Utopia was progressive rock band led by Todd Rundgren that was together roughly from 1973 to 1985. After the 1974 and 1975 albums, Utopia became a four-man-band that, like the Beatles, had members who all rotated lead vocals and writing credits, though Rundgren was the undisputed leader. Aware of their many parallels to the Beatles, Utopia's 1980 album 'Deface the Music' was a series of half-serious style parodies, not unlike the songs "Weird Al" Yankovic occasionally makes when aping a popular band's style but not a specific song. Todd Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer born in Upper Darby, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Rundgren began his career in Woodys Truck Stop, a locally popular Philadelphia electric blues band on the model of the Paul Butterfield Band, which... The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... Alfred Matthew Weird Al Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is a Grammy award winning American musician, satirist, parodist, accordionist, and television producer. ...

One distinctive feature of Utopia was its range--from psychedelic 70s rock to soul to blues to arena rock to heavy metal. Another was the band's unabashed optimism, as evidenced in its very name. Though the band had satirical political songs, showcased on 1982's 'Swing to the Right' and plenty of bitter heartbreak songs, it was best known for its hopeful, uplifting spirit, which is why its live shows often ended with the hit 'Love Is the Answer' from the 1977 album, 'Oops! Wrong Planet.' This theme resonated with its utopian fan-base--a mix of older Rundgren fans and Utopia's own starry-eyed followers, who tried to carry hippie idealism on through the barren early-1980s.

Though the band broke up in the mid-1980s, one or more band members occasionally toured and recorded with Rundgren. Rundgren had a successful solo career before, during, and after Utopia, but his bandmates also had modest success beyond Utopia. Roger Powell produced his own odd electronic music and worked in cutting-edge electronic music. Willie Wilcox gained modest fame for his unique motorcycle-shaped drum kit and his percussive talents, and Kasim Sulton toured as a bandmember with Meat Loaf, Joan Jett and others. Picture of Meat Loaf Meat Loaf (born Marvin Lee Aday September 27, 1947 in Dallas, Texas) is an American actor and rock and roll performer who came to fame with his album Bat Out of Hell and for his movie performances such as Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ... Joan Jett (2003) Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American rock and roll guitarist, singer, and actress best known for her hit I Love Rock N Roll, which was #1 on the Billboard charts from March 20th to May 8th, 1982. ...

Discography

Albums

• Todd Rundgren's Utopia, 1974
• Another Live, 1975
• Ra, 1977
• Oops! Wrong Planet, 1977
• Adventures in Utopia, 1979
• Deface The Music, 1980
• Swing To The Right, 1982
• Utopia, 1983
• Oblivion, 1984
• P.O.V., 1985
• Redux '92: Live in Japan, 1992

Singles

• Communion With The Sun, 1976
• Love Is the Answer, 1977
• Set Me Free, 1980
• The Very Last Time, 1980
• Second Nature, 1980
• I Just Want To Touch You, 1981
• One World, 1982
• Lysistrata, 1982
• Hammer In My Heart, 1982
• Feet Don’t Fail Me Now, 1983
• Crybaby, 1984
• Love With A Thinker, 1984
• Mated, 1985