When the world of entertainment is examined, there is only a small chunk of celebrity couples in which both members are known for their artistic talents. When it comes to the world of music, Todd and Michele Rundgren are a perfect example of a musical super-couple.
Both Todd and Michele have been heavily involved in the entertainment industry since their young days. Michele’s interest in show business and music dates back to her childhood when she constantly had an itch to be on stage in front of a crowd.
“A lot of people grow up knowing what they want to do,” Rundgren said. “I was one of those people. (I) always sang and danced from the time I was five, so much so that my mom just put me in ballet, and (she) couldn’t stop me from singing anywhere and everywhere.”
Rundgren also vividly remembers the solo she had in the eighth grade Christmas show, which was followed by complete silence — at first. “And then you could hear, in the audience, people crying and then people clapping. I’m like, ‘Oh, wow. I like that!’”
After spending some time in theater and on Broadway in the ‘70s, Rundgren was approached about joining a band. It took some persuasion to get Rundgren to join (including a pep talk from Broadway legend and close friend Ben Vereen), and it ended up being a freeing experience for her creativity. That band was none other than The Tubes.
“It was a democracy, which was kind of cool,” she said. “It was the time of my life to go all around the world doing theater and rock in the same show and get paid for it. (It was) amazing.”
When the end of The Tubes was in sight and they were making their last record, Todd Rundgren was called in to produce the album. Michele Rundgren remembers exactly what she thought of her future husband when she first met him. “I did not like him,” she said adamantly. “I didn’t know. I thought he was an a-hole, but instead, he was just socially inept.”
It was not long after this that they began to go out, which spawned a long relationship, still going strong today. Rundgren is currently recording and performing with her new band, Intoxicats. They just released their debut EP, “The Floor Is Lava.”
”Those (songs) are our baby steps,” Rundgren said, hinting that there is much more to come.
The Herman Show, hosted by Brandon Herman, airs on WONC FM 89.1 every Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m.
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