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Utopia (band)

Utopia was an American rock band formed in 1973 by Todd Rundgren. During its first three years, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as Todd Rundgren's Utopia. Most of the members in this early incarnation also played on Rundgren's solo albums of the period up to 1975. By 1976, the group was known simply as Utopia and featured a stable quartet of Rundgren, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell and John "Willie" Wilcox. This version of the group gradually abandoned progressive rock for more straightforward rock and pop.

Utopia
Utopia, 1977. L-R: Roger Powell, Willie Wilcox, Todd Rundgren and Kasim Sulton.
Background information
Also known asTodd Rundgren's Utopia (1973–1976, 2011, 2018)
OriginNew York City, United States
Genres
Years active
  • 1973–1986
  • 1992
  • 2011
  • 2018
LabelsBearsville, Network, Passport, Epic, Rhino
Past membersTodd Rundgren
Jean Yves "M. Frog" Labat
David Mason
Hunt Sales
Tony Sales
Mark "Moogy" Klingman
Ralph Schuckett
Kevin Ellman
John Siegler
Roger Powell
John "Willie" Wilcox
Kasim Sulton
Doug Howard
Jesse Gress
Gil Assayas

In 1980, they had a top 40 hit with "Set Me Free". Though often thought of as a Rundgren-oriented project, all four members of Utopia wrote, sang, produced and performed on their albums; "Set Me Free", for example, was written and sung by Sulton. The group broke up in 1986, but reunited briefly in 1992. In 2011 the earlier prog-rock incarnation known as Todd Rundgren's Utopia was revived for a series of live shows. In 2018 Rundgren, Sulton, and Wilcox reunited for a tour with new keyboardist Gil Assayas under the moniker Todd Rundgren's Utopia.[citation needed]

History edit

Todd Rundgren's Utopia edit

On his 1973 album A Wizard, a True Star, Rundgren had sung the line "Wait another year, Utopia is here."

For a short period of time (1973–74) Todd Rundgren's Utopia consisted of Rundgren plus Hunt Sales and Tony Fox Sales together with the late David Mason (a musician from Florida, not to be confused with the former Traffic guitarist of the same name) [1] and "M. Frog" (Jean-Yves Labat), who initially played rhythm guitar and later synthesizers. However, the Sales brothers had left by the time the band recorded its first release, being replaced by percussionist Kevin Ellman and bassist John Siegler.

The first two albums — Todd Rundgren's Utopia (1974) and Another Live (1975) — featured lengthy, complex and highly arranged progressive rock pieces, performed by a six-piece multi-instrumental ensemble composed of Rundgren (guitar and vocals), Ellman (drums and percussion), Siegler (acoustic and electric basses and cello), Mark "Moogy" Klingman (keyboards), Jean-Yves Labat (now on synths), and Ralph Schuckett (keyboards). Klingman had played with Rundgren as early as his first album Runt; both Klingman and Siegler had played on Side 4 of Rundgren's third album Something/Anything, and together with Schuckett they had also played on Rundgren's fourth album A Wizard, A True Star. Meanwhile, Rundgren had played on Labat's solo album M. Frog. Ellman debuted with Rundgren on the album Todd.

The debut album contained only four tracks and ran for almost sixty minutes total, opening with "Utopia Theme" — recorded live in concert — and closing with the extended concept piece "The Ikon", which ran more than thirty minutes and took up all of side two of the album. Soon after this first album was completed, Labat left the band.[2] The remaining five-piece lineup was referred to by Rundgren as the "Rhythm Kings" and recorded the song "Real Man", later released on Rundgren's 1975 album Initiation, along with other Rundgren solo material. Former Moog programmer Roger Powell joined the band on synthesizer, restoring it to a sextet. Ellman left the band to become an executive at his family's Beefsteak Charlie's restaurant. He was replaced by John "Willie" Wilcox, who had been the drummer with Hall & Oates on the Rundgren-produced War Babies album.

The live LP Another Live (1975) featured new members Powell and Wilcox. The record showcased several extended progressive tracks which were not released in studio versions and also displayed Rundgren's continuing interest in the Broadway musical via a version of "Something's Coming" from West Side Story. Also included was "Do Ya", written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by The Move; the liner notes characterized this recording as a return gesture for the Move's having recorded "Open My Eyes", a song written by Rundgren and recorded by his earlier band the Nazz. Shortly after these sessions, Schuckett and Klingman both left the band, leaving Powell as the lone keyboard player.

On October 9, 1975, Utopia played their first UK concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London with the trimmed-down lineup of Rundgren, Siegler, Powell and Wilcox, with backing vocals by future soul star Luther Vandross and Anthony Hinton (a former member of Vandross' early 1970s vocal quintet Luther). This concert was recorded by the BBC for broadcast and has since been widely bootlegged. The audio material from this concert was released in 2012 on Floating World Records' Todd Rundgren's Utopia Live at Hammersmith Odeon '75.

