aient Utopia: `We're Somewhat Successful' Togetherness Pays Off for Rundgren-Founded Band is Furs and the Tubes. Rundgren there," Rundgren says about BY KIM FREEMAN was also an early video pioneer. whether a song can reach the top on NEW YORK While Utopia's nine Keyboardist Roger Powell has re- its musical merits alone. "How else previous albums haven't been spec- leased two solo Bearsville albums do you explain all the substandard tacular sellers, the group has devel- and has just developed a software stuff on the radio ?" oped different measures of success. package called "Texture" for pro- Nonetheless, the "POV" album According to bassist /vocalist Ka- gramming several synthesizers has a much clearer shot at the pop sim Sulton, "We're somewhat suc- through one computer. Drummer charts than Utopia's work in the cessful just for staying together for Wilcox will be debuting a synthe- late '70s, a direction all band mem- nine years." And, drummer Willie sized drum kit built on a motorcycle bers agree was set in motion with Wilcox adds, "We've been making a frame during Utopia's upcoming 1982's "Swing To The Right." living at it for the last eight years." three -month tour with the Tubes. While Rundgren has long been This togetherness is no small feat Former Cherry Vanilla accompanist recognized as an explorer of video's for a group whose four members Sulton has contributed his bass and more artistic possibilities, he's also have all done fairly well in solo ca- vocal abilities to Meat Loaf and Tom voiced numerous complaints about reers, usually simultaneous with Robinson projects, and has two EMI what he refers to as the medium's their Utopia ties. The band's America solo albums to his name. currently "autistic" state as a pro- founder Todd Rundgren has 16 solo One might think this lineup of ac- motional tool. Despite Rundgren's albums in his discography and a complished musicians would create disdain for promo videos, he says Wham Bam. George Michael and Andrew Ridgely of Wham! accept the string of production credits that a battle-strewn band. But all mem- the possibility exists that the band audience's ovation at the first of six shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York. ranges from Meat Loaf and Daryl bers say their solo careers are a may make a clip. "We're very much (Photo: Chuck Pulin) Hall & John Oates to the Psychedel- plus to Utopia's output, with each in the game" he says, adding, "We member contributing equal parts. might make a commercial for our For Rundgren, the collaborative records at some point." band approach is an advantage. In the meantime, two long -form Elliot Easton Gets Into the Driver's Seat "I'm a very insular solo artist, doing Utopia videos are being touted with almost everything alone," he says. an order form on the "POV" album said `Now what are we going to do ego trip. It's an album of songs." The appeal of Utopia, adds Rund- sleeve. Both are distributed BY ETHLIE ANN VARE with these songs ?' And he said, If Easton seems low -keyed and gren, "is that we have a basic un- through Passport's Music Video LOS ANGELES Guitarist Elliot `You sing them.' " less than nervous about the success derstanding when we work togeth- wing. "Utopia-Live At The Royal Easton of the Cars wants the best A six-song demo led to a two -rec- of his album, it may be that he has er, a kind of modus operandi." Oak" is footage from a 1981 concert of both worlds, and sees no reason ord deal with the Cars' label, and to the substantial support system of As Utopia's second Passport /Jem in Detroit, while "Utopia -A Retro- why he can't have it. an eight-week recording session at the Cars cushioning him: Elliot Rob- album "POV" creeps up Billboard's spective" is a "historical artifact of "I'd like to continue doing Cars al- the Cars' Synchrosound Studios in erts of Lookout Management for Top Pop Albums chart, Rundgren the band," according to Rundgren. bums, and making my own al- Boston. Easton's solo album was ac- guidance, ATI for booking, an open appears dubious of the project's po- bums," says Easton, whose first tually completed while the Cars' door at Elektra. He will go on the tential to hit it big without a major solo effort, "Change No Change," "Heartbeat City" was being mixed road with his own backing band indie promotion push behind it. - has just been released by Elektra. in New York. Stephen Hague, for- starting in May. "There's a lot of naive people out "Ric [Ocasek] produces bands and merly one of Shears' Polar Bears, does solo albums; Greg [Hawkes] co- produced with John Matthias; does experimental electronic music; Shear provided background vocals. L.A.'s Palace Plays Host Ben [Orr] is due to make an album. With a video of the single It's not like the Cars rush into the "(Wearing Down) Like A Wheel" studio every six months." completed and initial radio reports All -Star Show Raises Funds for Homeless After eight years with Boston's favorable, Easton says he's satis- platinum quintet, Easton claims fied with the progress of his project. squeezed into the Palace roared to The