In the "my God, it's a small world" category, we ran into Todd and Michelle at Costco in Lihue, Kauai 10 days ago.
Costco...........where the elite meet!
Mike Bone
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I might give this a listen - thanks. And thanks for calling out Maron. That needed to be said!
Jeremy Shatan
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Exactly, Bob!
Maron is untouchable with comedians, good with actors, but a mere fanboy with musicians. Forget about Todd; he barely knew who Herb Alpert is and what he's accomplished.
And yes, he takes criticism poorly, speaking from personal experience.
(Also agree the Todd podcast was way too short, but maybe that was all he'd been prepped for by Paul Myers.)
Oy!
Cheers,
Richard Pachter
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Maron should take notes from Howard Stern, who is far and away the best celebrity interviewer around. He (and his staff) do a fantastic job of researching the interviewee and preparing before they ever come into the studio. Dilettantes like Maron should take note and learn from the master.
Wyllys Ingersoll
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You’re gonna hate this but…
I really like Marc Maron and Bob Lefsetz is just envious. Bob is an egomaniacal blowhard with an opinion, that’s it. I heard the podcast yesterday and it isn’t very good because Todd is a bore with long pauses between the bore. I also have never liked anything he has done musically, ever.
Hope all is well with you and the family.
John Cuniberti
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I’ve got a podcast episode suggestion for you. Kenny Aronoff on the Rock Solid podcast from last week. I was amazed at how articulate, educated, and honest he was. One of the best podcasts I’ve heard in a long time. The guy has played on everything.I think you’ll really enjoy it.
feeds.feedburner.com/NNFRock Dave Livingston
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Right on about Maron. I felt the same way listening to his Dweezil Zappa interview. There's nothing worse then a clueless interviewer who is more interested in hearing his own voice then the person he's interviewing.
Now I'll check out The Rundgren interview and suffer thru Maron.
Brad Hirsch
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one thing I have to differ with is that Popovich made the album a hit.
Having worked for CBS REcords and then Epic in Cleveland at that time, it was the muscle of EPIC
Promotion team along with Poppy that made that album successful.
Gary Wisner
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"Marc Maron is absolutely terrible. He's so uninformed."
I can't do it. I can't listen to this podcast even though I'd love to listen to Rundgren spin his stories. Because I know what'll happen. As much as I enjoy hearing Todd speak, Maron will make my blood pressure will go through the roof. Because it's happened many times before.
I remember watching the King of poorly researched interviews -- Larry King -- interview both Brian Wilson and Olivia Harrison (separately).
King asked Brian who wrote and produced the Beach Boys music — and was genuinely surprised Brian did both. Seriously.
And, in an incredibly awkward exchange, King mentioned to Olivia Harrison that she must have been flattered when George wrote Something for her. Olivia bit her tongue, her face twisted into a smile/grimace, and waited for King to ask his next question.
More class than I would have shown. Both times, I was screaming at my TV.
Finally, to give Andy P credit, he has long conceded that Todd did an amazing job on Skylarking and his approach was the right one (even if Andy still thinks Todd's tact and personal skills had lots to be desired.)
David Veitch
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Hello Bob. The episode was interesting, but you need to read Paul Myers' Wizard A True Star production bio where he spills in great detail about working with the Dolls, Patti Smith, The Band, the Furs...so many more. Best rock nerd bio ever. And Paul Myers is a more than worthy interviewer...
Grant Blaisdell
www.amazon.com/Wizard-True-Star-Rundgren-studio/dp/1906002339 _________________________________________
Todd iz Godd...
Randy
St. Louis
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Funny he makes fun of the vinyl craze since a Todd 12" vinyl was released for Record Store Day. 500 copies. I have a great photo of him live with a fan banner in the background. Todd is god.
Pat Kauchick
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Can't wait to hear the Todd interview. I was totally going to pass on it till I read your recommendation.
If you haven't had a chance to catch yet, I highly recommend you listen to the William Friedkin interview of recent... really amazing stuff!
Enjoy !
