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The Individualist: Digressions, Dreams & Dissertations
Legendary songwriter, guitarist, producer and now an offiical nominee for the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame, Todd Rundgren, pens his first ever autobiography reflecting on both his phenomenal career as well as his rollercoaster of a personal life! Over 200 pages of recollections, structured into bite-sized 3 paragraph chapters, about Rundgren's encounters with rock royalty including Janis Joplin, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Patti Smith, The NY Dolls, Meatloaf, and many more along with numerous photos never before published! Rundgren has already discussed the book in an interview with Billboard magazine and will be doing more press in the coming weeks!
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
Published December 21, 2018
77 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 5, 2018
An impactful, philosophical, humorous, and honest account of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee Todd Rundgren's life from birth to 50. Todd manages to cover large swathes of biographical and musical ground without getting bogged down in too many technical details, beautifully covering a career that spans many decades, encountering Patti Smith, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Page, and Luther Vandross (among many others) along the way.
Todd has written a book that is both deeply emotional and insightful in ways that will surprise even the most die-hard fan as well as providing unique insights into life and music to the non-fan.
I loved spending a few days wandering around in Todd's brain and I'm so glad this book exists in the world!
Todd has written a book that is both deeply emotional and insightful in ways that will surprise even the most die-hard fan as well as providing unique insights into life and music to the non-fan.
I loved spending a few days wandering around in Todd's brain and I'm so glad this book exists in the world!
March 29, 2019
I should take away a star for the unfortunate lack of editing (did anyone actually read this before it was published?) but it doesn't seem fair for a book that so exceeded my expectations. Admittedly my expectations were low. I have been a fan of Todd Rundgren's for over 35 years and I thought I knew enough about him that I wouldn't be surprised by what he would choose to reveal in such a public and indelible format as this but I was wrong. I did recognize his "voice" throughout this narrative as well as some of the events and people he described but clearly I didn't know the whole story and was misinformed in some of the parts I had gleaned through second hand sources or my own assumptions. I'm not sure how this would read to someone who isn't a fan but in my mind it transformed him from someone who was nearly human to someone truly human, in the best possible way.
August 6, 2025
I've been a fairly big fan of Rundgren's since "Something/Anything" came out over a half century ago;* I saw him in concert probably half a dozen times in the '70s, and then — after a several decade gap — at least another 4-5 in the 2000s.
That said, however, I probably would have never bought this book if I hadn't passed through the town of Woodstock earlier this month and visited "The Golden Notebook" bookshop, as it is listed in Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores: True Tales and Lost Moments from Book Buyers, Booksellers, and Book Lovers. As my recent and future travels take me within detour distance of any of the unique bookstores listed there, my plan is to buy a book of local or specific-to-the-store interest** — and what better book from "The Golden Notebook" than this one,*** since Rundgren was a longtime local who lived and recorded just outside town from the mid-'70s through the mid-'90s.
As to the book itself…well, like the man himself, it's plain weird. Not a normal memoir (that would have been too easy), this is more a series of short pieces on…well, whatever facet of his life Todd feels like discussing. So while there is a lot of fascinating personal background on the guy (I knew next to nothing going in, other than that he raised a young Liv Tyler as his own daughter), there is frankly way too much on his romantic/sex life, drug use, and production work for other artists, and far too little on his actual music, collaborators & bandmates, creative process, inspirations, etc., which is what I would have really liked to read about. But hey, his book so I guess he's allowed to right whatever he wants, (although if you want to see what a really well-written, well-produced rock memoir looks like, I highly recommend Mike Rutherford's The Living Years: The First Genesis Memoir).
So a kinda-sorta interesting read, but ultimately for diehard fans or Woodstock tourists only. As a former graphic designer, however, I do have to deduct major points for the book's absolutely non-existent production values. As each "essay" is just one page long, Rundgren is often forced to cram lines of text together into an almost illegible mess in order to make them fit. The whole thing is also set in basic Helvetica (or Arial or whatever equally boring sans serif font used), with absolutely no layout (or, apparently, editing); and then it's all printed on glossy paper so that it feels more like a slick brochure than a proper book. And finally, the jacket design is just a knockoff of a 30-year-old album cover of the same name…so yeah, just no effort made here at all. Some fun photos at the back, though.
