CAMPAGNA
The Ever Popular
Inspired Artist Effect
a.k.a. My Rundgren Page!
CHAPTER ONE In October of 1977, I was truly a starving artist, 1,500 miles from home, living alone in a remote cabin in the mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I painted hard every week, and on weekends I'd go sell my works on the streets of Philadelphia or N.Y.C. so I could afford to do the same the following week. Times were difficult but I knew it was part of paying my dues... |
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11/09/77 Ramones, Duchamp and Utopia within 24 hours! Life's treating me kindly tonight, today, right now! Tomorrow shouldn't be too bad either. The van we just passed sez "Jesus Never Fails" just like my brother Scott's tombstone. Later that day, Talked with Todd today at Peaches Records, told him I'd see him later at sound check... Sound check went okay. Showed him my painting, he said he'd buy it! Okay! $25.00 not guaranteed to be used for LP content, but still perhaps. He wanted my name address etc... Got into the show free, me, Pisa, and Joe. Waited for road manager Paul Mosely to give us backstage passes. He never did, and I was hungry too. Just wanted my pass and to go eat... 'Starcastle' played first. Too much E.L.P. / Yes crap for me...The barricades got in the vision so we took them down, the wall in front of the stage fell over later... Todd started off as a 'mock-rocker', throwing picks after every song. They did mostly new Utopia music, w/ white t-shirts on, ala Ooops Wrong Planet. Then more video work during costume and set changes... Todd's doing some nice video work, almost underground, definitely acid oriented or similar. Utopia part two, RA! RA! RA! Afterwards we went backstage with relatives and friends of the band. Todd offered me $30.00, I gave him change so it was still $25.00... He may pull some strings for me... Help me dear God as thing's have been in my favor, thanks! Between last nights quickie illustration gig, followed by the Ramones show, the Duchamp exhibition today, and Utopia tonight, I've come out $25.00 ahead. I pray to get home soon before winter, Thanksgiving even. Love is the Answer/ God is Love. |
CHAPTER TWO |
I worked as the artist for the Dallas Agora Ballroom, from 1979 - 1983. Here is a partial view of the wall featuring acts who had sold out the venue. I remember Kasim asking me after a Utopia soundcheck while I was adding names, why their name was biggest. My reply was "because I believe in you guys!" |
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Another way I was able to
hype my Todd appreciation, was on the Agora's monthly calendar header. This illustration
was later used as cover art for 'Utopia Times' in December of 1992...
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Here are two other illustrations used as covers for Merf Sommers fanzine 'Utopia Times'. |
Here are a couple of my fine art paintings inspired by Todd's music... 'Second Wind' and 'Gaya's Crying' respectively. |
CHAPTER FOUR Prints - 2002 |
In order to give back, I decided to create a
limited edition of seven, hand colored prints, autographed by TR himself. He got one, I'm
keeping one, and here are the rest. Three of the five were donated to the Todd Rundgren Connection which is as Todd put it "Not
only the definitive TR site, this is probably as definitive as anything gets on the
Web." |
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Being his career has run so many years it was difficult to find a picture that was somewhat timeless in appearance. I believe this 'Plop Art' technique seems to have done the trick. As of 7/ 12/ 02 All works are gone! Special thanks to those who supported me in executing this concept! I apologize to those that requested this limited edition after they were gone, perhaps we'll do something again in the future. |
Prints - 2003 3/ 25/ 03 Oh wow, it's the future. Here is my latest TR print series... |
3 /30/ 03 and here's Todd autographing them. |
In thanks I also gave him a copies of the first Polyphonic Spree CD, who were unknown outside of Dallas at the time, and my son's band. |
5/ 23/ 03 Six of these were sent to Roger at the TR Connection in support of his site, and all were sold in under 24 hours! With the help of both Todd and Roger, this concept was once again victorious. |
2004 On May 26th, 2004 the Todd brought his 'Liars' tour to Dallas... |
This time I had a buddy of mine to book him into Gypsy Tea Room, which is a much better venue than Todd played his two previous visits to Dallas. Besides I do murals out on the street for Gypsy like this.. |
and these... Gypsy Tea Room Art anyway I digress... Prints - 2004 They're printed and signed and coming soon... I just need to take the time to shoot pix and send 'em off! |
Thank you,
Frank-
Here are a few truly 'great' Todd related sites...