No-one will ever do it better than Meat, nor be as epic .. no-one will ever do it as well for me
Meat flew onto the stage 4 decades ago with BOOH, passionate, charismatic, and unique.
But as Paul has said
"This show, in no way, shape, or form is intended to replace the incomparable, Meat Loaf. That is an impossibility. Any insinuation would be absurd .." He went on to say that Meat's accomplishments are mind-blowing, but he's in recovery from back surgery and they, the amazing band Meat has worked so hard to build, want to keep playing. They're family, love what they do, but need a singer, in Paul's words "until Meat Loaf returns to the stage!!!".
Two weeks ago Meat said to me how strong his voice is at the moment, but he knows he'll need another 12-18 months to recover and get strong after his surgery .. still he loves that band to death! After his first upper back surgery in 2014 one of his biggest fears was losing the band family he had built and loved so much. I believe that's why he struggled through that last N Americn tour in crippling pain and a back brace. Now he's facing an even longer recovery programme, but he wants to see the band together, delivering the songs in the way he worked to do for so many years.
The way I see it, this is the incomparable NLE who we all love. Meat has said for some time he has a huge respect for Caleb. And whilst the latter could never equal Meat, who is unique and incomparable, no-one .. not the band nor Caleb himself, nor Meat's fans .. expects him to do more than to do the songs justice and keep the Bat flying. And I love that band, and having listened to the whole album all the way through now, I think Caleb does a damn good job .. and hits some pretty amazing notes too