SO, RATING…no more than an honest 3 stars for Todd's thoughts, and then a star off for the shit production. But I've added 1½ stars back for its getting me to listen again to Rundgren’s actual music, which I haven't really done in a long time but which really does include some truly great stuff, from hard rock to prog to pop fluff to some really nice ballads. And then, I'm rounding up to (a frankly generous) 4 stars for the song "Kindness" alone, which I only first heard at the last concert I went to (2024) — you can listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhISg... to the original "2nd Wind" album version, or watch any of a dozen live versions; but either way it is just beautiful.
___________________________________
* Released, remarkably, six months after "Who's Next" — as the Who album still sounds like it could have been recorded last year, while "S/A" holds up far less well.
** As this is a fairly new undertaking, the only other store I've bought from so far is "Quimby's" in Chicago, a famous name in the indie graphic novel industry, where I bought Jalapeño Business; but — more importantly — also had a lovely chat with new owner Cody Kasselman. At "The Golden Notebook," I then had a similarly nice time with owner Jackie Kellachan…apparently, half the fun of this project is going to be talking to the charming/quirky store owners, some of whom are already turning the illustrations in Footnotes into postcards/advertisements for their stores:
(Also on my July trip north, I stopped at "The Moravian Bookstore" in Bethlehem, PA, as it is apparently the "oldest continuous operating bookstore in the world," as well as "America's oldest store" [although how they determine such things, I haven't a clue]. Unfortunately, it is now mainly the student store/bookstore for the nearby Moravian University; and so I didn't buy anything, but did have a nice chat with the student working there, who had never heard of Footnotes or the store's inclusion — but immediately went online and ordered ten copies to put in the window!)
*** "What better book"? Well, hopefully Small Town Talk: Bob Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Friends in the Wild Years of Woodstock, which I also bought on Jackie's recommendation and which tells the history of this small upstate town's surprising prominence in the '60s-'70s music scene, including among others "local residents" Bob Dylan, The Band and Rundgren, along with local record label Bearsville, another town just down the road. And BTW, Woodstock the town is NOT to be confused with Woodstock the music festival, which stole the name but actually took place some 60 miles away.
That said, however, I probably would have never bought this book if I hadn't passed through the town of Woodstock earlier this month and visited "The Golden Notebook" bookshop, as it is listed in Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores: True Tales and Lost Moments from Book Buyers, Booksellers, and Book Lovers. As my recent and future travels take me within detour distance of any of the unique bookstores listed there, my plan is to buy a book of local or specific-to-the-store interest** — and what better book from "The Golden Notebook" than this one,*** since Rundgren was a longtime local who lived and recorded just outside town from the mid-'70s through the mid-'90s.
As to the book itself…well, like the man himself, it's plain weird. Not a normal memoir (that would have been too easy), this is more a series of short pieces on…well, whatever facet of his life Todd feels like discussing. So while there is a lot of fascinating personal background on the guy (I knew next to nothing going in, other than that he raised a young Liv Tyler as his own daughter), there is frankly way too much on his romantic/sex life, drug use, and production work for other artists, and far too little on his actual music, collaborators & bandmates, creative process, inspirations, etc., which is what I would have really liked to read about. But hey, his book so I guess he's allowed to right whatever he wants, (although if you want to see what a really well-written, well-produced rock memoir looks like, I highly recommend Mike Rutherford's The Living Years: The First Genesis Memoir).
So a kinda-sorta interesting read, but ultimately for diehard fans or Woodstock tourists only. As a former graphic designer, however, I do have to deduct major points for the book's absolutely non-existent production values. As each "essay" is just one page long, Rundgren is often forced to cram lines of text together into an almost illegible mess in order to make them fit. The whole thing is also set in basic Helvetica (or Arial or whatever equally boring sans serif font used), with absolutely no layout (or, apparently, editing); and then it's all printed on glossy paper so that it feels more like a slick brochure than a proper book. And finally, the jacket design is just a knockoff of a 30-year-old album cover of the same name…so yeah, just no effort made here at all. Some fun photos at the back, though.
