Todd Rundgren's Utopia - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (Full Show)

1973
International Feel
Never Never Land [2:40]
I Saw the Light [4:16]
Heavy Metal Kids [7:36]
Utopia Theme [10:52]
When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd. [22:49]
The Ikon ("Conquering of the West") [26:33]

[@12JoeB]

A Wizard, a True Star and a tour de force, this is the wild and wonderful TR at his creative peak. This memorable TV appearance was just a sampling of the unbelievable live shows he and Utopia performed in the 70s and 80s. Todd is a remarkable artist, a musical genius with no fear in the studio, on stage and in front of the camera, one of the best musicians of his generation.

[@saltykrug]

Yeah this guy wrote #1 hits and progressive as hell music too, he really was about the most well rounded musician I've ever heard. He could break through any wall or boundary in music. A pure genius.

[@beatleographer_10-51]

From '68 through 2014, I have seen just about everybody that is anybody in concert. But ... I never got to see Todd. Still sick about it.

[@terryross1198]

@@beatleographer_10-51he’s touring now! Never too late to experience the magic.

[@jeffflinn2053]

It's refreshing to see a concert where no one is holding up a phone .... lol.

[@pamelaspatterns]

I remember every note, every word.....Todd changed my musical life in the 70's!

[@gwynnielsen5081]

Wow! Don Kirshner! I remember staying up to see this show and all the talent presented. So cool!

[@rumisprite]

A genius. Soundtrack to my 70’s teen years. His music holds up.

[@TheJackie2007]

Mine too. Yes it does…..❤

[@fishdrew1111]

GREAT performance of a GREAT song from one of my all-time favorite albums! RIP Moogie Klingman!

[@ChuckSchickx]

Never was lucky enough to see Todd in concert. Love his work. I would place him in the musical genius category. He can, and has done it all.

[@bungalowmo]

The first time I saw him was this Utopia band. All the early guys. I still have the triangle program with all the members inside with short bios. That show was over 3 hours long! Those were the good old days! ♥️ 🎶City in my head Utopia Heaven in my body Utopia 🎵

[@RichardSmith-ry8hk]

My name is on the poster in Todd I sent the postcard in wizard and hash brown that's me

[@denisehood4376]

I'm back in 1973...never never land. Thank you TODD for all the music and memories.

[@markriva4259]

A colorful chapter of Prog that time has largely forgotten. So great to rediscover it here thanks to Todd and Don Kirshner. Happy to say I met and spoke with Todd a few decades later at the Nixon Library of all places.

[@CathyLeeBrandstetter]

My first live Todd show was 3/28/74 and included Roger Powell. Thank you so much for bringing it all back!!!

[@michaelleroi9077]

Who else is on the stage..on drums and in the left back?

[@newradicals333]

@@michaelleroi9077 Kevin Ellman on drums; M Frog is the other "synthesizer player"... he didn't really play so much as treat the sound and trigger the tape effect in the middle of the Utopia Theme lol.

[@nickmastro6870]

@@newradicals333 I can definitely hear M Frog's guitar processing, especially on the middle solo of Utopia Theme (listen with headphones). No idea what he's playing with the two keyboard controllers- I don't think it's audible in the mix.

[@newradicals333]

@@nickmastro6870 it honestly looks like he's just pretending to play to make it look like he's doing something lol.

[@corporalkush2060]

Fucking brilliant! When i saw him, once was in Central Park where he did piano songs, then jammed out with John mclaughlin. With a huge firewok display. Twice was in a big venue doing the Utopia stuff. The drummer had 3 rows of drums and used all of them. The synth players all had their own place on stage and it was madness. During the theme song jam, Todd had a hand held synth, and was battling against the other synths like a war. It was fucking incredible. Probably the most intelligent show I ever saw.

[@kevinkinnu341]

That had to be out of this world

[@josephliptak]

Saw Todd in Youngstown Ohio August 1, 1978 with his band Utopia. I was 18 and had graduated high school in June. What a great time to be 18 years old. Van Halen and the Cars were born around this time. A lot of good music during the 1970s. Glad I was there.

[@NickNicometi]

70's was the best contemporary music era

[@andrewdunbar9771]

Todd is one of the coolest people on the planet. Here's a true story: I was at one of Todd's shows and was fortunate to find myself super close to the stage. He was making a couple of jokes and everyone was laughing, except me. For whatever reason, I wasn't finding anything funny. Todd looked down from the stage and made eye contact. He kept eye contact with me, joke after joke and I wasn't laughing. I wasn't angry or anything, it just wasn't funny to me. He was getting more and more obscure with the humor until he finally said something that broke through and I laughed really f'n hard. He smiled and continued with the set. I'm nothing special, just some guy in the audience and yet, he made it a point to have everyone there to continue to be part of the whole vibe.