In 1976, the Rundgren/Powell/Siegler/Wilcox lineup of Utopia recorded an instrumental album entitled Disco Jets, which included a disco arrangement of the Star Trek theme as well as original compositions. Bearsville Records passed on releasing the album, and it was shelved. (Disco Jets eventually surfaced in 2001 as part of a Rundgren rarities box set, and was finally issued on its own in 2012.) The same lineup recorded Rundgren's 1976 solo album Faithful. Siegler left the group shortly after the recording of this album.

Siegler, Schuckett, and Klingman were among the many musicians who played with Rundgren for the concerts recorded and released as the live double-LP set Back to the Bars in 1978.

Utopia edit

By mid-1976, the group became known simply as 'Utopia' and settled into a four-person lineup of Rundgren (guitar, vocals), Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals), Roger Powell (keyboards, vocals) and Willie Wilcox (drums, vocals). This line-up remained stable until the group's demise. All four band members wrote, sang, produced and even engineered material for the band.

The first Utopia album Ra (1977) continued showcasing the group's progressive leanings, opening with an electronic arrangement of the "Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise" theme (from Bernard Herrmann's score for the film Journey to the Center of the Earth), but it also contained several shorter, more accessible songs. Utopia's subsequent albums increasingly featured more concise and pop-oriented material that showed the influence of the prevailing new wave trend.

1977's Oops! Wrong Planet was an even more pop-oriented album, and the song "Love Is the Answer" became Utopia's main set-closer. "Love Is the Answer" later became a big hit for England Dan & John Ford Coley, charting No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary list in 1979, but the Utopia version failed to chart.

Utopia had only one Billboard top 40 hit: "Set Me Free", from their best-selling album Adventures in Utopia (1979), peaking at No. 27 in the US in early 1980. The same year, the band issued the LP Deface the Music, which was an overt pastiche of the Merseybeat and Sgt. Pepper-era music of The Beatles. Though the album received some positive critical notices, the move away from new wave derailed the band's career momentum.

In August 1979, Utopia played at Knebworth Festival in England - billed as Todd Rundgren and Utopia. The headline act at both their appearances at the festival, over two consecutive Saturdays on 4 and 11 August, were Led Zeppelin.[3]

Utopia managed to hold on to their cult status throughout the '80s with their albums, concert performances and videos that were shown on MTV in its early years. The group had a number of album-oriented rock hits including "Caravan," "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" (co-written by bassist Doug Howard, who replaced Sulton during his brief hiatus from the group in 1982), and "Love In Action." The video for "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" memorably featured the band dressed in insect costumes. The album Swing to the Right (1982) featured satirical political songs, and the Canadian top 40 hit "One World", but its primary purpose was to fulfill the band's recording contract with Bearsville Records, which had stopped promoting the group, concluding that Utopia albums had a guaranteed audience of Rundgren fans but weren't likely to attract new listeners. While the band was without a label, Sulton decided to leave the band and was replaced by Doug Howard; however, once the band signed with Network Records (distributed by Elektra Records), Sulton decided to return and Howard left.

The follow-up self-titled LP Utopia (1982) was the band's first album for Network and spread 15 tracks across an LP and a bonus unlisted EP. In addition, a video album was released. During this time Elektra/Asylum records decided to move their offices from New York to Los Angeles. During the consolidation they decided to cut Network Records out of its distribution causing the label to fold and left Utopia without label support once again.[citation needed] Utopia then signed a three-album deal with Passport Records, then a subsidiary of Jem Records.

The band's final two albums Oblivion (1984) and POV (1985) were neither commercially successful nor critically well-received, partly because the Passport label on which they were issued folded. After issuing the compilation Trivia in 1986, which included tracks from their previous three LPs plus two previously released outtakes, Utopia split up.

Rundgren had a successful solo career before, during, and after Utopia, as did his bandmates, although to more modest levels. Powell toured with David Bowie for the live album Stage, and previously worked as protégé for Robert Moog. Powell's solo album Air Pocket was voted No. 1 in 1980 by Keyboard Magazine, but after the demise of Utopia he had to give up performing for some time due to Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). Prior to Utopia, Wilcox recorded the Rundgren-produced War Babies album and toured with Hall and Oates. Wilcox was the senior composer and sound designer for NBC Universal Television from 1999 to 2005, and wrote and programmed "We Connect", the No. 1 dance hit for artist Stacey Q. He continues to write and produce for television, film and artists with his company Willie Wilcox Music. Wilcox composed the ringwalk music used by the boxer, Manny Pacquiao. Bassist Kasim Sulton issued a solo LP in 1982, which contained the Canadian top 40 hit "Don't Break My Heart", and has toured as a band leader for Meat Loaf, and performed with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Scandal, Hall and Oates, Blue Öyster Cult, and others.

Reunions edit

 
Todd Rundgren and Utopia performing: Schuckett on keyboards, Ellman on drums, Siegler on bass, and Sulton on keyboards, and additional guitarist Jesse Gress, in Boston, November 2011.