In solidarity and gratitude ,
Shiva Baum
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if only there were more artists like TR and more listeners who appreciated his genius.
Steven Gietka
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In his defense, Maron is a great interviewer of comedians (but I agree he has gotten a little , but musicians? Good christ, awful. Take your pick...I'm a Replacements and the Tommy Stinson interview angers me.
Keith R. Higgons
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Absolutely nailed it. Maron also blew it recently with Dweezil Zappa, he's lucky these guys have the class to push through his lack of homework.
Chris Chambers
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I like your emails a lot, but I think you are wrong about Marc Maron. I'll admit his interview style can be a little lazy with little research being done. But he's a great interviewer seeing as how he was able to get such a good interview out of Rundgren (and hundreds of other musicians).
And as far as grabbing fame goes, you're way off about Maron there. I don't think you can say that he's all about fame and gaining popularity when he's had over 600 episodes, and he's interviewed people that aren't very recognizable but know a lot about their respective field (e.g. He wanted to interview you).
I'm all for not wanting to kiss ass and all, but come on; don't just talk shit about people for no real reason.
Austin Bourn
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Really, really like Maron, but you are so correct, Bob. Beecause he "luvs" vinyl, has an ol' skool take on his turntable & sound system, and he enjoys bangin blues on his electric guitar, you expect him to be able to have a compelling authentic coversation with his guest(s). I haven't heard his cast with TR, but several months agoI I did bore in on his show with good friend Peter Guralnick, and Marc clearly had done zero homework. Guralnick was patient but direct. On the other hand, I was incredulous, last spring, when he posted the pic of the Prez in his garage...I figured it was a life size "Elvis" type cut out, but was blown away when I locked on the Obama conversation...amazing for Barack, even more so for Maron (even though Maher can't get him).
Call 'em like ya Hear 'em, Bob!
TY
Today Media/SXM Elvis Radio
Memphis
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Dead on.
- Bruce Gow
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Once again, a Bang on assessment BL. Thanks for giving me a breath of hope in this industry I took up at an age when I should be slowing down, not speeding up.
Cheers Robert.
Les Horne
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As a regular Maron WTF listener, I can tell you that his method, while unorthodox (intentionally not doing much research before each interview) is what makes his conversations so compelling. You said it up front, "You must listen to this podcast, you will find out more about record production than any seminar will teach you."
To then criticize him for being uninformed misses the point. It was a real conversation with things being learned along the way, and that is what made it great. I don't think he "blows interviews with musicians" at all. I always end up learning a ton about them in a way that I don't hear anywhere else. You may not be used to hearing it done that way, but I think it's genius.
-Dave Lackey
-Inner Sanctum Audio
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May be my fave ever Bob - THANK YOU - clearly I love TR !! ya know, come to think of it you're a lot like Todd, which is probably why I devour every word of your missives!
I always learn something cool - like the Laura Nyro bit - I know the suite on RUNT - but always wondered more - did they date? Etc..and Albert Grossman is an enigma I would love to know more about!
Anyway thanks again Bob!!
DOUG HAIGHT
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You're not wrong about Maron's ignorance around music, or at least you would know better than I; but his interviews with musicians are great if you don't know anything about the artist. I liked his talk with TR, because he asked all the questions I had. Whereas if I know a lot about a musician or am a big fan, the interviews feel like a litany of major missed opportunities. Trust me, I'm a film guy, his interviews with directors are way worse. But nobody can touch him when it comes to stand-up comedy insight.
Randy Mack
Armak Productions
New Orleans
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Toss is a mensch just ask Liv Tyler whom he raised while her real dad was messed up. She came out pretty OK .
I just wish Marc Maron would make me laugh. I just don't get him.
rspill
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That's funny - Marc also blew the interview with Ira Kaplan from Yo La Tengo. He should definitely stick to comedians...
Jeff Rohe
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Great read; Todd is truly one-of-a-kind. Just one lingering question....
