Biography
Todd Rundgren's Utopia is actually the title of the first album by Utopia, an American progressive rock band led by Todd Rundgren that toured and recorded from 1973 to 1986.
Todd Rundgren's back-up band for 1973's A Wizard, a True Star proved to be the first incarnation of Utopia. They would reform again in 1974 as a larger prog-rock ensemble, which included multiple keyboards, synthesizers and brass. They premiered on 1974's Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and went on to record the 1975 live album Another Live In 1975.
Todd Rundgren re-established a second version of Utopia as a tight, disciplined four-piece group that became a popular recording and touring band of its day. The line-up featured Roger Powell on keyboards, Kasim Sulton on bass, and John Wilcox on drums, although all members played multiple instruments and sang both lead and harmony vocals at times. During the next 17 years they would release 10 more albums; incl. Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia and the Beatleque sounding Deface the Music. The last to be released would be Disco Jets, recorded in 1976 but not released until 2001.
Todd Rundgren eventually disbanded Utopia in the mid-80s; they released Trivia (1986) as their "swan song" effort. In 1992 another live album was cut when the reunited for one more tour. Not until 2009 Rundgren, Powell, and Sulton were reunited on stage once more during the debut live presentation of Rundgren's A Wizard, A True Star presented by RundgrenRadio.com. In subsequent shows on the tour, Ralph Schuckett replaced Powell, continuing the trend of former Utopia members to remain connected musically. A show taken to the road with just a few performances in Europe.
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