Though Utopia officially broke up in 1986, they reunited briefly in 1992, yielding the album Redux '92: Live in Japan, but they were unable to secure a new label arrangement so they disbanded permanently. Various members have continued to work with Rundgren in the years since. In 2005, Rundgren and Sulton began working together again in a new lineup of The Cars using the name The New Cars. After Elliot Easton broke his left clavicle following a tour bus accident, The New Cars took a hiatus. During this hiatus, Kasim took on some work with Meat Loaf and Rundgren to support Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose.

Rundgren, Powell, and Sulton were reunited on stage during the debut live presentation of Rundgren's A Wizard, a True Star presented by RundgrenRadio.com in 2009. Due to ongoing health issues with hearing loss and arthritis (which had precipitated his retirement from performing in the 1990s) Powell did not participate in the extended tour,[4] for which he was replaced by founding member Ralph Schuckett, continuing the trend of former Utopia members to remain connected musically.

On January 29–30, 2011, a reunion of most of the members of the 1974 Utopia Mark II band (Rundgren, Moogy Klingman, Ralph Schuckett, John Siegler, and Kevin Ellman) was held for two nights at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. Proceeds from the shows went to defray medical treatment for Klingman's bout with cancer. Material was drawn from the 1972–75 catalogs of Rundgren and Todd Rundgren's Utopia. This marked the first time this lineup performed together in over 35 years. Fellow musicians Jesse Gress and longtime Utopia (1977–86) member Kasim Sulton performed on some of the songs.[citation needed]

Ten months later, in November 2011, the band toured live as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" for the first time since 1975, with the same lineup of Rundgren, Klingman, Schuckett, Siegler, Ellman, Gress and Sulton. Klingman died on November 15, 2011.

A 4-CD, 2-DVD box set entitled "Live From Peekskill and New York City, Todd Rundgren's Utopia - Benefit for Moogy Klingman," was released by Purple Pyramid Records in 2020. It includes the two complete shows from January 29, 2011, at the Highline Ballroom, New York and November 18, 2011, at The Peekskill Performing Arts Center, Peekskill New York.[citation needed]

In late 2017, Sulton put together a Utopia tribute band called Kasim Sulton's Utopia, made up of himself, Jesse Gress (guitar and vocals), Wade Preston (piano and vocals), Christopher Clark (synth and vocals) and Andy Ascolese (drums and vocals). This grouping began touring in February 2018.[5]

In February 2018, Utopia announced it would be touring as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" starting that spring, with a lineup of Rundgren, Sulton, Wilcox, and Schuckett.[6] In March 2018, the band announced that Schuckett would not be able to participate, and called for keyboardists who are familiar with Utopia's catalog to submit audition tapes.[7] The band ultimately chose Gil Assayas after one of Rundgren's sons saw him perform.[8]

In May 2018, the band performed at the Chicago Theater, which was recorded and released in April 2019 as a four-disc collection on both DVD & Blu-ray video format and two audio CDs, featuring the new line-up with Assayas on keyboards.

After bowing out of the group's 2018 reunion tour due to unspecified health issues, Ralph Schuckett died on April 7, 2021, at the age of 73.[9] No cause of death was announced. Former member, guitarist Jesse Gress died in 2023 at the age of 67.[10]

Members edit

  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals (1973–1986, 1992, 2011, 2018)
  • Jean Yves "M. Frog" Labat - synthesizers, rhythm guitar (1973–1974)
  • David Mason - keyboards (1973; died 2013)
  • Hunt Sales - drums, percussion (1973)
  • Tony Sales - bass, backing vocals (1973)
  • Mark "Moogy" Klingman - organ, backing vocals, synthesizers (1973–1975, 2011; died 2011)
  • Ralph Schuckett - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1973–1975, 2009, 2011, 2018; died 2021)[9]
  • Kevin Ellman - drums, percussion (1973–1975, 2011–2018)
  • John Siegler - bass, cello, rhythm guitar, vocals (1973–1976, 2011)
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (1975–1986, 1992, 2009)
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals (1975–1986, 1992, 2011, 2018)
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals, synthesizers (1976–1982, 1982–1986, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2018)
  • Doug Howard - bass, backing vocals (1982)
  • Jesse Gress - backing vocals, rhythm guitar (2011; died 2023)
  • Gil Assayas - synthesizers, keyboards (2018)

Lineups timeline edit

Years Lineup Albums
1973
1973–1975
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar & lead vocals
  • Jean Yves "M. Frog" Labat - synthesizers
  • Kevin Ellman - drums, percussion
  • Mark "Moogy" Klingman - organ, backing vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett - keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Siegler - bass, cello, backing vocals
1975
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Mark "Moogy" Klingman - organ, backing vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett - keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Siegler - bass, backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
1975–1976
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar & lead vocals
  • John Siegler - bass, backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
1976–1982
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
1982
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Doug Howard - bass, backing vocals
1982–1986
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
1986–1992