How do you really feel about Marc Maron? :-)
Thanks…
smitty
Jim Smith
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Furthermore, what I adore about Rundgren is his ability to adopt and try new styles and put at least a mild emblem on every decade that he's been around. In the 60s, it was The Nazz; the 70s, his brilliant solo stuff; the 80s, honing his production abilities; the 90s, was a rapper(!); and in this century he has managed to team up with some of the most interesting and relevant electronic producers like Lindstrøm. He's under-appreciated for how prolific he truly is.
Trevor Risk
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Did you see the reply tweets from Partridge?
twitter.com/xtcfans I smell a little bit of sour grapes here. But it's probably not a stretch to say TR can be abrasive too. Three sides to every story.
Bill Seipel
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Of all the decades of revolutionary type of work that Todd had done still my favorite record, oddly enough is "with a twist."
Lavon Pagan
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Tood IS God!!
You nailed it Bob. Always been an adventurer - always aiming for the fences - and not necessarily about sales but about trying to lead an audience to a new interesting place. Not all successful on any level - but innovative.
Also - god damn is he a great musician and singer - check out the Live at Daryls' Place with Todd - on Todd's porch in Hawaii - amazing. Rarely seen Daryl so nervous about getting it right with a guest - Todd brings that out of you!
Peter0987
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...which is why a TR tour with fewer songs (only because of time constraints) and more commentary in between, would be GREAT!!! Refreshingly enlightening, entertaining and loyally attended by all fans and students of the TR way.
Lou Ornelas
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I love this. I adored Nazz in college and became a Todd fan. Later at Network Records with Al Coury, we had the three sided double Utopia album (the fourth side was empty, he did it his way). He was one of only a few artists I remember being nervous about working with or interviewing on the radio; Patti Smith and Zappa were the two others. They were really fucking smart and were fiercely unconventional. Artistic, enigmatic they did not suffer fools lightly. I saw Todd last year in Napa. Still pushing the limits and more cutting edge than artists half his age, he challenged those who came to hear memory lane. He wasn't going to give it up without a fight and that created tension. It was great.
As for XTC, 'Dear God' was what defined them at a key point in their career. I would say that from a radio standpoint it was a conditional success. They were on Geffen when I was running Top 40 promotion and there was a certain apprehension about how it would play nationally. It was a struggle for the most part and airplay came begrudgingly. I knew it would be especially tough in the south. Week after week my promotion guy in Nashville was coming up empty. I understood and said Barry; I know it's tougher for you being in the Bible Belt and all. He came right back and said; "Buddy I'm not in the Bible Belt...I'm in the fucking buckle".
If you've never seen the 'Live at Daryl's House' episode where he and the crew go to Todd's house in Hawaii, it's worth checking out.
John Brodey
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Did you listen to the same interview? More and more you seem like a little troll. Every time I value your opinion you write dumb shit like this. Let me know when you stop sucking the balls of "famous" people who entertain your view.
zacantczak
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Great piece but amazed that you find it surprising that Rundgren is "erudite and articulate". Huh?? That's been clear in interviews for 46 yrs. He's always had the outsider take on the industry, always way ahead on new technology, delivery systems etc. Always talking about stuff in interviews that the rest of the industry gets five years later.
Involved in most of the pioneering video and interactive stuff, and in 2008 gave a great lecture about streaming and how much sense it makes.
Yeah, Todd should write a book JUST about producing the diverse list of classic stuff like Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs,Grand Funk, Hall & Oates, the debut AND the recent New York Dolls, and more.
Andre Cholmondeley
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Todd is God and I still worship his massive catalog of solo and Utopia albums, as well as tons of the hit albums he's produced...but regarding XTC, that's about as far from setting the record straight as possible. Todd is the one dredging up this decades old argument, but of course he spins it in his own megalomaniac style. I guess he needs to do something to fill the last couple decades of forgettable output (including finally giving into this current "Best Of" tour)
Andy is a super talent and one of the friendliest and most sincere people I've ever met, and hasn't discussed this since the 80s, but I guess Todd is desperate for attention. Andy just answered his false allegations (
ultimateclassicrock.com/andy-partridge-todd-rundgren-dear-god/) but he's probably not famous enough for the media to accept it as truth.