[@mosaics2024]

I saw this when it was broadcasted the first time, and fell in love with him forever when he sat down on the stage and sang Never Never Land. I had to wait til 1980 to see him in person, at the Greek in Berkeley.

[@norberts17]

More then amazing singer/songwriter/composer/bandleader/guitarist/ etc. So glad, to hear and see(!) the Utopia songs at last. Music ahead of it’s time… I realize when I look and hear back (like Hot Rats). But…he made also those wonderful love songs and heavy metal songs and… YT tells me there is this show Live at the Chigago Theater, Utopia’s reunion, nine months ago

[@odnamraortsac]

“A Wizard, A True Star”

[@RichardSmith-ry8hk]

I sent the postcard in wizard and I'm on the poster in Todd hash brown that's me

[@deniseargast]

Thank you so much for this. This is the Todd I fell in love with in 1972.

[@thebreadcraft4216]

Boy it’s so hard to find footage of them playing Utopia Theme and Ikon, this is fantastic!

[@gj8683]

Really is! I thought I'd never see footage of them playing this back in the 70s when the album came out. Only took about 50 years, LOL.

[@larsliljeblad800]

Great footage! amazing! Todd is a true wizard, and an a brilliant musician, thanks for posting this rare show!

[@alandhopewell]

Ah, we were all so young, and full of fire then... thank you for posting this!

[@michaelleroi9077]

Still am!

[@Barrelsmoke]

I was working as an electrician in nineteen eighty four and one of the guys I worked with collected records. Todd rundgren's utopia was one that I bought and was hooked ever since. This is hands down his best work! This record was part of our tripping music repetuar.

[@Stevegorneyreal]

I also watched this show on TV. It made me very interested in Todd. Then I saw Utopia live in 1976. Kasims very first show. And that was it. 50+ shows later and friendships with Todd, Kas, Willie.

[@edjordan7527]

Totally blown away. Amazing musicianship!!!

[@TRsUtopia]

Excellent restored piece of early Todd Rundgren and Utopia’s history captured on the televised series-Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. I remember seeing the original TV show which introduced me to the world of Todd, almost 50 years ago after hearing “Hello It’s Me”, playing constantly on the radio. I finally got to see the fascinating person behind that sweet voice❣️👍💜⭐️🔺

[@stephenharris]

I had only known of Hello Its Me and I Saw the Light. When I saw this I knew that I needed to buy that first Utopia album. I put it on order at the local record store. Wore out the grooves and still love it till this day.

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

For me the first time hearing the first Utopia album, "Todd Rundgren's Utopia," was a stretch. Right off of the "Todd" album which I thought was the pinnacle at the time, he came out with this fusion monster. But not to be outdone by the likes of Frank Zappa, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Earth, Wind and Fire and Return to Forever, Todd kept pace with what was musically possible during those times and he tore it up with the best of them. Then he came out with "Faithful," and his genus traveled towards another dimension. It was great seeing him rocking "The Fool," guitar, it sounded great.

[@stephenharris]

@@maximusindicusoblivious180No matter when you found Todd, it was always a pleasure to start dipping into the catalog. That's probably what dazzled a lot of us as we followed him in real time.

[@RundgrenRadio]

A+ thanks for delivering this great piece of TR's Utopia history!

[@crashtestdrummer]

In 1973 we only had 2 music programmes on TV in the UK and they were not like this! Todd and a streamlined version of Utopia appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1974 but there was no live audience. What I would have given to see this in 1973 when I had just discovered Todd. Thank you for sharing.

[@RichardSmith-ry8hk]

I saw this show in Tampa Florida before Kasim Sultan he had the Hello people with him to be 20 again 😎

[@612Taper]

The annoying "Historic" title mark is at least appropriate. Seems so ahead of it's time, the subdued crowd I'm sure wasn't ready for Utopia Is Here. How this even got on TV was a miracle. To see the original band in cleaned up video is a real treat, Thanks!

[@magicsinglez]

Broadcast at 1 or 2 am?

[@LastTree]

The first I ever saw Todd. I was struck. I was stuck. Thanks forever for uploading this.

[@terrymoore3799]

Finally!!! I so remember this and have been very sad at only grainy videos shared. Wish they’d release this and SO many classic shows from this and Midnight Special while we can still enjoy them. Don’t know how you did it, but THANK YOU! ☮️🎶🙏💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@outwest100az]

I have not thought about this album and pulled it out of vault and away we go. A bit of prog from Todd is a uniter of society and music just might save the planet yet. Prog is grace grace is prog

[@eel908]

he had a vision and went with it a true master of the art . . . . ....