Disbanded

1992
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
1992–2009

Disbanded, one-off reunion in 2009 consisting of

  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett - synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals
2009
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett - synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Roger Powell - synthesizers, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (one show)
  • Prairie Prince - drums, percussion
2011
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - backing vocals, organ (after Moogy's death)
  • Ralph Schuckett - keyboards
  • Mark "Moogy" Klingman - organ, synthesizers
  • John Siegler - bass
  • Kevin Ellman - drums, percussion
  • Jesse Gress - backing vocals, rhythm guitar
2018
  • Todd Rundgren - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, lead and backing vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett - synthesizers, keyboards (left before tour, January–March)
  • John "Willie" Wilcox - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals
  • Gil Assayas - synthesizers, keyboards (replaced Schuckett, March–July)

Timeline edit

Discography edit

Utopia discography
Studio albums10
Live albums4
Compilation albums4
Singles3

The discography of American progressive rock band Utopia includes ten studio albums, four live albums, four compilations, and three singles that charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Studio albums edit

Year Album information Chart positions
US
[11]
CA
[12]
UK
[13]
1974 Todd Rundgren's Utopia 34 28
1976
(unreleased)
Disco Jets
  • Released: 2001 (as part of the Todd Rundgren Demos and Lost Albums 2-CD set)
  • Label: Crown
1977 Ra
  • Released: February 4, 1977
  • Label: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
79 27
[14]
Oops! Wrong Planet
  • Released: September 1977
  • Label: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
73 66 59
1979 Adventures in Utopia
  • Released: December 27, 1979
  • Label: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
32 84 57
1980 Deface the Music
  • Released: September 24, 1980
  • Label: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
65
1982 Swing to the Right
  • Released: February 24, 1982
  • Label: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
102
Utopia 84
1984 Oblivion 74 94
1985 P.O.V.
  • Released: January 1985
  • Label: Passport
161

Live albums edit

  • Another Live (Bearsville, Warner Bros., 1975) US No. 66[11]
  • Redux '92: Live in Japan (BMG, 1992)
  • Official Bootleg, Vol. 9: Oblivion Tour (Nippon Crown, 2001)
  • Bootleg Series, Vol. 2: KSAN 95FM, Live '79 (Sanctuary, 2002)
  • Live At Hammersmith Odeon '75 (Shout! Factory, 2012)
  • Live at the Chicago Theater (Cleopatra, 2019)
  • Live From Peekskill and New York City, Todd Rundgren's Utopia - Benefit for Moogy Klingman (Recorded January 29, 2011 at the Highline Ballroom, New York and November 18, 2011, at The Peekskill Performing Arts Center, Peekskill New York. Released by Purple Pyramid Records February 2020)

Compilation albums edit

  • Trivia (Passport, 1986)
  • The Collection (Castle, 1988)
  • Anthology (1974-1985) 1989
  • Oblivion, POV & Some Trivia (Rhino, 1996)
  • City in My Head (Essential Records, 1999)
  • Todd Rundgren vs Utopia (Castle Music, 2001)

Singles edit

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[15]
US MSR
[15]
CAN
1977 "Communion with the Sun" Ra
"Love Is the Answer" Oops! Wrong Planet
1980 "Set Me Free" 27 55 Adventures in Utopia
"The Very Last Time" 76
"Second Nature"
"I Just Want to Touch You" Deface the Music
1982 "One World" 34 Swing to the Right
"Lysistrata"
"Hammer in My Heart" 31 Utopia
1983 "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" 82
1984 "Crybaby" 30 Oblivion
"Love with a Thinker"
1985 "Mated" P.O.V.

Music videos edit

  • "Magic Dragon Theatre" (1977)
  • "Set Me Free" (1980)
  • "You Make Me Crazy" (1980)
  • "I Just Want to Touch You" (1980)
  • "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" (1982)
  • "Hammer in My Heart" (1982)
  • "Crybaby" (1984)

References edit

  1. ^ "David Mason memorial article". Tunegroover.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  2. ^ "Jean-Yves Labat bio". Advitm-records.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. ^ "Led Zeppelin | Official Website Knebworth Festival - August 11, 1979". Led Zeppelin | Official Website - Official Website. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  4. ^ Moser, John J. "Utopia: Why the groundbreaking '70s and '80s band decided to reunite". Mcall.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Kasim Sulton's Utopia". Theiridium.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  6. ^ "Todd Rundgren's Utopia Ends What Manager Calls 'Longest Sabbatical'". Pollstar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  7. ^ "Ralph Schuckett Can't Do Utopia Tour, Looking For a True Musician/Fan to Replace". Vintagevinylnews.com. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  8. ^ "Todd Rundgren & His Utopia Bandmates Talk Reunion Tour & Penchant for Concept Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  9. ^ a b "Ralph Schuckett, Former Utopia Keyboardist, Dies at 73". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Jonathan Horsley (February 23, 2023). "Jesse Gress, Todd Rundgren guitarist and longstanding Guitar Player contributor, dies aged 67". guitarworld.
  11. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Utopia > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  12. ^ "Search - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  13. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Utopia". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  14. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Todd Rundgren". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  15. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Utopia > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-19.

