Todd Rundgren is as famed for his record as a producer as he is for his actual records, which is not to denigrate either. He is an outstanding producer and a legendary musician, managing to excel in both fields.

From his beginnings with cult outfit Nazz in the sixties, to his solo work and his time with Utopia, Todd Rundgren has always been looking ahead, dabbling with concepts and the creative influence of drugs, including LSD.

Lazily and loosely labelled 'prog rock', his early experimentation with different sounds and instrumentation - as well as producing his own records - gave the American an edge. His 1972 double LP 'Something/Anything?', for which Rundgren was composer, performer and producer, remains a high point. More recently, he has performed with members of The Cars (as The New Cars), who had reunited after the death of bass player Benjamin Orr.

These self-taught skills earned Rundgren a reputation as a producer and he went on to work with Hall & Oates, Meat Loaf (producing 'Bat Out of Hell'), Patti Smith, Badfinger and many more.

Having toured the US earlier this year, Todd Rundgren has announced four UK dates for the autumn. He'll be playing the Manchester Ritz on 1st October followed by three dates at London's Jazz Café, from 3rd to 5th October.

Tickets are available now, priced £18.50 for Manchester and £27.50 for London.