Meat in The Times

**Diane** · 26 Sep 2006, 01:50

Find it here

The Times

September 25, 2006

Times2

The face

Damian Whitworth

Bat out of hell: back, back, back

“Like a bat out of hell/ I’ll be gone when the morning comes,” Meat Loaf roared, as he burst upon the world with his own brand of rock opera. But in truth Bat Out of Hell never went away. It still sells a reputed 200,000 copies a year and now once more the sirens are screaming and the fires are howling as he prepares to unleash Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose.

Almost three decades after the release of the original album, Meat Loaf admits that the title of this new effort is a marketing tool, but says resurrecting the name “makes it harder because you have to win over the sceptics and doubters. But if you’ve got good music it doesn’t make any difference.”

Those who have had a taste report that the album has the familiar ballads and big, rocking numbers, but a little less of the trademark pomp and theatricality. The guitarists Brian May of Queen and Steve Vai perform on the album and Meat duets with Marion Raven, from M2M, on a version of Céline Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.

Jim Steinman, who wrote all the songs for the first two albums and produced the second, has written some songs for the third instalment but has not been involved in its production. Meat filed a legal dispute challenging Steinman’s ownership of the phrase “Bat Out of Hell”. The wrangle was resolved amicably and the singer says that the reason Steinman hasn’t been intimately involved is because he was recovering from illness.

Meat Loaf, real name Michael Aday, ran away from home in Texas at 19, became an actor and appeared in the Rocky Horror Picture Show on stage and screen. When he performed in a musical written by Steinman they became friends, and started working on Bat Out of Hell, which was released in 1977. It went on to sell 35 million copies (and counting). As well as other albums, including, 16 years later, Bat Out of Hell II, he has had roles in dozens of films, among them Wayne’s World and Fight Club. There have been dramatic downs, including a period of cocaine-induced psychosis, bankruptcy and years in the career doldrums. In 2001 he divorced from Leslie, his wife of more than 25 years, with whom he had two daughters. There is a lot less Meat Loaf than there used to be: once obese, he is much trimmer these days, reportedly because of a strict vegetarian diet. “I’ve never been hip or cool,” he has said.

But that hasn’t stopped people buying his records. Q magazine recently put the original Bat Out of Hell at the top of its “guilty pleasures” chart. Stand by for the tour, including a date at the Albert Hall next month, and then a film musical. It seems unlikely that this Bat will ever be gone, gone, gone.

Jeanie · 26 Sep 2006, 05:13

Thanks Diane.

J.

Blackkat13 · 26 Sep 2006, 07:04

Love the article but they need to get it right it's a Steinman song not a Céline Dion....LOL

Meataholic · 26 Sep 2006, 08:30

Great article - Thanks Diane

Benny · 26 Sep 2006, 14:32

Thanks Diane

SuperLoafMan · 26 Sep 2006, 14:59

Great article, Thanks Diane!

djfierce · 26 Sep 2006, 17:00

thanks Diane, for once a decent straight forward article!

26 Sep 2006, 01:50	#1
Diane Super Moderator Join Date: 04.02.2003 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands Posts: 3,462	Meat in The Times Find it here The Times September 25, 2006 Times2 The face Damian Whitworth Bat out of hell: back, back, back “Like a bat out of hell/ I’ll be gone when the morning comes,” Meat Loaf roared, as he burst upon the world with his own brand of rock opera. But in truth Bat Out of Hell never went away. It still sells a reputed 200,000 copies a year and now once more the sirens are screaming and the fires are howling as he prepares to unleash Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose. Almost three decades after the release of the original album, Meat Loaf admits that the title of this new effort is a marketing tool, but says resurrecting the name “makes it harder because you have to win over the sceptics and doubters. But if you’ve got good music it doesn’t make any difference.” Those who have had a taste report that the album has the familiar ballads and big, rocking numbers, but a little less of the trademark pomp and theatricality. The guitarists Brian May of Queen and Steve Vai perform on the album and Meat duets with Marion Raven, from M2M, on a version of Céline Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now. Jim Steinman, who wrote all the songs for the first two albums and produced the second, has written some songs for the third instalment but has not been involved in its production. Meat filed a legal dispute challenging Steinman’s ownership of the phrase “Bat Out of Hell”. The wrangle was resolved amicably and the singer says that the reason Steinman hasn’t been intimately involved is because he was recovering from illness. Meat Loaf, real name Michael Aday, ran away from home in Texas at 19, became an actor and appeared in the Rocky Horror Picture Show on stage and screen. When he performed in a musical written by Steinman they became friends, and started working on Bat Out of Hell, which was released in 1977. It went on to sell 35 million copies (and counting). As well as other albums, including, 16 years later, Bat Out of Hell II, he has had roles in dozens of films, among them Wayne’s World and Fight Club. There have been dramatic downs, including a period of cocaine-induced psychosis, bankruptcy and years in the career doldrums. In 2001 he divorced from Leslie, his wife of more than 25 years, with whom he had two daughters. There is a lot less Meat Loaf than there used to be: once obese, he is much trimmer these days, reportedly because of a strict vegetarian diet. “I’ve never been hip or cool,” he has said. But that hasn’t stopped people buying his records. Q magazine recently put the original Bat Out of Hell at the top of its “guilty pleasures” chart. Stand by for the tour, including a date at the Albert Hall next month, and then a film musical. It seems unlikely that this Bat will ever be gone, gone, gone.

26 Sep 2006, 05:13	#2
Jeanie Super Loafer Join Date: 09.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 996	Thanks Diane. J.

26 Sep 2006, 07:04	#3
Blackkat13 Mega Loafer Join Date: 30.07.2006 Location: Hell, Michigan Posts: 1,989	Love the article but they need to get it right it's a Steinman song not a Céline Dion....LOL

26 Sep 2006, 08:30	#4
Meataholic Super Loafer Join Date: 01.03.2004 Location: Where angels sing Posts: 326	Great article - Thanks Diane

26 Sep 2006, 14:32	#5
Benny Massive Loafer Join Date: 07.09.2005 Location: Posts: 3,084	Thanks Diane

26 Sep 2006, 14:59	#6
SuperLoafMan Meat Loaf Rocks! Join Date: 25.01.2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 3,887	Great article, Thanks Diane!

26 Sep 2006, 17:00	#7
djfierce Mega Loafer Join Date: 15.06.2005 Location: Posts: 3,596	thanks Diane, for once a decent straight forward article!