External links edit

utopia, band, todd, rundgren, utopia, redirects, here, band, debut, album, todd, rundgren, utopia, album, brazilian, band, formerly, known, utopia, mamonas, assassinas, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, art. Todd Rundgren s Utopia redirects here For the band s debut album see Todd Rundgren s Utopia album For the Brazilian band formerly known as Utopia see Mamonas Assassinas This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Utopia band news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Utopia was an American rock band formed in 1973 by Todd Rundgren During its first three years the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as Todd Rundgren s Utopia Most of the members in this early incarnation also played on Rundgren s solo albums of the period up to 1975 By 1976 the group was known simply as Utopia and featured a stable quartet of Rundgren Kasim Sulton Roger Powell and John Willie Wilcox This version of the group gradually abandoned progressive rock for more straightforward rock and pop UtopiaUtopia 1977 L R Roger Powell Willie Wilcox Todd Rundgren and Kasim Sulton Background informationAlso known asTodd Rundgren s Utopia 1973 1976 2011 2018 OriginNew York City United StatesGenresRocknew waveprogressive rockYears active1973 1986199220112018LabelsBearsville Network Passport Epic RhinoPast membersTodd RundgrenJean Yves M Frog LabatDavid MasonHunt SalesTony SalesMark Moogy KlingmanRalph SchuckettKevin EllmanJohn SieglerRoger PowellJohn Willie WilcoxKasim SultonDoug HowardJesse GressGil AssayasIn 1980 they had a top 40 hit with Set Me Free Though often thought of as a Rundgren oriented project all four members of Utopia wrote sang produced and performed on their albums Set Me Free for example was written and sung by Sulton The group broke up in 1986 but reunited briefly in 1992 In 2011 the earlier prog rock incarnation known as Todd Rundgren s Utopia was revived for a series of live shows In 2018 Rundgren Sulton and Wilcox reunited for a tour with new keyboardist Gil Assayas under the moniker Todd Rundgren s Utopia citation needed Contents 1 History 1 1 Todd Rundgren s Utopia 1 2 Utopia 1 3 Reunions 2 Members 2 1 Lineups timeline 2 2 Timeline 3 Discography 3 1 Studio albums 3 2 Live albums 3 3 Compilation albums 3 4 Singles 4 Music videos 5 References 6 External linksHistory editTodd Rundgren s Utopia edit On his 1973 album A Wizard a True Star Rundgren had sung the line Wait another year Utopia is here For a short period of time 1973 74 Todd Rundgren s Utopia consisted of Rundgren plus Hunt Sales and Tony Fox Sales together with the late David Mason a musician from Florida not to be confused with the former Traffic guitarist of the same name 1 and M Frog Jean Yves Labat who initially played rhythm guitar and later synthesizers However the Sales brothers had left by the time the band recorded its first release being replaced by percussionist Kevin Ellman and bassist John Siegler The first two albums Todd Rundgren s Utopia 1974 and Another Live 1975 featured lengthy complex and highly arranged progressive rock pieces performed by a six piece multi instrumental ensemble composed of Rundgren guitar and vocals Ellman drums and percussion Siegler acoustic and electric basses and cello Mark Moogy Klingman keyboards Jean Yves Labat now on synths and Ralph Schuckett keyboards Klingman had played with Rundgren as early as his first album Runt both Klingman and Siegler had played on Side 4 of Rundgren s third album Something Anything and together with Schuckett they had also played on Rundgren s fourth album A Wizard A True Star Meanwhile Rundgren had played on Labat s solo album M Frog Ellman debuted with Rundgren on the album Todd The debut album contained only four tracks and ran for almost sixty minutes total opening with Utopia Theme recorded live in concert and closing with the extended concept piece The Ikon which ran more than thirty minutes and took up all of side two of the album Soon after this first album was completed Labat left the band 2 The remaining five piece lineup was referred to by Rundgren as the Rhythm Kings and recorded the song Real Man later released on Rundgren s 1975 album Initiation along with other Rundgren solo material Former Moog programmer Roger Powell joined the band on synthesizer restoring it to a sextet Ellman left the band to become an executive at his family s Beefsteak Charlie s restaurant He was replaced by John Willie Wilcox who had been the drummer with Hall amp Oates on the Rundgren produced War Babies album The live LP Another Live 1975 featured new members Powell and Wilcox The record showcased several extended progressive tracks which were not released in studio versions and also displayed Rundgren s continuing interest in the Broadway musical via a version of Something s Coming from West Side Story Also included was Do Ya written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by The Move the liner notes characterized this recording as a return gesture for the Move s having recorded Open My Eyes a song written by Rundgren and recorded by his earlier band the Nazz Shortly after these sessions Schuckett and Klingman both left the band leaving Powell as the lone keyboard player On October 9 1975 Utopia played their first UK concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London with the trimmed down lineup of Rundgren Siegler Powell and Wilcox with backing vocals by future soul star Luther Vandross and Anthony Hinton a former member of Vandross early 1970s vocal quintet Luther This