Black Maria - Todd Rundgren | The Midnight Special

December 7, 1973
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[@CaramelizedFunyuns]

I often think about how John Siegler, who's playing bass here, later went on to co-write the Pokemon theme song. Siegler can even be heard playing bass, keyboards and drums on the track. He wrote and recorded an iconic song that possibly hundreds of millions of people still know by heart, and yet few people seem to even know who he is.

[@VirtualGuth]

What a gem. It’s extra cool seeing Todd playing The Fool Gibson SG that had previously belonged to Eric Clapton and then George Harrison before he took ownership of it. Though I was almost ten years late in discovering Rundgren’s “Something/Anything?” Album, I played it so often after finally buying a copy. It’s an absolute classic. Todd is such an incredibly talented individual who has left his mark on music in more ways than one. Thanks for posting!

[@Panufo]

The 'Fool' SG never belonged to George, although he did have an SG ('Paperback Writer') that he later gave to Pete Ham (Badfinger). Maybe Eric let him play it. Those Brits were always giving their guitars to one another.

[@VirtualGuth]

@@Panufo I actually lifted that bit from the Wikipedia page for the guitar.

[@Panufo]

@@VirtualGuth I sometimes make corrections to Wikipedia articles. The article I found that suggests what you suggest also has The Fool painting George's 'Rocky' Stratocaster, a job George in fact did himself. On acid. George's SG ended up with Pete Ham of Badfinger, without psychedelic paint. Do yourself a favor and buy Andy Babiuk's 'Beatles Gear' book, largely free of errors and hugely entertaining. Respect.

[@sheercerebralpower]

@@Panufoabsolutely fellow Beatleenthusiast….i have that book and have been poring over it ever since…..

[@stevemora7845]

💯💯💯

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Oh Gosh, I LOVE this song from Todd’s ‘72 Something/Anything? album. The vocals here are so on point and fabulous! Lovely visuals of the whole band too, a treat for sure. His eyes 🤩 look fabulous!!! 😍

[@rebeccawagner4167]

This is a fine example of why i loved the Midnight Special. The live music 🎶 🎵 with amazing artist. This is the best of times. It was good to be born back then. This music 🎶 🎵 is what real music 🎶 🎵 freaking sounds like.

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

Todd’s guitar playing is spot on here but the real star is that 60’s Gibson SG and its pickups. Pure tone magic.

[@Washington-Dreaming]

That is a beautiful guitar. It looks like watercolor? I’m no artist. But it’s pretty impressive. I think it was eventually sold at auction for, what, 150K?

[@Goomer]

Ya, Clapton's stolen SG, Todd wouldn't give it back. lol

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

Now that you said that, EC had an SG that was painted during his Cream days. The 150K wouldn’t surprise me. Vintage guitars have gone through the roof and especially with providence in the last couple of years. Just hope who ever bought it can play a rock and roll A cord. Lmao

[@DrTomoculus]

@@curtisphilumalee1447 This is Eric's guitar. Todd ended up with it.

[@Edictvt]

​@@Goomerthanks, was asking if it was the fool sg

[@vicprovost2561]

Awesome performance, Todd was on fire and his band was excellent, this was a nice surprise, been quite some time that I heard this song. Wow, did he ever rock out! Do Hello Its Me for another magnificenr song by the great Todd Rundgren! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

[@dougg1075]

Man, that Darrel’s house episode where they went to his Hawaii home and jammed turned me into a big fan.

[@billgabbard922]

I have all of Todds albums, great stuff, especially when cranked up! hen

[@P51]

this performance is STELLAR. Todd rippin' on the SG.

[@musicalSFCat]

Nice surprise...on a musical magical Monday! Finally stellar "master quality" version of legendary Todd Rundgren's '73 performance of "Black Maria" on the Midnight Special. Would possibly love to see more footage from this gig in the near future. Thank you for persevering, releasing these historical gigs on your channel. Cheers. 💯💖🎵🎶

[@mojorisen74]

It's so clear you can see the brush strokes on the paint of the guitar!

[@fumanchu1977]

Yeah! I was waiting for MS to release this performance. Pure Art Rock totally 70's vibe. You can't go wrong once you decide to paint butterfly wings over your eyebrowns

[@619piano]

Owl feathers 🪶

[@fumanchu1977]

@@619piano even better lol

[@catsofsherman1316]

Love that Clapton SG from the Cream era. I wonder if Todd still owns it. What a piece of musical history it is.