PS I do still think Todd is amazing and he blew my mind at the Saban in January, but too bad he can't write a great song anymore. He just "Trump'd" Andy!
Gary Helsinger
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Thank you for those kind informed words about Todd..He is a genius and a visionary recording artist..I saw him in Toronto at the Island Dream Festival around 1974..He headlined a bill which included Dr. Hook with Wolfman Jack, Rory Gallagher, Status Quo, A Foot In Cold Water among others..It was his first tour with Utopia touring on his just released double album "Todd"..I already had the album being a fan.. It sounded live just like the record...stunning performance...one of the best shows I have ever witnessed..among many great productions he has helmed he also produced a CD for The Pursuit Of Happiness from Toronto in the nineties..it has Todd's stamp all over it....thanks for hipping me to his podcast...great work as usual buddy...All the best!
Randy Dawson
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Good call on Maron, Bob. I love him as a comedian, but as an interviewer, not so much. He did a couple of cheese puff interviews with Mick and Keith and seemed really uninformed .Why not do some research beforehand?
Thank you,
Shawn McKelvey
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You rock, Bob! Todd may not be God but he’s pretty damn close. To those of us who’ve been following his remarkable career since the Sixties, he has always been one of the best and the brightest , a true renaissance man. Check out “The Todd Rundgren Radio Show”, a retrospective he conceived, produced and engineered back in 1972 to promote “Something, Anything”. Genius!
Paul Kalenak
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Andy ended up putting too much on the records, no one could say no to him.
Psychoacoustically, the records were tough on the listener, they didn't
breathe.
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Really? Go listen to Drums and Wires and then tell me that.
Go listen to Black Sea and tell me that.
(of course, you haven't and you won't. You couldn't name an XTC song).
You're such a douche.
John Monroe
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love it and love Todd...ever since that first Nazz record on my KLH stereo in my bedroom back in high school...
tell it brother bob.
Adrian Rice
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Did you even stop to consider that the comments Rundgren made in this interview were a direct result of Maron's style?
Where the conversation went and what Rundgren ended up revealing would never happen in an interview that had a list of predetermined questions which relied heavily on research. Maron's podcast is meant to be a conversation that goes wherever it may. Sometimes he is familiar with his guest and sometimes he is not, but every conversation provides enlightenment (which you yourself praised). And, not that it matters, but Maron even prefaced this interview with an admission that he wasn't extremely familiar with Rundgren's work.
I highly doubt you've actually listened to a lot of his other interviews with musicians, otherwise you wouldn't have included that asinine post script. When he's a fan of their work, he's extremely knowledgeable of both their catalogue and their history.
And, you actually had the audacity to say he "wasn't there"?!?! You're ability to come across relatable to your audience is evidence of the quality of your writing, but with this comment alone I'm now left feeling the exact opposite. I mean, are you really that much of a snob and a little weaselly prick in real life?
Say it ain't so, Bob.
Usually your right on the money, but when you're off..... well... I can't help but feel second hand embarrassment for you.
Regards,
Kyle Stark
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hey hey hey - I gotta defend Maron here. He probably 'shouldn’t' be interviewing musicians, because he doesn’t know that much about them - but he LOVES them, and he wants to find out. These aren’t 'interviews' anyway - they’re conversations. And (I’m sure you skipped it, as many do) in the first ten minutes he admitted he didn’t know that much about Todd, didn’t even really 'get' him, but knew he was a genius and someone well worth listening to, and talking to.
And (also in the intro) - Todd sought out Maron, wanted to be on the show.
So: how could you give Todd an A+ but say Maron is terrible, when it was in conversation with Maron that you had all those wonderful thoughts about Todd?
And finally: Maron is a total pain, we all know it - but he knows it too, which makes him at least bearable - and very few people are even trying to have honest conversations like this anymore, anywhere - and if you have a problem with Maron, for Godssake, go on his show and talk to him about it!
