 - Beverly, MA - 9 Wallis
17 - Woonsocket, RI - Chan’s
23 - Stanhope, NJ – Stanhope House
April
7 - Hartford, CT - Black Eyed Sally’s
11 - Wyomissing, PA - Berks Jazz Festival
13 - Albany, NY - Upper Room
14 - N. Truro, MA - Provincetown Town Hall
May
11 - Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House
12 - Fairfield, CT - Stage One
June
1 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Mauch Chunk Opera House
2 - Hagerstown, MD - Western Maryland Blues Festival



Ted Horowitz aka Popa Chubby's new 2017 album "Two Dogs" might be his most personal one: "People ask me why 2 dogs? It's an old fable – 2 dogs, 2 wolves", says Popa Chubby. "We have become polarized as a race. There is a battle inside each of us.

Each day we rise and must choose our path calling upon each other and our own spirits for strength and courage. The dog we feed is the one that rules the dog we starve dies of neglect. It is up to each of us to use our spirit to feed the dog that will enable all of us to thrive.

I believe in the triumph of the human spirit, I believe that a grain of hope is more powerful than a mountain of fear. And I believe I love. We are here to love. Love each other, love the gift that is this life, and love music. So my dear friends, I make this offering to you with love, hope and the awareness that the dog I feed is the one that will help me to bring all the love in my soul to you."

Medium 1
It's Alright
Rescue Me
Preexisting Conditions
Sam Lay's Pistol
Two Dogs
Dirty Old Blues
Shakedown
Wound Up Getting High
Cayophus Dupree
Me Won't Back Down
Chubby's Boogie
Sympathy For The Devil (Bonus Track)
Hallelujah (Bonus Track)

2.05.2018

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR ELTON JOHN FAREWELL IN DETROIT


Etickets.ca‎ Elton John at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Elton John will be in Detroit, Michigan Oct 10, performing his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Don't miss it! Etickets.ca has seats and tickets available for show at The Little Caesars Arena

Tickets still available for Elton John at Little Caesars Arena on Etickets.ca

1.31.2018

DETROIT DRUMMER MIKKI STEVENS HAS DIED

Mikki Stevens Rikki St James Sirius Trixon Glenn Dean and Jim Jam photo: S. Rynski

MIKKI STEVENS: R.I.P.

Detroit rock drummer Mikki Stevens (Michael J. Gerbino) passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the age of 64 while undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

Mikki and Rikki rip (photo: retrokimmer.com 2013)

Mikki Stevens was the former drummer for the legendary Detroit rock band Sirius Trixon & The Motor City Bad Boys, he replaced Dennis "Machinegun" Thompson of the MC5. He also played drums with Johnny Angelos & The Reputations, Moose & Da Sharks, The Motor City Rockers and The Randy Volin Blues Band.


photo: S. Rynski

Mikki Stevens will be sadly missed by his friends in the Detroit music community and those who shared his passion for restoring vintage cars.

Memorial Service at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons funeral home, 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile Road), Sterling Heights, Michigan on Saturday, February 3rd at 7:30pm. Visitation from 3-5pm and 7-9pm
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