SO, RATING…no more than an honest 3 stars for Todd's thoughts, and then a star off for the shit production. But I've added 1½ stars back for its getting me to listen again to Rundgren’s actual music, which I haven't really done in a long time but which really does include some truly great stuff, from hard rock to prog to pop fluff to some really nice ballads. And then, I'm rounding up to (a frankly generous) 4 stars for the song "Kindness" alone, which I only first heard at the last concert I went to (2024) — you can listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhISg... to the original "2nd Wind" album version, or watch any of a dozen live versions; but either way it is just beautiful.
___________________________________
* Released, remarkably, six months after "Who's Next" — as the Who album still sounds like it could have been recorded last year, while "S/A" holds up far less well.
** As this is a fairly new undertaking, the only other store I've bought from so far is "Quimby's" in Chicago, a famous name in the indie graphic novel industry, where I bought Jalapeño Business; but — more importantly — also had a lovely chat with new owner Cody Kasselman. At "The Golden Notebook," I then had a similarly nice time with owner Jackie Kellachan…apparently, half the fun of this project is going to be talking to the charming/quirky store owners, some of whom are already turning the illustrations in Footnotes into postcards/advertisements for their stores:
(Also on my July trip north, I stopped at "The Moravian Bookstore" in Bethlehem, PA, as it is apparently the "oldest continuous operating bookstore in the world," as well as "America's oldest store" [although how they determine such things, I haven't a clue]. Unfortunately, it is now mainly the student store/bookstore for the nearby Moravian University; and so I didn't buy anything, but did have a nice chat with the student working there, who had never heard of Footnotes or the store's inclusion — but immediately went online and ordered ten copies to put in the window!)
*** "What better book"? Well, hopefully Small Town Talk: Bob Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Friends in the Wild Years of Woodstock, which I also bought on Jackie's recommendation and which tells the history of this small upstate town's surprising prominence in the '60s-'70s music scene, including among others "local residents" Bob Dylan, The Band and Rundgren, along with local record label Bearsville, another town just down the road. And BTW, Woodstock the town is NOT to be confused with Woodstock the music festival, which stole the name but actually took place some 60 miles away.
February 17, 2019
Todd Rundgren (and Utopia) is one of my favorite all-time artists who I've been listening to for well over forty years. Unfortunately, I found this to be a very sad read. There is little joy coming from Todd in these pages. A depressing and troubled childhood, eventual drug and alcohol abuse, plenty of problematic relationships, and little direction (although he always goes back to his music). I knew little about his personal life before reading these musings and, in a way, I would have been better off not knowing. While he does provide interesting glimpses into his life and thought, there is plenty disturbing (the aforementioned for starters) and uninteresting (particularly his Asia trip which spans many pages).
Each "chapter" is one page (sometimes sparse, sometimes smashed in) with paragraph one recounting an event, paragraph two reflecting on it, and paragraph three waxing philosophical (the latter providing some keen insights, but only occasionally; he is a thinker, though). He does not spare his thoughts on certain individuals, and has a particularly sore spot for Bebe Buell. It is chronological (ends on his fiftieth birthday and marriage-- over twenty years ago -- I hope things have gone better since then) but still haphazard in what he chooses to recount.
This seems to be more of a work therapeutic for him than what fans would be interested in. Apparently a book he reluctantly produced per the introduction; so I guess it's something rather than nothing. But it could have used a professional writer (and editor -- plenty of typos) to elicit a flowing narrative and fill in gaps that the reader would appreciate (see Midge Ure's autobiography for a fantastic format and interesting read). Surprisingly little has to do with his music.
That's not to say there are not some interesting pages here. His encounters with Francis Coppola and Steve Jobs, and his early adoption of technology stand out here, as well as working with Meat Loaf and other bands as a producer. Plus, the page by page format allows one to sneak in a chapter a minute here, a minute there.