[@MagicDragon10cc]

I wish I were there🎵

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

Afyter all these years. No slow motion shots of audience members. Thank the lord

[@TheGB1950]

they are still in slo-mo LOL

[@valerievanetten3183]

Todd at his best!! He was one of the two artists who kept me sane during my angsty teenage years in the 70s. Got to see him in concert several times during the 70s and 80s.

[@mrt3959]

He was my 2nd concert 1973 Free concert at Chestnut Ridge Park Hamburg NY. That was it. Music was never the same for me. It became more than music!

[@NickNicometi]

​@@mrt3959 1st Concert: AC⚡DC, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 1983.

[@mrt3959]

@NickNicometi hey Nick. Think you'll like this...1st concert Nov 1972 Aud....openning act Black Sheep. Headliner Black Sabbath. I was only 15. I think My parents let me go cause my friend was the mayor's son and they went to school with the Mayor in their youth....boy was that an eye opener for a 15 year old...what concert!

[@NickNicometi]

@@mrt3959 Awesome share. Thanks, Mr.T! I was 16 and barely remember the show, but I'm sure I had a great time. Sabbath was my intro into hard rock at 15. 👀 Eye-opening, indeed!

[@rebeccapesyna9260]

Effin, blow me away performance! First time I saw Todd in concert was around this same time.Fan for life!

[@jfloair9539]

This is FANTASTIC! No fear what-so-ever!

[@jwbronco30]

What a gem this is. Damn right Historic Film. Thank you Todd Rundgren.

[@RonaldWilliams-lp3bg]

Something anything a classic album 1972 Todd rundgren 👍🥁🥁 bearsville records

[@fueledbylove]

My fond memories of Rundgren's music go back to the late sixites, when our sister left for college the oldest brother took charge of her albums and stuff and that was the first time hearing the first LP by Nazz, he wouldn't let any of us young kids in his room but I would sit outside his window on the patio to listen to a lot of great sounds that you did not hear on the AM radio. Open My Eyes, Back of Your Mind - mindblowing to a fifth grader.

[@romainehesketh234]

Wow!! Thank you for posting this. Love it- Awesome!

[@DavidMichaelMarek]

73! Year of Pin-Ups, Images, Alladin Sane, AND Billion Dollar Babies. The Runt was the soul of it all.

[@paulbrown1585]

A Wizard, A True Dork...

[@JetEarlewood]

@14:46 (KZbin time) that synthesizer sequencing brought tears. This is my all time number 1 favorite song for me. If I’m in a comma someday play this in my ear. (Number 2 is Heart of the Sunrise by Yes)

[@kathrynlyle9998]

Yep remember it all….seems like yesterday ❤️❤️

[@piiYT]

Amazing footage and recording of some great tracks👍

[@joeybringle8398]

I have waited for years to see the whole version of this.😂 thank you!

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

I don't know what the truth of it is but I was told these Don kirschner rock concerts weren't preserved and that's why they haven't been readily available. I'm so glad to see that this particular episode or at least this part of it is still around. I don't think I ever missed Don kirshner's back in the day. More than once I would cut a date short in order to be home by 11:30 when it aired

[@newradicals333]

I have the entire episode but cut it down to just the Todd stuff. I imagine much of the Kirshner stuff should be available on the Historic Films site I got this off of.

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

​@@newradicals333 I was rewatching this and just saw your reply. I checked out that site, wow what a treasure trove I never heard of it, thanks

[@eel908]

the music will guide you there feel it see it through potential break through with guidance and understanding of what is awareness of consciousness tod infinity chapter 8

[@donaldfeger91]

I never could get in to his music except for maybe one song!

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

Man, I wonder what that one song is because he has hundreds that could probably match it.

[@Cpayne30]

Great to see this is good quality!

[@marcikaplan7381]

Thanks so much, love this

[@eel908]

one of the best star seeds trying to get a message thru tod infinity chapter 8

[@eel908]

back in the day i knew him for a keyboard player this is some crazy cool music

[@nancyz7099]

This was it for me.

[@doetakemeetuseriously2810]

The green hair rocked!

[@bobbydale1938]

❤ HS Class of 1975

[@eel908]

just trying to find my way back home tod infinity

[@marcsalonsky9257]

Amazing!

[@briankehew579]

Graham Central Station stole the show that night. Insane energy and performance...

[@michaelleroi9077]

Agreed! I worked with a guy in a band called Jam Central Station!

[@NickNicometi]

​@@michaelleroi9077 Cool name.

[@nelsonx5326]

'We've all got armadillos in our trousers'. David Saint Nibbins.

