The Healer
Everybody who follows the career of a star seems to have some moment when that
person touched their life in a meaningful way. I've been a Todd-head for 26 years and
counting, and here's my story.
It started in 1978 at The Bayou, a club in Washington, DC. Todd was on his Back to the Bars
tour, and it was my first Todd Rundgren concert. I'd been turned on to his brand
of eclectic rock since my daze at the Staunton Military Academy, where I had
a weird roommate named Jim Hawkins. He had a copy of AWATS, and I played it
until the grooves wore out. Now I was going to see The Man, and it was cool. Can I
get an Amen?
I sat in the balcony on the first night, right above the stage, getting shots of the
band with my dinky Instamatic. I blinded Todd twice at close range, but he seemed cool about it.
On the second night I got there too late to get a seat, so I spent the entire
time walking around the tiny floor area trying to stay out of people's way. Then
they started playing Real Man, and I stood transfixed by the awesome power of the song,
standing just a few feet away from the stage.
Now Todd was really into the tune. He finally got to the part where he sings "...you
got to grow up sometime, be a Real Man!", and he was pointing right at me! Later
he threw a pick into the crowd, and I was lucky enough to catch it.
Now six years spin by, and my first marriage is breaking up. I'm hurt, confused, angry,
and utterly lost. She and I have just had The Last Big Talk and I find myself in
my little Ford Maverick with my bike, my guitar, my clothes, and some cash from the ATM. I have
no idea where I'm driving, but here I am on the road. I swing onto the freeway with
only a general direction in mind...West. I click on the radio, and without a moment's
hesitation comes the opening chords from that sweet synthesizer and Todd's
achingly emotive "OOOOOooooOOOoo". With tears streaming down my face I sing every
single word along with him as he welcomes me into a whole new reality, telling me
that the sometime is now. Gotta be a Real Man.