band was generally propelled that neither artistic frustration nor "There's an added responsibility BY FAYE ZUCKERMAN Jackson Browne's version of Little by Manzarek and saxophonist Ken- any desire to be his own boss led to when it's your baby," he says. LOS ANGELES Raising funds for Steven Van Zandt's "I Am A Patri- zie. Manzarek pointed out that one the solo album. Rather, he says, it The sound of "Change No the homeless of Los Angeles was ot." Browne also joined Wilson and purpose the event served was pro- was the result of a just- for -fun Change" is, not surprisingly, more the purpose of a March 10 benefit the Bangles for a compelling ver- viding a sense of community for Los songwriting marathon with collabo- guitar -based than that of the parent concert at the Palace, hosted by sion of the Crystals classic "Da Doo Angeles. "Sure, we could sit at rator Jules Shear, leader of the Po- band. As Easton puts it, "If you lis- such rock veterans as Brian Wilson, Ron Ron." home and write out a donation lar Bears and composer of "All ten to what I do within the Cars, Jackson Browne, Mick Fleetwood, Other highlights included X check," he said. "But events like Through The Night." take that fifth and expand it into a Christine McVie and Doors key - frontman John Doe's version of these make people aware of the is- "It was totally unpremeditated," whole thing of itself, that's my al- boardist Ray Manzarek. "Bring It On Home To Me," and the sues, and give visibility to problems says Easton. "Jules and I found bum. It's not your typical solo al- The evening's highlight was a Bangles' performance of a re -word- facing our community." ourselves with over 20 songs, and bum, 40 minutes of guitar solos. No medley of Beach Boys classics, ed "California Dreaming," which Phil Alvin of the Blasters topped which paired a slender Wilson with outlined the plight of the homeless. the benefit with a solo performance the Bangles. Also featured in the And a stage -shy Molly Ringwald of "Brother Can You Spare A program was a makeshift band com- ( "The Breakfast Club" and "Six- Dime ?" Textones members Carla Miller Commits to 16 Acts prised of Kathy Valentine of the Go- teen Candles ") partnered with Be- Olson and Phil Seymour closed the Go's on guitar, drummer John Her - linda Carlisle from the Go -Go's and show with an energetic perfor- nandis from Oingo Boingo, former Suzanna Hoffs from the Bangles mance of "Standin' In The Line" Brewer Sets Full- Year Sponsorship Thompson Twin Roger O'Donnell, for an animated version of "Mid- and "Midnight Mission." LOS ANGELES The Miller Brew- nage and merchandising materials Phil Kenzie, David Lindley, Gary night Confession." ing Co. has made a full -year market- will be provided for every show Myrick, Phil Chen and Manzarek. ing commitment to 16 U.S. rock played by the groups, which are The three -hour event raised a re- groups for the fourth "American both national and regional touring ported $50,000, which will be distrib- PUBLICITY Rock Network." acts, Reynolds says. The same logo uted to L.A.'s homeless via the In- Bands selected by Gary M. Reyn- will be utilized in all advertising for ner City Law Center and event or- PRINTS olds Associates of Hales Corners, the groups' appearances. ganizer Kelly Pope. Local DJ Eddie Lithographed On Heavy Gloss Stock 19,200 Miller include: Bel Airs, Co- Free T- shirts and caps, MC. Wis. for painters' X acted as the event's BLACK & WHITE 8x10's lumbus, Ohio; Caruso, Trenton, carrying names of individual bands, The 1,400 -plus patrons who 1000 - 80.00 Mich.; Chameleon, Minneapolis; DC will be provided "by the thou- 500 - $55.00 Star, Baltimore, Md.; the Del Fue- sands," according to Reynolds. COLOR 1000 - $376.00 SEATS gos, Boston; Deluxury, Chicago; the For the first time, Miller through For the Record Entertainers and Sugar Creek, Reynolds is producing a promotion- Above Prices Include Typesetting S. Freight Charlotte, N.C.; Fayreweather, al album, which will carry a cut The name of the group Odin was Send 8x10 Photo - Check or M.O. Cleveland; Magnum, Easton, Pa.; from each of the 16 bands. Reynolds misspelled in a recent Boxscore list- Full Color & B/W Posters Paris One, Boulder, Colo.; the Pro- is negotiating with a label to carry ing (Billboard, March 2). And the Composites - Cards - Other Sizes ducers, Atlanta; Son Seals Band, the corporate logo on the recording. promoter was incorrectly indenti- Send For Catalog & Samples ra Chicago; Steve Smith & the Nakeds, The correlated label will also have fied for a recent Alabama show at reunion arena Providence; Telluride, Birmingham, first recording rights to any of the the South Florida Fairgrounds PICTURES 777 Sports Street Ala., and Joe "King" Carrasco & 16 acts on this year's Miller promo- (Billboard, March 16). The show 1867 E. Florida, Dept. BB Dallas, Texas 75207 the Crowns, Austin, Tex. tion. was promoted by Fantasma Produc- Springfield, MO 65803 (214) 658 -7070 "Miller High Life Presents" sig- JOHN SIPPEL tions. (4171 869-9433 Or 8643456

BILLBOARD MARCH 23, 1985 37 www.americanradiohistory.com