[@JohnLloydDavis]

Yes he does and it resides in his studio. Dave Gregory of XTC played it on the solo from "That's Really Super Supergirl" on their Skylarking album.

[@Bawookles]

@@JohnLloydDavis Actually, Todd sold it in an auction in 2000. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_(guitar)

[@JohnLloydDavis]

@@Bawookles Oh really! Wow, bet he got s few quid for it :)

[@mojorisen74]

He has a replica a Japanese fan made for him in 1988. He retired the Clapton SG then sold it at auction and split the difference donating to Clapton's rehab center. It recently sold again for I believe 1.5 million

[@scottlarson1548]

I love the green haired knob twiddler who doesn't appear to making any significant changes to the sound.

[@stannous]

M Frog Labat. He was later replaced in Utopia by Roger Powell.

[@jerryseinfeld9815]

He is processing Todd’s guitar through the EMS synths. This was before guitar pedals were standard parts of live guitar rigs.

[@tobinharris8107]

My longtime hero TR. Seeing him tonight, in fact, in Indy. Almost 76 and always an “ikonoclast”. 👍

[@luigisavoia2401]

All live. No lip syncing. You don't see that much on TV anymore. You don't even see it in so called live concerts sometimes.

[@KevyNova]

You don’t even get real singing on albums anymore. Everyone is using autotune.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@KevyNova& “Pitch Correction.”

[@greigskyless334]

Magnificent!

[@lisawonderful2222]

such a great song!

[@martinboere3274]

Great!!!!

[@markgreene6349]

I grew up in upper Darby Pennsylvania and Todd rundgren is a pure legend there.. and this is my favorite tune or maybe piss Aaron on the something anything masterpiece. . And this is a live version amazing

[@sayeager5559]

A real gem. Thanks!

[@nickmastro6870]

The synth player M Frog Labat was exclusively processing Todd’s guitar sound, you can especially hear the envelope filter-ish effect at the beginning of the main guitar solo

[@jerryseinfeld9815]

I think Todd made the allusion to Brian Eno’s “treatments” role in Roxy Music. He does that little arpeggiated part in Utopia Theme which is probably the best part of the song.

[@meganh4011]

Todd is such a beautiful soul💫💞

[@leehenderson8132]

Truly an original... Genius....

[@SputnickSpooner-jg5gi]

A Wizard. A True Star!

[@Buffrt66]

I recon Todd was a big David Bowie fan. 😁

[@MitchSchultz-l8n]

I’m sure he was… very different tho Todd is an alien not comparable to anyone else. I love Bowie and ronson so much but Todd occupies his own space for sure

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@MitchSchultz-l8nVery well said, here! Todd was his own man for sure 😅

[@WendiBeatty]

I saw Todd in 1973 after the Something/Anything? Album in Minneapolis at the Guthrie Theater. He was fabulous. He got so excited while playing that he kicked the guitar stand into the audience and apologized to those people it fell on!

[@Washington-Dreaming]

It’s interesting because with a lot of bands I like their less commercial stuff than what got radio play. For example “Sails of Charon” by the Scorpions featuring the should-be-better-known Uli Roth is maybe their best song. I love “Blackout” and saw them live during that tour but I’ll take “Charon” with that harmonic minor anyday.. But with Todd I actually really like his commercial stuff and am mixed on lesser-known music. He seems to play this for himself and, say, “Hello” for the general audience maybe. I have never heard this song though until today.

[@vicprovost2561]

Check out the studio original on Something/Anything, tremendous album as well.

[@frankwheeler1738]

You've NEVER HEARD Black Maria???.. How old are you.. 15??.. haha

[@raitisfreimanis]

Looks like the original Utopia lineup.

[@joerectifier]

Always been a big fan of Todd’s guitar playing….his vibrato and his wailing phrases. This is great….Back to The Bars has a large catalog of great playing …..I love his chords and the fact that he took other avenues aside from Marshall’s and stacks

[@mojorisen74]

He always had great tone, especially when he started playing through Boogies!

[@joerectifier]

@@mojorisen74 I loved his interesting gear combinations….the Mustang and the Blonde Mark I head( I think that what it was?) and what looked like a custom 2x12 or something….i was very impressed and influenced by his gear and playing and the idea of making a big sound without the obligatory Marshall’s (which I really don’t care for).

[@mylesteller]

This is apart of what i love about the 60s and 70s. Even though there were performances that were a bit sloppy like this one, thats part of what i love about it, it adds character which is something lacking in live music today.