Seriously, there are a lot of us who love your newsletter who don’t know that much about you; we really would love to hear you tell your story, and Maron would be great, because you could be totally honest with him - even about what you don’t like about him, and show business, all of it.
Lefsetz on Maron?! Come on, it would put Batman vs Superman in its rightful place. A true clash of the titans. Hamilton V. Burr ain’t got nothing on Lefsetz v Maron.
Nick Davis
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The hard part is having to listen to this idiot (Maron or moron?) drone on before he gets to the interview. I don't give a crap buddy.
Brad Steckel
_________________________________________
thanks Bob for the link to the Todd Rungren podcast. I really enjoyed this (I have my Mahavishnu Orchestra albums out and playing loud for the first time in years as I type this…)
Todd was indeed "on" and like you I found this ended way too soon. I also didn't mind Maron in this…I found he used his "unworthiness" at doing the interview with just the right amount of self deprecation. Todd seemed to understand and appreciate this and, for reasons not clear to me but seemingly genuine, proceeded to fully open up into the "story telling" mode that made this so worthy of my time.
Mark from T.O.
Mark Abbott
_________________________________________
dear god is the only xtc song i have ever heard
Robert
_________________________________________
not in the rock n roll hall of fame. another ridiculous, hard to explain oversight.
Michael Leon
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Your're dead on. Todd was excellent. Maron... not so much.
I couldn't believe how often Maron blew it. It pissed 'm'* off. How is this guys podcast so popular? His constant "yeah, yeah" is awful. He gets the guests, so I listen hoping for the goods... like this one, no thanks to Maron.
Todd kept his cool the whole time. And Andy Partridge; have you seen his tweets about the interview? Todd is right. What a prick! I love XTC music. Not Andy.
Sincerely, Tim Schall
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Maron sucks on interviews with musicians and I love his ones with comics. He knows so much less than he thinks, making terrible assumptions and cutting the subjects off because he thinks he can anticipate the next thing they will say. I almost skipped Rundgren, but I knew he would be a gem and worth it.
So glad to see someone write about it! I hope Maron gets the point.
Gregg DeMammos
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Thank you this Bob. Todd is under appreciated and I believe held in the same regard as Bowie. My music fan peers that were raised on the West Coast know little about him. However, in the Northeast his genius has endured. By the way, he remains a terrific live act. As does his brethren, Hall and Oates.
Andrew Paciocco
_________________________________________
11 minutes with this fucking tool WTF and no TR drove me right off the podcast. Is he snorting blow?
From the IFone of CHARLIE HAID
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You sound surprised that Rundgren is "erudite & articulate...willing to tell the truth". Wake the fuck up Bob & get your head out of Henley's ass. You condemn Maron for being uninformed, yet you go on to show how little you know about this man and his past. You knew he's from UD, PA...big fucking whoop.
If ANYONE deserves to be in a Hall of Fame dedicated to Rock n' Roll...it's Todd Rundgren. You've barely scratched the surface.
Bob Reeves
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Nazz at the Boston Tea Party on Berkley St., circa 1968 looked like Revenge Of The Wimps--while girls swooned over them, burly guys who would've been kicking the band's asses in the schoolyard were carrying their gear instead.
lanningpaul
_________________________________________
Hi Bob, in case you missed it. -Scott Lowe
storify.com/scatterkeir/andy-partridge-responds-to-todd-rundgren _________________________________________
Funny, I pulled this up on Monday and punted after 10 min because Maron was terrible. With the knee injury I have a lot of time on my hands so I've been trying to get more into podcasts. I read when I can but it's not easy while I'm on pain meds. Can't believe how much podcast crap is out there. Even the popular shows like Stuff You Should Know are hosted by whiny little babies. Great topics but pathetic hosts. Only one I really love so far is Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Open to suggestions.