Still, I can't recommend it except to the most hardcore fan.
Each "chapter" is one page (sometimes sparse, sometimes smashed in) with paragraph one recounting an event, paragraph two reflecting on it, and paragraph three waxing philosophical (the latter providing some keen insights, but only occasionally; he is a thinker, though). He does not spare his thoughts on certain individuals, and has a particularly sore spot for Bebe Buell. It is chronological (ends on his fiftieth birthday and marriage-- over twenty years ago -- I hope things have gone better since then) but still haphazard in what he chooses to recount.
This seems to be more of a work therapeutic for him than what fans would be interested in. Apparently a book he reluctantly produced per the introduction; so I guess it's something rather than nothing. But it could have used a professional writer (and editor -- plenty of typos) to elicit a flowing narrative and fill in gaps that the reader would appreciate (see Midge Ure's autobiography for a fantastic format and interesting read). Surprisingly little has to do with his music.
That's not to say there are not some interesting pages here. His encounters with Francis Coppola and Steve Jobs, and his early adoption of technology stand out here, as well as working with Meat Loaf and other bands as a producer. Plus, the page by page format allows one to sneak in a chapter a minute here, a minute there.
Still, I can't recommend it except to the most hardcore fan.
February 11, 2019
A personal and honest autobiography from a very private and brilliant man
Excellent, funny and surprisingly honest, even shocking in places. I've been an obsessive for over 35 yrs and was knocked out by the revelations , this is more than about a brilliant artist and his life in music, it's about a man discovering himself on a quest for love that he didn't know he was on.
Excellent, funny and surprisingly honest, even shocking in places. I've been an obsessive for over 35 yrs and was knocked out by the revelations , this is more than about a brilliant artist and his life in music, it's about a man discovering himself on a quest for love that he didn't know he was on.
April 16, 2023
It's obvious that Todd's lifelong curious nature surely is what makes his art and music so rich, beautiful, unique, and interesting. I can't wait to see him in concert again in Cleveland in early May!
June 22, 2019
I don’t think he wanted to write an autobiography so didn’t.
It would have been better to release nothing rather than this sad, unattractive, and cheap looking product with a cover image from 20some years ago.
I didn’t want to read the text on that slimy glossy paper.
I read part of it. Glad Todd is the way he is and was out front about some things like psychedelics, but he has protected himself from my view under the cheapo presentation and the stingy text and I’m cool with that given the hours of masterfully recorded deep songs he has given me.
I took it back to the library unfinished.
It would have been better to release nothing rather than this sad, unattractive, and cheap looking product with a cover image from 20some years ago.
I didn’t want to read the text on that slimy glossy paper.
I read part of it. Glad Todd is the way he is and was out front about some things like psychedelics, but he has protected himself from my view under the cheapo presentation and the stingy text and I’m cool with that given the hours of masterfully recorded deep songs he has given me.
I took it back to the library unfinished.
March 10, 2019
I'm a huge Todd Rundgren fan, and I wanted to love this book, I really did. Certainly there are some good stories, and occasional glimpses into his personal life, but overall, it felt cold and distant, and the three-paragraph, one-page chapters felt like he had treated the writing of the book as a series of homework assignments. And don't get me started on how much he needed an editor/proofreader--so many misspelled words, missing and wrong apostrophes, misspelled names of famous people that it only takes a second to google, and on two facing pages he basically repeats the same story nearly verbatim. Oh Todd, I would have proofread this book for free!
April 4, 2019
Man, I hate to do this but: needed a ghostwriter, an editor and stories that people actually care about. A real mess. Todd, you're great but maybe you can give this another shot?
December 31, 2020
Remarkable career and engrossed and outgrossed read. Each chapter highlights stories of the untold realities of an unique individual. Thanks for the effort.
February 8, 2019
The life of the Wizard
This book is a very insightful look into Todd Rundgren's life as a rock star, a producer, a child and a father. It is very entertaining and simple to read.
This book is a very insightful look into Todd Rundgren's life as a rock star, a producer, a child and a father. It is very entertaining and simple to read.