concert was recorded by the BBC for broadcast and has since been widely bootlegged The audio material from this concert was released in 2012 on Floating World Records Todd Rundgren s Utopia Live at Hammersmith Odeon 75 In 1976 the Rundgren Powell Siegler Wilcox lineup of Utopia recorded an instrumental album entitled Disco Jets which included a disco arrangement of the Star Trek theme as well as original compositions Bearsville Records passed on releasing the album and it was shelved Disco Jets eventually surfaced in 2001 as part of a Rundgren rarities box set and was finally issued on its own in 2012 The same lineup recorded Rundgren s 1976 solo album Faithful Siegler left the group shortly after the recording of this album Siegler Schuckett and Klingman were among the many musicians who played with Rundgren for the concerts recorded and released as the live double LP set Back to the Bars in 1978 Utopia edit By mid 1976 the group became known simply as Utopia and settled into a four person lineup of Rundgren guitar vocals Kasim Sulton bass vocals Roger Powell keyboards vocals and Willie Wilcox drums vocals This line up remained stable until the group s demise All four band members wrote sang produced and even engineered material for the band The first Utopia album Ra 1977 continued showcasing the group s progressive leanings opening with an electronic arrangement of the Overture Mountaintop and Sunrise theme from Bernard Herrmann s score for the film Journey to the Center of the Earth but it also contained several shorter more accessible songs Utopia s subsequent albums increasingly featured more concise and pop oriented material that showed the influence of the prevailing new wave trend 1977 s Oops Wrong Planet was an even more pop oriented album and the song Love Is the Answer became Utopia s main set closer Love Is the Answer later became a big hit for England Dan amp John Ford Coley charting No 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary list in 1979 but the Utopia version failed to chart Utopia had only one Billboard top 40 hit Set Me Free from their best selling album Adventures in Utopia 1979 peaking at No 27 in the US in early 1980 The same year the band issued the LP Deface the Music which was an overt pastiche of the Merseybeat and Sgt Pepper era music of The Beatles Though the album received some positive critical notices the move away from new wave derailed the band s career momentum In August 1979 Utopia played at Knebworth Festival in England billed as Todd Rundgren and Utopia The headline act at both their appearances at the festival over two consecutive Saturdays on 4 and 11 August were Led Zeppelin 3 Utopia managed to hold on to their cult status throughout the 80s with their albums concert performances and videos that were shown on MTV in its early years The group had a number of album oriented rock hits including Caravan Feet Don t Fail Me Now co written by bassist Doug Howard who replaced Sulton during his brief hiatus from the group in 1982 and Love In Action The video for Feet Don t Fail Me Now memorably featured the band dressed in insect costumes The album Swing to the Right 1982 featured satirical political songs and the Canadian top 40 hit One World but its primary purpose was to fulfill the band s recording contract with Bearsville Records which had stopped promoting the group concluding that Utopia albums had a guaranteed audience of Rundgren fans but weren t likely to attract new listeners While the band was without a label Sulton decided to leave the band and was replaced by Doug Howard however once the band signed with Network Records distributed by Elektra Records Sulton decided to return and Howard left The follow up self titled LP Utopia 1982 was the band s first album for Network and spread 15 tracks across an LP and a bonus unlisted EP In addition a video album was released During this time Elektra Asylum records decided to move their offices from New York to Los Angeles During the consolidation they decided to cut Network Records out of its distribution causing the label to fold and left Utopia without label support once again citation needed Utopia then signed a three album deal with Passport Records then a subsidiary of Jem Records The band s final two albums Oblivion 1984 and POV 1985 were neither commercially successful nor critically well received partly because the Passport label on which they were issued folded After issuing the compilation Trivia in 1986 which included tracks from their previous three LPs plus two previously released outtakes Utopia split up Rundgren had a successful solo career before during and after Utopia as did his bandmates although to more modest levels Powell toured with David Bowie for the live album Stage and previously worked as protege for Robert Moog Powell s solo album Air Pocket was voted No 1 in 1980 by Keyboard Magazine but after the demise of Utopia he had to give up performing for some time due to Repetitive Strain Injury RSI Prior to Utopia Wilcox recorded the Rundgren produced War Babies album and toured with Hall and Oates Wilcox was the senior composer and sound designer for NBC Universal Television from 1999 to 2005 and wrote and programmed We Connect the No 1 dance hit for artist Stacey Q He continues to write and produce for television film and artists with his company Willie Wilcox Music Wilcox composed the ringwalk music used by the boxer Manny Pacquiao Bassist Kasim Sulton issued a solo LP in 1982 which contained the Canadian top 40 hit Don t Break My Heart and has toured as a band leader