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| From | "Josh Chasin" <jchasin@nyc.rr.com> |
| Subject | The New Cars |
| Date | Thu, 6 Apr 2006 08:41:46 -0400 |
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A while back, I expressed my consternation over the songs of my youth ending up on TV commercials. In particular I picked on Pete "American Express Presents the Who" Townsend, for the frequency with which Who songs ended up in this context.
At that time, the musicians on this list turned my head around, pointing out that this was the music BUSINESS, and that as much as I might want the artists to treat the music they create with my own illusions and delusions and associations foremost in their consideration, in fact things like TV spots were great gigs. Several artists noted that they would be thrilled to have the payday associated with having a song used in a major TV campaign.
I remember Peter Fonda, in an interview, talking about how there were the movies he did for a living, and the movies (at the time the example was Ulee's Gold) he did for art. He would tell his family, of the former, not to bother going to see them.
As far as Todd Rundgren and the Cars are concerned, there can be no question that this is a money gig. Todd's public statements have left no doubt about this. Frankly, if someone wanted to fund and promote a big money tour of, as has been suggested, him playing Something/Anything, I'm sure he'd be there in a flash. If he could make a buck doing a career anthology tour (Back to Back to the Bars), I'm sure he'd jump at that. But the harsh reality is, a Todd Rundgren tour, or a Utopia tour, is a money loser, and the guy hasn't got the cash or the record company backing to embark on such a venture on his own.
In 2006, Todd Rundgren is not a major draw.
I was impressed with, and surprised by, the quality of the Liars CD in 2004. Not everyone's cup of tea, but inarguably Todd making his own music in his own way with his own musical voice, in the present day. Unqualified artistic triumph. And the associated tour totally rocked-- almost no songs from before 1990, which was off-putting to the casual fan who wanted to hear "Can We Still Be Friends" and "Black Maria," but which was wholly engaging for those of us who wanted to revel in Todd presenting his recent original work.
And he lost money on the tour. I think the only thing that made it viable at all was that it may be seen as a set of rehearsals and then a performance for a live DVD. Which is also a heck of a document of that tour.
He talked about doing a soul revue with Donald Fagen, presumably a la Fagen's early 90s Rock'n'Soul Revue tours. That would have been cool (and Fagen was amiably walking the floor at Todd's May 2004 Webster Hall show). But apparently the funding wasn't there. Todd's records don't sell anymore, and he is no longer a hot, in-demand producer. He has never, apparently, been good with money; he sold off his rights to Bat Out of Hell to finance his move to Hawaii. And he is known to have typically spent top dollar for the latest studio gadgetry at times when he was otherwise broke down and busted. But then, I don't expect to read about my favorite musicians in the pages of Money Magazine (save for the Stones and McCartney).
Supposedly his next project will be a guitar album. I'd look forward to that.
If an opportunity like the New Cars comes along, why shouldn't he take it? It isn't like he has decided, hey, covering Cars tunes is where I'm at creatively. Rather, I'm sure this was a business proposition presented to him, and as he has said, it will be one where he is well compensated, gets to play with musicians he likes, and he'll get to toss in a few of his own tunes nightly in a gig that will reach an audience far beyond what a Todd tour might reach. Good business all around.
I understand why a fan might see it as sad. I remember going to many Utopia gigs in the late 70s and early 80s at rock clubs that would show videos before the act came on, and often there would be a Cars video, and I used to think the Cars were Utopia's logical peers. But the fact is, however its come to this, the guy's gotta eat. If he has to take the money gigs in order to fund the art gigs, so be it. I feel no obligation to attend the show like some of the "faithful" (read: brainwashed)-- never was a big Cars fanatic-- but I'm glad someone is buying those VIP seats (if indeed someone is.) If the Walk Down Abbey Road tour helped make Liars possible, great. And if the New Cars is what he has to do to record and maybe even tour a new work, well, I'll catch up to him next year.
As for debates about how good the music of the New Cars is, by all means have it, that's what we fans do. I'm sitting out, because honestly, I just don't care. I'd care more if I was more of a fan of the original band. But the only Cars record I ever owned (or needed) was the 12-song greatest hits, and in a pinch I could lose 2 or 3 off that.
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