April 3, 2019
I was hoping for “Something Anything”.
December 30, 2023
"Todd Is Godd!" Absolutely adore this treasure . . .
August 12, 2019
The book is chronological, but if you were inclined, you wouldn't have to read it that way. Each page is its own essay - a story from Todd's life, the impact it had on him, and wrapped up with his own brand of "what I learned there" wisdom with a "take it or leave it" undertone. In his reflections, Todd explains why he chose the routes he did in his life, and how they shaped both him and his future choices. He's as frank and honest as you'd expect Todd Rundgren to be. There's not a lot of holding back his ire toward the people who he feels have betrayed him (lookin at you, BB. Yikes.) But at the same time, there's an equal gentleness, gratitude, and attempt to understand the ones he felt closest to, or whose life he might have impacted along the way. A lot of great stories in here about artists and musicians from someone who was on the front lines. I also really enjoyed his experiences with being on the forefront in the world of computers, software, and musical technology. I absolutely loved his stories about travel and spiritual exploration in the Far East (not like New York, but India/Nepal,) and understanding how that affected his songwriting as I understood it going in.
As others have pointed out, I would be remiss not to mention the typos. However, the fact that they are overwhelmed by Todd's wonderful and extensive vocabulary and ideas, and the awareness of all he has accomplished in his life - personally and professionally - in the end, I decided the existence of the spelling errors almost enhanced the portrait of who Todd is. Routine academics was never his trip - he made that very clear - but he forged his way through the world into fame and success while staying grounded. Todd is a performer, who loves an audience, but an audience who understands him. I think this book was written more for them than for any selfish regard for himself.
As others have pointed out, I would be remiss not to mention the typos. However, the fact that they are overwhelmed by Todd's wonderful and extensive vocabulary and ideas, and the awareness of all he has accomplished in his life - personally and professionally - in the end, I decided the existence of the spelling errors almost enhanced the portrait of who Todd is. Routine academics was never his trip - he made that very clear - but he forged his way through the world into fame and success while staying grounded. Todd is a performer, who loves an audience, but an audience who understands him. I think this book was written more for them than for any selfish regard for himself.
February 4, 2022
I read this book having been a big TR fan for many decades and also having read many autobiographies and memoirs by many rock musicians. Because I'm a fan I'm being generous and giving it three stars when from an objective book standpoint it's probably only worth two.
On the plus side, it's comprised of a great many very short chapters making it perfect for my relatively short attention span, it brings together a lot of stories Todd has told in this or that interview or onstage over the years, and if you're familiar with the guy you will recognize his "voice" which is generally ascerbic, slightly witty, very world-weary, prone to pontificate, and tends to paint himself as a bit of a loser or victim (perhaps due to a childhood that he describes as dysfunctional and lacking in affection) despite the fact that he's had a pretty charmed life in terms of career success and beautiful women throwing themselves at him. One of his exes wrote her own book some years back and it's interesting to hear his side of that story, which needless to say differs bigtime from her side; the truth is somewhere in between, I reckon.
On the minus side, as others have mentioned, the editing and proofing of the book is just plain bad, and the substantive ramblings lack depth and leave out stuff the reader would find interesting. For example, quite a few TR songs known to be inspired by certain persons/ events in the book aren't even mentioned. It's also just a dour and lugubrious read overall, and gives the impression that TR wasn't all that comfortable with the project. Probably a good reminder that the celebs we admire have their own personal struggles, which to us in the cheap seats might seem like "first world problems" but are nevertheless difficult for them.
On the plus side, it's comprised of a great many very short chapters making it perfect for my relatively short attention span, it brings together a lot of stories Todd has told in this or that interview or onstage over the years, and if you're familiar with the guy you will recognize his "voice" which is generally ascerbic, slightly witty, very world-weary, prone to pontificate, and tends to paint himself as a bit of a loser or victim (perhaps due to a childhood that he describes as dysfunctional and lacking in affection) despite the fact that he's had a pretty charmed life in terms of career success and beautiful women throwing themselves at him. One of his exes wrote her own book some years back and it's interesting to hear his side of that story, which needless to say differs bigtime from her side; the truth is somewhere in between, I reckon.
