Rock Legend Todd Rundgren recently did an interview where he blasted Taylor Swift, calling the pop star the ‘apotheosis of mediocrity’ and saying she ‘ruined music’
Todd Rundgren had some not so nice things to say about Taylor Swift
Rock Legend Todd Rundgren recently bashed Taylor Swift in a new interview.
The 78-year-old rocker has been in the industry for nearly six decades. Todd has made hits like Hello It’s Me (1972), I Saw the Light (1972), Can We Still Be Friends (1978), and Bang the Drum All Day (1983). Rundgren also made a name for himself as a music producer with New York Dolls’ self-titled album (1973), Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell (1977), and XTC’s Skylarking (1986). He is also considered a pioneer in areas of electronic music, progressive rock, music videos, computer software, and Internet music delivery.
The veteran rock star took aim at Taylor during a recent interview, in which he claimed she “ruined music.” This is not the first time a rockstar has taken a jab at the 36-year-old mega pop star.
Todd, who is set to resume his Damned If I Do Tour in October in the United States, recently did an interview with Vulture, published on Friday, September 25, during which he took aim at the billionaire hitmaker.
The outlet asked the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee if he could make an album in 2026, making fun of an artist whom it would be about. They referred to when Todd produced Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, which spoofed Bruce Springsteen.
“Taylor Swift, of course,” he answered.
“There’s an argument to be made that she ruined music. It’s an understandable phenomenon. It’s just that, to me, Taylor Swift is the apotheosis of mediocrity,” Todd claimed.
He continued to say that it’s the ‘era of the female artists,’ and that the biggest artists today are all female artists, citing the reason being “because of video games.”
Todd elaborated that boys stopped spending their money on music and spent it on video games instead in the 90s. He added that this led the music industry to pivot toward targeting young girls, which Todd said resulted in artists like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and P!nk.
Todd then complimented Gaga, saying she’s “a real musician” and that she’s a “classically trained piano player.” Todd went back to criticizing Taylor after his remarks on the Bad Romance singer.
“Taylor Swift doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair. She’s not a great singer. She’s not a great songwriter. She’s not a great dancer,” he added.
“She’s a role model for what was a very young generation of women, and now for those women’s daughters as well, because it’s mothers and daughters going to Taylor Swift shows,” Todd concluded.
Todd’s remarks came two days before Taylor won three awards at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27. The Love Story artist won Video of the Year, Best Direction, and the inaugural Artist Director Honors.
Her three wins have now made her the most awarded artist in VMAs history. She was previously tied with Beyoncé with 30 each.
The Mirror US reached out to Taylor Swift’s representative for comment.