for Meat Loaf and performed with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Scandal Hall and Oates Blue Oyster Cult and others Reunions edit nbsp Todd Rundgren and Utopia performing Schuckett on keyboards Ellman on drums Siegler on bass and Sulton on keyboards and additional guitarist Jesse Gress in Boston November 2011 Though Utopia officially broke up in 1986 they reunited briefly in 1992 yielding the album Redux 92 Live in Japan but they were unable to secure a new label arrangement so they disbanded permanently Various members have continued to work with Rundgren in the years since In 2005 Rundgren and Sulton began working together again in a new lineup of The Cars using the name The New Cars After Elliot Easton broke his left clavicle following a tour bus accident The New Cars took a hiatus During this hiatus Kasim took on some work with Meat Loaf and Rundgren to support Bat Out of Hell III The Monster Is Loose Rundgren Powell and Sulton were reunited on stage during the debut live presentation of Rundgren s A Wizard a True Star presented by RundgrenRadio com in 2009 Due to ongoing health issues with hearing loss and arthritis which had precipitated his retirement from performing in the 1990s Powell did not participate in the extended tour 4 for which he was replaced by founding member Ralph Schuckett continuing the trend of former Utopia members to remain connected musically On January 29 30 2011 a reunion of most of the members of the 1974 Utopia Mark II band Rundgren Moogy Klingman Ralph Schuckett John Siegler and Kevin Ellman was held for two nights at the Highline Ballroom in New York City Proceeds from the shows went to defray medical treatment for Klingman s bout with cancer Material was drawn from the 1972 75 catalogs of Rundgren and Todd Rundgren s Utopia This marked the first time this lineup performed together in over 35 years Fellow musicians Jesse Gress and longtime Utopia 1977 86 member Kasim Sulton performed on some of the songs citation needed Ten months later in November 2011 the band toured live as Todd Rundgren s Utopia for the first time since 1975 with the same lineup of Rundgren Klingman Schuckett Siegler Ellman Gress and Sulton Klingman died on November 15 2011 A 4 CD 2 DVD box set entitled Live From Peekskill and New York City Todd Rundgren s Utopia Benefit for Moogy Klingman was released by Purple Pyramid Records in 2020 It includes the two complete shows from January 29 2011 at the Highline Ballroom New York and November 18 2011 at The Peekskill Performing Arts Center Peekskill New York citation needed In late 2017 Sulton put together a Utopia tribute band called Kasim Sulton s Utopia made up of himself Jesse Gress guitar and vocals Wade Preston piano and vocals Christopher Clark synth and vocals and Andy Ascolese drums and vocals This grouping began touring in February 2018 5 In February 2018 Utopia announced it would be touring as Todd Rundgren s Utopia starting that spring with a lineup of Rundgren Sulton Wilcox and Schuckett 6 In March 2018 the band announced that Schuckett would not be able to participate and called for keyboardists who are familiar with Utopia s catalog to submit audition tapes 7 The band ultimately chose Gil Assayas after one of Rundgren s sons saw him perform 8 In May 2018 the band performed at the Chicago Theater which was recorded and released in April 2019 as a four disc collection on both DVD amp Blu ray video format and two audio CDs featuring the new line up with Assayas on keyboards After bowing out of the group s 2018 reunion tour due to unspecified health issues Ralph Schuckett died on April 7 2021 at the age of 73 9 No cause of death was announced Former member guitarist Jesse Gress died in 2023 at the age of 67 10 Members editTodd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals 1973 1986 1992 2011 2018 Jean Yves M Frog Labat synthesizers rhythm guitar 1973 1974 David Mason keyboards 1973 died 2013 Hunt Sales drums percussion 1973 Tony Sales bass backing vocals 1973 Mark Moogy Klingman organ backing vocals synthesizers 1973 1975 2011 died 2011 Ralph Schuckett keyboards synthesizers backing vocals 1973 1975 2009 2011 2018 died 2021 9 Kevin Ellman drums percussion 1973 1975 2011 2018 John Siegler bass cello rhythm guitar vocals 1973 1976 2011 Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals 1975 1986 1992 2009 John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals 1975 1986 1992 2011 2018 Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals synthesizers 1976 1982 1982 1986 1992 2009 2011 2018 Doug Howard bass backing vocals 1982 Jesse Gress backing vocals rhythm guitar 2011 died 2023 Gil Assayas synthesizers keyboards 2018 Lineups timeline edit Years Lineup Albums1973 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead vocals Dave Mason keyboards Jean Yves M Frog Labat rhythm guitar Tony Sales bass guitar backing vocals Hunt Sales drums1973 1975 Todd Rundgren lead guitar amp lead vocals Jean Yves M Frog Labat synthesizers Kevin Ellman drums percussion Mark Moogy Klingman organ backing vocals Ralph Schuckett keyboards backing vocals John Siegler bass cello backing vocals Todd Rundgren s Utopia 1974 1975 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead vocals Mark Moogy Klingman organ backing vocals Ralph Schuckett keyboards backing vocals John Siegler bass backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Another Live 1975 1975 1976 Todd Rundgren lead guitar amp lead vocals John Siegler bass backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals1976 1982 