On the minus side, as others have mentioned, the editing and proofing of the book is just plain bad, and the substantive ramblings lack depth and leave out stuff the reader would find interesting. For example, quite a few TR songs known to be inspired by certain persons/ events in the book aren't even mentioned. It's also just a dour and lugubrious read overall, and gives the impression that TR wasn't all that comfortable with the project. Probably a good reminder that the celebs we admire have their own personal struggles, which to us in the cheap seats might seem like "first world problems" but are nevertheless difficult for them.
April 19, 2019
Well, this was a disappointment. First off, I am not a huge fan although I do like a lot of his music and also the music he has produced. I also think he should be in the Roll 'n Roll Hall of Fame but that institution is so messed up anyway with who is in and who isn't. Anyway, I didn't know that this book ended around 1998-99 when he turned 50 until the end. It was obvious that he updated a lot of his passages with recent comments; he would write a comment that referenced something within the recent past.
Anyway, I wish it was more about the music (his and the bands he's produced). Instead you got a lot about his family, his love for drugs and his love for having sex with many different woman. Which is typical rock star biography stuff. I don't know, I guess I expected a bit more. I will say the parts about his involvement with the dawn of the computer age and then the Internet was very interesting.
I did enjoy the format though, page of discussing something and then a more recent comment. He can be quite witty but also quite depressing.
(Oh, the editing is terrible and sometimes you'll read a name as if he's been talking about them the entire book but then you realize it's the first time you've seen that name. Also, some of the pictures in the back are vertical yet the captions are horizontal, a bit annoying)
Anyway, I wish it was more about the music (his and the bands he's produced). Instead you got a lot about his family, his love for drugs and his love for having sex with many different woman. Which is typical rock star biography stuff. I don't know, I guess I expected a bit more. I will say the parts about his involvement with the dawn of the computer age and then the Internet was very interesting.
I did enjoy the format though, page of discussing something and then a more recent comment. He can be quite witty but also quite depressing.
(Oh, the editing is terrible and sometimes you'll read a name as if he's been talking about them the entire book but then you realize it's the first time you've seen that name. Also, some of the pictures in the back are vertical yet the captions are horizontal, a bit annoying)
May 8, 2020
I have to say that I love this man's music. Been a fan for a few decades.
If you are looking for an autobiography don't buy this book. Yes, it is written by Rundgren, yes, it is stories from his life. But is isn't an autobiography. More like reflections on incidents in his life. Each story is short, about a page on the hardback version or about 5 pages in my Kindle edition (I have both). On completion of each story (you could read them in any order - just like his album, The Individualist) you get a short homily.
In terms of his life, you don't learn how long it took for him to learn to play guitar or piano. But you do learn about the fractious early life he had and then coming to terms with his family, both old and new. You also learn that he did want to swim in the River Ganges until he saw the effluent in it and then ran a mile. But I would too.
I have read that there are numerous errors in the book. Yes, there are a few. It will only spoil your read if you are a pedant. It could have done with a serious proof-reader, but nothing I haven't spotted in almost any other book you can pick up.
Am I happy that I read this? Yes. And will probably read it again.
If you are looking for an autobiography don't buy this book. Yes, it is written by Rundgren, yes, it is stories from his life. But is isn't an autobiography. More like reflections on incidents in his life. Each story is short, about a page on the hardback version or about 5 pages in my Kindle edition (I have both). On completion of each story (you could read them in any order - just like his album, The Individualist) you get a short homily.
In terms of his life, you don't learn how long it took for him to learn to play guitar or piano. But you do learn about the fractious early life he had and then coming to terms with his family, both old and new. You also learn that he did want to swim in the River Ganges until he saw the effluent in it and then ran a mile. But I would too.
I have read that there are numerous errors in the book. Yes, there are a few. It will only spoil your read if you are a pedant. It could have done with a serious proof-reader, but nothing I haven't spotted in almost any other book you can pick up.