[@banditY2K]

This was his best run in my opinion... Something/Anything, Wizard, Utopia big band, Todd LP. That's not to denigrate any of his catalog before or after.

[@marci147]

Thank you💙

[@doetakemeetuseriously2810]

Remember watching this on ABC, GrR and band rocked, green hair and all!

[@GaryCendrowski]

Interesting singing to a backing track and no live band, not saying it’s bad, just different - the the band comes in. I think I actually seen this show when it was on TV back in 73

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

Todd was always ahead of his time, I think since he played all the instruments in those tracks he felt that it was okay just to come out and sing in front of them. I know he did real man that way on The midnight special and even pointed out that the music was pre-recorded but the vocals were live I saw him do something similar, I think it was the late '90s and a solo show where he played a backing track on a compact disc and played live on an acoustic guitar and sang

[@JC-dp1cj]

I want to go back!

[@michaelnadeau9057]

HOOAH !!!!!!!!!!

[@wizardtruestar]

Historic!

[@RichardSmith-ry8hk]

Thx this was the show I saw in Tampa? The hello people were with him

[@nonsensely]

Love this! Sooo much better than the grainy, nearly black and white, horrible sounding version!

[@stevelibby6852]

He's always put on a great show.

[@LisaIsack]

Saw this concert in the 1974 in Detroit, Pine Knob. He recorded part of it. Noticed he's playing Eric Clapton's guitar in the video.

[@josephliptak]

Good eye spotting Clapton's SG when he was with Cream

[@jaggedstudios3315]

@@josephliptak Yep - that's the SG from Cream era. It's amazing - sounds so different from when Clapton played it. Goes to show - it's all in the hands.....

[@jamesmartin6709]

Much better quality than the crappy bootleg I have!

[@markbo1957]

With 3 keyboards THIS WAS THEE BEST ITERATION OF UTOPIA Music was diverse - complex and dense and challenging I just wish that this Complete band would have made more than just that first album …… because it was all killer & no filler It was Todd Rundgren’s version of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention

[@mrt3959]

Don't forget there was a 2nd lp with this lineup. Another Live!

[@ReneeNme]

This was too cool for television.

[@curiousnomad]

Wow- no click track or auto tune. How did they even play??? He’s throwing some Bowie and Zappa influences out here.

[@snowdog7700]

Nice to see the original lineup. Very hard to find.

[@WeGachaMetal]

I’ve always said, Rundgren and Zappa were theeee greatest pop/rock musicians prior to Eddie Van Halen.

[@UltraWhammy]

The original Utopia lineup

[@Twirlyhead]

Just clicked to Heavy Metal Kids and surprised it's a backing track he's singing to. Others too.

[@2magma.command]

bowie, rundgren, kraftwerk ,roxy music.

[@cu6454]

This was great he's playing Eric Clapton guitar 🎸 his SG from Cream it's called the Fool but you knew that probably 🙂

[@outtathyme5679]

Todd looks “happy to see us” if you catch my drift

[@Yourbankaccount]

That's Clapton's Cream era SG!

[@neilh9442]

Sunny!

[@melissatyree566]

He looks naked. A wizard a true 🌟 star⭐️🌟

[@michaelleroi9077]

Soundtrack then AND now.

[@garytorresani8846]

My Philly homeboy at his peak. He could do anything from Philly soul to rock to Utopia prog. Upper Darby high school like Tina Fey.

[@NickNicometi]

Tina who?

[@StressJudoCoaching]

Back when bands had a Sound and a Point

[@ekayaniperforms]

Todd Rundgren the fairy prince 🤴

[@brucybabyy7355]

i watched this broadcast.

[@JetEarlewood]

To all the guitarists on KZbin showing us Kid Charlamane solos, do this one. The film editors decided to show the crowd. 😮

[@kevintaylor5079]

What is this? I remember seeing this on TV. I was bummed to see Todd looking like that! Forgot that he was singing to a tape.Things got better when the band came on .Synths have come a long since then.

[@michaelmakes1225]

❤Bowie wants his schtick back.

[@RichardSmith-ry8hk]

I'm sorry but the 70s were the best still had a little hippie vibe but 70 and still don't know what the fuck 🌞😎

[@JetEarlewood]

Goose bumps! I recognize Ralph, Moogy, Elman, who is in the green? Is that M Frog Labatt? I don’t think it’s Roger Powell. Anyone?

[@AudioFileZ]

Dig those Aaron Copland influences.

[@dwainwarren2952]

M Frog Labat!

[@JetEarlewood]

Sorry. Forget the bassists name, Siegler? They look so young? Gotta be circa 1974

[@user-zo3jh7km6y]

Back when Todd was God !