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals Ra 1977 Oops Wrong Planet 1977 Adventures in Utopia 1979 Deface the Music 1980 Swing to the Right 1982 1982 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Doug Howard bass backing vocals Utopia 1982 1982 1986 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals Oblivion 1984 P O V 1985 1986 1992 Disbanded1992 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals1992 2009 Disbanded one off reunion in 2009 consisting of Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals Ralph Schuckett synthesizers keyboards backing vocals2009 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals Ralph Schuckett synthesizers keyboards backing vocals Roger Powell synthesizers keyboards backing and lead vocals one show Prairie Prince drums percussion2011 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Kasim Sulton backing vocals organ after Moogy s death Ralph Schuckett keyboards Mark Moogy Klingman organ synthesizers John Siegler bass Kevin Ellman drums percussion Jesse Gress backing vocals rhythm guitar2018 Todd Rundgren lead guitar lead and backing vocals Kasim Sulton bass lead and backing vocals Ralph Schuckett synthesizers keyboards left before tour January March John Willie Wilcox drums percussion backing and lead vocals Gil Assayas synthesizers keyboards replaced Schuckett March July Timeline editDiscography editUtopia discographyStudio albums10Live albums4Compilation albums4Singles3The discography of American progressive rock band Utopia includes ten studio albums four live albums four compilations and three singles that charted on the U S Billboard Hot 100 Studio albums edit Year Album information Chart positionsUS 11 CA 12 UK 13 1974 Todd Rundgren s Utopia Released September 1974 Label Bearsville Warner Bros Records 34 28 1976 unreleased Disco Jets Released 2001 as part of the Todd Rundgren Demos and Lost Albums 2 CD set Label Crown 1977 Ra Released February 4 1977 Label Bearsville Warner Bros 79 27 14 Oops Wrong Planet Released September 1977 Label Bearsville Warner Bros 73 66 591979 Adventures in Utopia Released December 27 1979 Label Bearsville Warner Bros 32 84 571980 Deface the Music Released September 24 1980 Label Bearsville Warner Bros 65 1982 Swing to the Right Released February 24 1982 Label Bearsville Warner Bros 102 Utopia Released September 1982 Label Network Records 84 1984 Oblivion Released January 1984 Label Passport Records 74 94 1985 P O V Released January 1985 Label Passport 161 Live albums edit Another Live Bearsville Warner Bros 1975 US No 66 11 Redux 92 Live in Japan BMG 1992 Official Bootleg Vol 9 Oblivion Tour Nippon Crown 2001 Bootleg Series Vol 2 KSAN 95FM Live 79 Sanctuary 2002 Live At Hammersmith Odeon 75 Shout Factory 2012 Live at the Chicago Theater Cleopatra 2019 Live From Peekskill and New York City Todd Rundgren s Utopia Benefit for Moogy Klingman Recorded January 29 2011 at the Highline Ballroom New York and November 18 2011 at The Peekskill Performing Arts Center Peekskill New York Released by Purple Pyramid Records February 2020 Compilation albums edit Trivia Passport 1986 The Collection Castle 1988 Anthology 1974 1985 1989 Oblivion POV amp Some Trivia Rhino 1996 City in My Head Essential Records 1999 Todd Rundgren vs Utopia Castle Music 2001 Singles edit Year Title Chart positions AlbumUS Hot 100 15 US MSR 15 CAN1977 Communion with the Sun Ra Love Is the Answer Oops Wrong Planet1980 Set Me Free 27 55 Adventures in Utopia The Very Last Time 76 Second Nature I Just Want to Touch You Deface the Music1982 One World 34 Swing to the Right Lysistrata Hammer in My Heart 31 Utopia1983 Feet Don t Fail Me Now 82 1984 Crybaby 30 Oblivion Love with a Thinker 1985 Mated P O V Music videos edit Magic Dragon Theatre 1977 Set Me Free 1980 You Make Me Crazy 1980 I Just Want to Touch You 1980 Feet Don t Fail Me Now 1982 Hammer in My Heart 1982 Crybaby 1984 References edit David Mason memorial article Tunegroover com Retrieved 2016 05 30 Jean Yves Labat bio Advitm records com Retrieved 2016 05 30 Led Zeppelin Official Website Knebworth Festival August 11 1979 Led Zeppelin Official Website Official Website Retrieved 2022 01 08 Moser John J Utopia Why the groundbreaking 70s and 80s band decided to reunite Mcall com Retrieved 3 February 2020 Kasim Sulton s Utopia Theiridium com Retrieved 2018 03 16 Todd Rundgren s Utopia Ends What Manager Calls Longest Sabbatical Pollstar com Retrieved 2018 02 28 Ralph Schuckett Can t Do Utopia Tour Looking For a True Musician Fan to Replace Vintagevinylnews com Retrieved 2018 03 21 Todd Rundgren amp His Utopia Bandmates Talk Reunion Tour amp Penchant for Concept Albums Billboard Retrieved 2018 03 21 a b Ralph Schuckett Former Utopia Keyboardist Dies at 73 Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved April 7 2021 Jonathan Horsley February 23 2023 Jesse Gress Todd Rundgren guitarist and longstanding Guitar Player contributor dies aged 67 guitarworld a b allmusic Utopia gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Albums Billboard Retrieved 2011 11 19 Search RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Retrieved 2013 03 11 The Official Charts Company Utopia Official Charts Company Retrieved 2011 11 25 The Official Charts Company Todd Rundgren Official Charts Company Retrieved 2011 11 25 a b allmusic Utopia gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles Billboard Retrieved 2011 11 19 External links editUtopia discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Utopia band amp oldid 1182172984, 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