Am I happy that I read this? Yes. And will probably read it again.
December 27, 2023
We still need a definitive Todd biography. I’m hoping that Bill Janovitz or Warren Zanes will take on this challenge, because we need to hear from someone who has no stake in the game.
This book was a good read, but full of typos and misspellings. I’m surprised it was released without some proofreading, but maybe Todd was ok with it as it was.
He’s certainly led an interesting life. He’s followed his muse, spent unwisely on splashy sets ( the Utopia years), made questionable choices in his personal life, but the body of work still stands up today. It’s nothing short of remarkable! In his prime, he was one of the most gifted soul singers around.
Regarding the Liv Tyler connection, I would suggest that you re-read the Bebe Buell book and compare her account to his.. I don’t think either of them are being completely truthful, but they were so young when they were together. She stated in her book that his world was pretty safe and stable, despite the rock star life. From what I’ve read here, I’d say that was true. He’s a renaissance man who never went over the edge and never bottomed out.
This book was a good read, but full of typos and misspellings. I’m surprised it was released without some proofreading, but maybe Todd was ok with it as it was.
He’s certainly led an interesting life. He’s followed his muse, spent unwisely on splashy sets ( the Utopia years), made questionable choices in his personal life, but the body of work still stands up today. It’s nothing short of remarkable! In his prime, he was one of the most gifted soul singers around.
Regarding the Liv Tyler connection, I would suggest that you re-read the Bebe Buell book and compare her account to his.. I don’t think either of them are being completely truthful, but they were so young when they were together. She stated in her book that his world was pretty safe and stable, despite the rock star life. From what I’ve read here, I’d say that was true. He’s a renaissance man who never went over the edge and never bottomed out.
August 28, 2019
As a lifelong fan of Todd's music, it was very interesting to read this memoir, covering his earliest memories up to his marriage at the age of 50. He adopts a strict form for the book, confining each short chapter to three paragraphs, starting with "a recollection of something I witnessed, a subjective assessment of my state of mind in either experiencing or remembering the episode (or a haphazard combination of both), and...a conclusion, a statement of plain facts or simply proselytizing". He lets a lot hang out there about his (+/-) relationships with family members and his partners and his children. In addition to his experiences as a musician and vocalist, he also shares interesting stories about his musical friends and his work as a record producer, as well as his ongoing effort to incorporate new technologies into his musical creations.
January 1, 2020
Misfit Musician From Philly
Very entertaining read. Couldn't put it down. If I had any critiques, it's that I feel that one must read the Paul Myers book "A Wizard, A True Star" first before reading this one. If only to fully understand some of the events and names of collaborators in Todd's history as he tends to skip around and gloss over some of the finer details that Myers' fills in. Both books together certainly make up a fine completed picture of Rundgren's life and work. I've always been fascinated with the man, myself being a misfit musician from Philadelphia and Todd sorta kinda inventing the archetype. Well worth the effort, even if you're not a fan of his music.
Very entertaining read. Couldn't put it down. If I had any critiques, it's that I feel that one must read the Paul Myers book "A Wizard, A True Star" first before reading this one. If only to fully understand some of the events and names of collaborators in Todd's history as he tends to skip around and gloss over some of the finer details that Myers' fills in. Both books together certainly make up a fine completed picture of Rundgren's life and work. I've always been fascinated with the man, myself being a misfit musician from Philadelphia and Todd sorta kinda inventing the archetype. Well worth the effort, even if you're not a fan of his music.
February 10, 2021
I love Todd Rundgren's music, especially his towering melodies. This book was a wonderful insight to his brain and his life and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, some of it was quite cringeworthy, particularly his opinions about his former girlfriend Bebe Buell. Some omissions, I questioned, such as much in the way of description of learning to play the guitar. Other moments were hilarious and thoughtful. All told, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in any aspect of Todd's glorious 50+ year career. That he hasn't been elected to the RNR Hall of Fame continues to mystify me. Agree with another poster's opinion that this book should have had some better copy-editing!
November 11, 2023
I liked this book. It is written in a unique way, because. .. TODD.