[@marceloaraujo8728]

☮ anos 70 ☮

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

The eye make up is cool

[@xerozo41]

Falaaaaaa André ! TOP demais essa vídeo !

[@jianmorris1]

Lo amo 😍

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Todd's "birdman" phase...

[@Czyszy]

Oompa Loompa synth player.

[@PolyQuasi]

that paint job actually makes an SG look good

[@sylvain-alias-leo]

WoW !!!

[@yoshiyaz5882]

👍😃

[@jimmymcclendon6210]

I was 4 days old...

[@hardfolk]

a dream goes on forever performance please

[@mariee95]

Wizard ✨🦋🩷

[@johnodonoghue651]

Todd Rundgren, the original furry.

[@BIGLON-cf1ul]

I think todd is in love with his self. The picture of his self on his chest might be a clue. I'm not saying it's good or bad. I just don't like people who are full of themselves! I bet his favorite object is a mirror!

[@latoyaanderson5027]

Me either.

[@Edictvt]

Is that the same sg clapton used?

[@kings-bay-2902]

I saw I interview recently , and Todd said he sold it to buy the Hawaii home he has now

[@jtdavis62]

That is indeed The Fool.

[@Washington-Dreaming]

Ever since this channel had Todd’s song featured called, “Hello It’s Me” I think, it’s been absolutely stuck in my head. Great song but it’s been looping like a poorly-built piece of software that refuses to terminate. But there’s an interesting backstory to the guitar he’s playing. I started reading a BIO on Todd - just a sample and I’m debating buying it - and I think he got the guitar from some famous guitarist. Then it was stolen or damaged and he had a nearly-exact duplicate made that was supposedly even better. The story is really hazy in my head - unlike that song that’s looping - so don’t quote me on it. (As a side note I guess Todd is really sarcastic and it rubs a lot of people the wrong way. But he’s actually a great producer and is highly sought after for that. I think he actually considers playing music his “side gig.”)

[@AMEER-114-]

Are youv very young

[@AMEER-114-]

@RicksMusic34 It's a reading comprehension deficiency.... Very common nowadays. They read of how many records he produced but could not recognize that it was LARGELY done in the distant past..

[@frankwheeler1738]

Hahaha haha bahaha 😅

[@marctoleds6259]

Todd and "The Fool".

[@nov20five]

New bands can learn a lot from watching this. They probably wont...and hence the downward sprial of popular music will continue.

[@thescarletandgrey2505]

As close as America got to having a David Bowie

[@sacooper802]

I love Todd Rundgren but man that outfit is so goofy looking.

[@latoyaanderson5027]

Exactly.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

It’s hard to believe Todd’s only 5’11” - he looks much taller here,,, Long and Lean,,, 😋

[@davesiringo7147]

Was that Stephen King with the green hair?

[@hardfolk]

is like black magic woman intro

[@karlmadsen3179]

The whole eye and shoulder feathers thing never really caught on for guys. Go figure.

[@HeatherS__]

You might want to check out some of David Bowie's looks from back then. Creative souls that opened the minds of us all.

[@joerectifier]

I never understood it,,,,,but what it did do is make him appear otherworldly to me when I was a kid and add a mystique that I did not understand, but it intrigued me. I loved the Egyptian period though, that kicked ass with the Ankh guitar,,..keep in mind I was 12 in 1975 and this guy looked like an alien to me…..I think rock musicians need to have a mystique

[@KittyGrizGriz]

It’s called “Performance Art” 🎭

[@stevenmckamey]

perfect song if whoever was off key would have kept his mouth shut. Love the Green hair lol

[@JQ127-c4e]

Todd doing the transgender thing years before it caught on.

[@tisenhow]

For once, Todd is on key and someone else is off 😅

[@MrTaeBronson]

looks like a glam rock music video , fucking wit this and the song

[@pocopico7409]

Dang this sounds like crap. If he knew how off key the guy singing the high part was, he would’ve kicked him out of the band. 🙄

[@davidsorcher5072]

That's funny, because Ralph Schuckett, the guy i'm sure you think is off key, is the one guy on stage here who actually remained in the band after Utopia's first album, up until 1975.

[@pocopico7409]

@@davidsorcher5072 : Lol…proof that Todd either has lots of patience or values friendship more than performing. He probably just said, “ Well, Schuckett!” 😂

[@billyshane3804]

Druggies who will end up just like that Brian Jones.

[@BIGLON-cf1ul]

This song sucks! But still a great performance!