Joe Weinstein
_________________________________________
I understand your critique about Maron, and he drives me crazy too. But PLEASE go on there and talk. Because so many more people would benefit from your wisdom than those who now subscribe to your newsletter, because of his reach through the podcast. I've been listening to him for a long time, he can take criticism. Roll it out. It would be a breath of fresh air.
Yours in love of music,
Steven Powell
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Bob you need to be fair to Maron. You can't criticize him for something he admits (not prepping or being fully informed on his interview subject) and it being the angle of his show. He wants to be like what he assumes his audience is, and make the discovery along the way with him. That's been his freely admitted premise; a certain level of wilful ignorance to facilitate conversation.
It's not I don't get frustrated sometimes when he seems uniformed about certain things, but I actually enjoy his reaction as I realize he's learning about the person like most of the audience who are probably not die hard fans of his interview subjects like you or I may be. His goal is conversation.
It's not about kissing ass, it's about understanding his premise. You're free not to like it or criticize it but it's there for the understanding.
Too bad you won't do it/he won't have you anymore. Would've been a hell of a show that I know I'd enjoy.
Michael Moniz
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The funny thing is, Maron’s a decent guitarist, and a classic rock fan. I’m shocked he doesn’t know Todd, chapter and verse. I’m not shocked he was thin skinned when you called him out. That, for better and worse, is Maron.
Jon Sinton
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All we need is Rundgren on Stern with you in the Artie chair and we'd be all set!
Gregory Mortenson
_________________________________________
Always loved Todd's work on Badfinger's "Straight Up" album. Harrison made a great decision when he handed over the reins to Rundgren. "Perfection", "Flying", Sweet Tuesday Morning", and of course "Baby Blue" all benefited from Todd's touch.
Gregg Schatz
_________________________________________
Bob, you should know as well as anyone that being underprepared is Maron's whole thing. He cops to it all the time, and has been that way since the very pre-fame beginning of the Podcast. But, somehow the interviews turn out great more often than not - just like the one you took the time to write a whole column about today. It's a style and people sure seem to open up in its presence.
-Dan Diaz
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Completely agree that Maron is gratingly unprepared for Rundgren. "How many albums did the Nazz do?" indeed. Good God, what in the hell is Wikipedia for.
However, I don't think it's at all fair for you to broadly parrot what Rundgren says in the interview about XTC. Over the years Partridge has, at the least, acknowledged his own prick (li)ness in the recording of Skylarking, and all XTC fans know the saga of their struggles with Virgin, who utterly shafted them as they did so many other artists. Most of all, Virgin didn't know how to best put the band forward to the public; their multi-layered musical creations did take some time to digest--very few obvious "hits," ill-suited for "greatest hits" collections and the like--but what's that you're always saying about creativity, originality and passion? It's something of a canard to say Todd "saved" them--he sold them a lotta records in the US, for sure, but that's as far as one should go.
Andy Partridge has addressed all this on his twitter feed this week. And go listen to English Settlement (perhaps for the first time...?) and see if it's "psychoacoustically" confusing. Hugh Padgham recorded that one right around the time he did the Police's Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity, both hits and presumably NOT "psychoacoustically" too dense. I know which record I still listen to after all these years while the others have gathered a fair bit of dust.
Marshall Armintor
_________________________________________
Todd is amazing,always has been from my first into to him in the Nazz at KUCR and later when "I Saw The Light" was played at my wedding reception. Rich Fazekas
_________________________________________
Hi Bob:
Agreed. Todd Rundgren is indeed a hyper-intelligent, perceptive and gifted musician, producer, vocalist and arranger. His depth of knowledge of the writing and recording process is unmatched.
I thoroughly enjoyed your letter until I read the needless (in my opinion) postscript where you slagged Maron for being “absolutely terrible”. What is this? High school?
You baked a great cake then took a dump on it. Why bother?
Seems to me – your essay began with you saying; ..”you must listen to this podcast”.
Sure, Maron sometimes made incorrect assumptions which Rundgren was quick to correct, but the tone of the interview seemed upbeat throughout – with no detectable impatience on Todd’s part. I obviously had no idea of the body language, but I wasn’t in the room. Were you?