Each page is a chapter, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Gives us some insight into his life and beliefs. Its the perfect way for TODD to tell us the stories of his life. I found it fun, remembering the music that he produced at various stages of his life and how as a superfan, I watched his personal progression through his music. For this reason, it's an excellent memoir.
My problem: you've all been saying it. . .how could this book hit the stands without any editing? It takes away from the enjoyment of reading. Passages repeated almost verbatim; double words, typos, bleh.
Each page is a chapter, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Gives us some insight into his life and beliefs. Its the perfect way for TODD to tell us the stories of his life. I found it fun, remembering the music that he produced at various stages of his life and how as a superfan, I watched his personal progression through his music. For this reason, it's an excellent memoir.
My problem: you've all been saying it. . .how could this book hit the stands without any editing? It takes away from the enjoyment of reading. Passages repeated almost verbatim; double words, typos, bleh.
September 23, 2019
I have been following TR for 45 years. His music has been the soundtrack of my life. I would have enjoyed hearing a little bit about the music. He wrote so many great songs. Why not discuss?
I didn’t know much about his life and sadly, I still don’t.
He seriously needed an editor. He also needed someone to tell him not to bother with the book if he couldn’t dig deeper.
And Todd - don’t be so proud of not taking requests. If it weren’t for your fans, you wouldn’t have a career. We’re all older now.
We still come out to hear you & we even buy your book. Give a little.
I didn’t know much about his life and sadly, I still don’t.
He seriously needed an editor. He also needed someone to tell him not to bother with the book if he couldn’t dig deeper.
And Todd - don’t be so proud of not taking requests. If it weren’t for your fans, you wouldn’t have a career. We’re all older now.
We still come out to hear you & we even buy your book. Give a little.
September 13, 2020
Maybe I'm too much a fan to be objective, but this book's just plain fun. It's a roughly chronological series of musings. The very short essays are funny, sad, thoughtful, or sometimes just matter-of-fact recountings. Every reader will probably skip over some, re-read others, but where's the harm in that? As a lifelong fan of Rundgren, it was just a delight to learn how he grew up, how he built a career, and how he lives his life through a stream of recollections.
June 23, 2022
I've been a Todd fan since 1973 and respect both his musicianship and his intellect. There were interesting anecdotes here that were enjoyable. What I would have liked more was to understand his worldview and his thoughts on faith, humanity, and the state of the world. Todd's lyrics have always challenged me to be a more decent and thoughtful person. I didn't get as much of that as I would have liked, but I'm glad I purchased and read it. Few people are as unique or interesting.
April 23, 2019
It's a bit like getting into some of his musical work - at first strange, disconnected even, curious though always. With time you start to adapt to the way his mind works and recognise the genius. Certainly an unconventional memoir, and you'd expect nothing less from Todd. Still, at times at least, I did expect a tiny bit more...
January 29, 2019
Easy read of interesting life stories and observations. Not filled with entertainment\ fan fluff or Hollywood type gossip. Just some coherent recollections of a musical artist's childhood and growing up into the 1970s music business and on into adulthood.
April 8, 2019
The Title Says it All
Enjoyable read. Rundgren tells his story in his inimitable style. Short pieces peppered with bon mots and a few words that will send you to the dictionary (not a bad thing). For fans only.
Enjoyable read. Rundgren tells his story in his inimitable style. Short pieces peppered with bon mots and a few words that will send you to the dictionary (not a bad thing). For fans only.
August 10, 2019
As A Fan, I Dug It
Always liked Todd's music a lot and there are some fascinating stories to be found here. Never knew he was a computer savant, for example. If you dig the Runt, it's a good read.
Always liked Todd's music a lot and there are some fascinating stories to be found here. Never knew he was a computer savant, for example. If you dig the Runt, it's a good read.
March 19, 2019
Quotable AF
One of the most quotable books I’ve ever read. Todd is God’s, and that’s all there is to it. Read this!
One of the most quotable books I’ve ever read. Todd is God’s, and that’s all there is to it. Read this!
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