The New Cars "controversy"

Time for this Todd / Cars fan to weigh in on the NEW CARS.

I don’t normally talk a lot about bands on this blog (outside of some obscure band named Gypsy Bandwagon), but this time I feel I have to say something.

The Cars have reformed as the “New Cars”. Old news, right? They’ve been on Leno, Craig Ferguson, etc. will be touring this summer with Blondie, etc. My pal (and sometimes publisher) Robert Rowe has been keeping me updated on all of the New Cars info, since we’re both fans of that band as well as Todd Rundgren.

But the press surrounding the re-formed group is mostly focused on a lot of Todd fans who can’t believe he’d join up with a commercial band. Can I just say, “give me a huge break?”

Like I say, I’m a fan of both The Cars and Utopia (Todd’s 80s New Wave version). To me, one of the tragedies of the 80s was that a lot of otherwise great New Wave bands got ignored by deejays (or maybe it was station managers) who wanted the status quo. Lost in the shuffle was Utopia. A band that was, to my mind, on the level with The Cars musically. In fact I spent a large portion of the 80s trying to promote Utopia to a level of public recognition that rivaled The Cars. Of course I was just a fan doing what I could.

Not to say I didn’t love The Cars as well. They just seemed to (in Todd’s words) “…effortlessly get on the radio.” They didn’t need my help.

But since the 90s many Todd fans have seemed to develop a “deadhead” attitude about him. They don’t want him to be commercial. They want to be in a private little clique where everyone knows the lyrics of every song he ever performed, and they can gripe about how the world hasn’t understood.

The problem, as I see it, is Todd hasn’t really tried to be commercial, at least not for a long time. He can obviously write commercial material. He can perform with practically any band he wants. But he’s mostly chosen to be a musical hermit (as his late 70s release “Hermit of Mink Hollow” should convince anyone).

I was one of the Faithful (in joke) that wanted to hear him on the radio. But nearly every time he seemed close to having a hit in the 80s, he’d somehow short circuit the whole deal and his latest single would stall at 30 or so on the charts. I have to ask the “deadhead clique” this question: what was the point of ever releasing a single if Todd didn’t intend a modicum of commercial success?”

Ah hah! Now you see. While he thought his fan base was made up of the “deadhead” mentality he played to that audience. It allowed him to continue to make music and still eat. Joining New Cars will allow him to continue to make music and also eat. Where’s the crisis?

Frankly, I am more concerned that Todd will grow weary of the New Cars in a hurry, and Kasim Sulton, and Prairie Prince will have to go back to playing sessions with other bands. They too have been unappreciated musicians, with much too much talent, and much too little exposure. I suppose that Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton have something to lose as well, but I imagine it will be less.

If Todd walks away from this (as his history would tend to suggest he may) then Greg and Elliot can still say, “Hey! We were in The Cars!” Everyone I went to high school with will then say, “Oh, yeah! I loved ‘My Best Friend’s Girlfriend’!”

But pity poor Kas and Prairie Prince; “We were in Utopia, and The Tubes, and New Cars.” My high school chums will respond, “What? Never heard of those bands! New Cars? Is that like The Cars?”

So I hope that Todd will “drive responsibly” while with New Cars, and not blow the whole thing for four other under appreciated musicians.

As for the magazine writer who incorrectly identified Prairie Prince as a member of Utopia.
See? It’s happening already.

Just thought of this: several of Todd/Utopia’s old “non-hits” that would fit in perfectly with New Cars motif:

Drive
Black Maria
Emperor of the Highway
Little Red Lights
Last of the New Wave Riders

They might also consider some tunes by Kasim Sulton:

Drivin’ me Mad
Sweet Little Accident

And while we’re talking automotive puns, why not throw in a Tubes song?

Drivin’ all Night

I think they could keep this franchise going for some time, if they really try. There’s too much good material not to try. Come on guys, try already.