As for your (again…needless) p.p.s. – I’ve listened intently to number of captivating and informative interviews on WTF, with a wide variety of musicians - and enjoyed every one of them. Maron has an innate curiosity and appreciation of music and musicians - resulting in some compelling interviews.
Your letters are great Bob – but I thought you were better than that.
Cheers,
Ken Stewart
Vancouver
ps. You obviously wouldn’t lower yourself to be on Maron’s podcast …and after hearing you with Barry Katz on “Industry Standard” (good interview), I’m kinda glad.
You’ve got a voice that could peel paint and don’t think I could stand listening for a full hour.
_________________________________________
AMEN TO THAT BOB!! Truth teller that you are, you nailed it! Thanks for this great post
Buck McWilliams
_________________________________________
Bob you absolutely sold me on this, so I'm tuned in from England as I write this. Who is this Mark Maron irritant, and when oh when will he just STOP TALKING and put Todd on? Not sure I can stand him much more. I may never hear what Todd has to say at this rate.
Mike Allen
P.S. Bob I made it through and you're right. Rundgren was endlessly fascinating. I even wound up thinking Maron's OK too. Thanks for the tip.
_________________________________________
With Maron, it's about an organic conversation, it's not a documentary. It's not for "experts delving into that which they already know" which pretty much defines a waste of time.
The reason he doesn't prep much, as he's explained at least 100 times over the years, is that he wants it to be a real conversation, not an interview or a press op for the guests current project. To my way of thinking, this makes it plausible for anyone to enjoy the talk.
The overwhelming majority of his listeners are likely to be mostly clueless about the average guest going in, but his approach makes it more likely that anyone can enjoy it and learn something. He gets them to show their humanity, not recount their CV in meticulous detail, and that is why people listen to guests they've never even heard of week after week.
As far as him "rushing for fame", he can't be chasing it too hard if he wanted you to come on!
Pete Adams
_________________________________________
Being a lifetime Todd fan, I have to say this is by far his best interview I've heard. He sounds like he's in a very good place, jovial, informative and open. (Maybe he's hanged his medication?!) Big credit to Marc Maron - his admitting he knew so little about Rundgren's music must've put Todd in the mood to share his story so honestly.
Very cool.
Glen Burtnik
_________________________________________
Todd history, he is the cutting edge.
Seeing him in May in Pasadena and Memorial Day in CT, worth the flight
His live shows are never the same, that's a good thing!
David B. Cooper
_________________________________________
Maron basically says he was not familiar with Todd and even rescheduled the interview because he was intimidated...
Tom Clark
Maui
_________________________________________
Recently saw Todd at a local club in San Diego. I was very impressed that he played mostly new music, and it was exceptional.
Unlike most vintage stars, he’s not riding his own coattails, he’s still very relevant. Check out his latest album, it sounds fresh and has insightful lyrics.
Marc Maron on the other hand is a windbag. Thank God for the speed-up function on the pod casts.
Cliff Keller
_________________________________________
Thanks for this link.
You nailed it: this is great stuff, but a very frustrating listen - you want Maron to just shut up and let Rundgren speak! He is a traniwreck here.
Cheers,
Jason Steidman
_________________________________________
I agree that Maron was a bit clueless, but I wouldn't go so far as to say he was just about the show/building his brand. He seemed genuinely interested in what TR had to say, and honored to have him on. And for what it's worth, I would have loved to hear you on his show.
Tom Gilbert
_________________________________________
Over 12 minutes into this podcast and all I heard was Maron's potty mouth bloviating - so I'm gone.
As you've pointed out many times, if it's not excellent, we don't have time for it.
Sorry Todd, I was interested in what you had to say.
Jim Wills
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Yup. Todd is a rock god. Thanks for the link. I wouldn’t have heard it without the heads-up. Todd has more insights on music and the music biz in a one-hour plus interview than many musicians have in a lifetime.
But I can’t see a thing till you open my eyes!
Chip Lovitt
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