Vocal Comments From Meat

[ThatWriterGuy]

Meat just posted this on his Facebook account - I thought it was really interesting to finally hear him talk about it from that side of the fence! Here's the post in case you missed it:

Meat Loaf: Just let me tell you this !!! Rolling Stone was so against us , Why ? Because Max and Roy from the E-street Band played on Bat. A guy named Dave Marsh Reviewed the album and gave it no stars in July of 1977 and the album was not released until Oct. of 1977 So across this nation we were the the easy target . Because Rolling Stone in July of 1977 said we sucked . That is what the rest of the press printed . There were a few that gave us good reviews . Far and few between . People are sheep they are not going to disagree with their friends so we sucked . So Jim and I in the music Business have always been on the outside looking in . I really don't care . The Rock and Roll hall of Fame is the boys club .We proved them wrong and they in no way won't to admit the fact they were all wrong about What Jim and I could do . I'll tell you what , we proved them all wrong and sold 44 million records with "BAT OUT OF HELL " Also 23 million records on BAT 2 . On top of that a #1 single in 27 countries off of BAT 2. I'm still an easy target , People write I can't sing anymore . I am singing better now than I did in 2005,06 ,07 and 08. Got a vocal coach in 2008 and for the last 8 years have been singing notes and phrases I couldn't sing in 2005,06 ,07 and 08. They say I don't sound like Bat . That is correct . I was younger and that album was sped up. Plus I had to change the way I sang to get those vocals on that record . If people were really smart , they would hear I use the same voice that I did on Paradise in 1976 as I do now , just a half step lower. People love to either hate me or Love me !! I love these people that say , I saw him 10 years ago and the show was great , I got tapes to prove they are wrong , The shows are much better now , Vocally . I had one show in FLA. where I was a little hoarse . I Read things like he doing nothing but talking or he is screaming . These are not fans , If they were were they would know I sound the same as did on the Last 2 albums . With "Giving Tree" and Los Angeloser, Frying Pan Kills and All revved up is to low , so when we go back out May 20th , we are going to rase the key up a half step . It has been one way for 40 years , you either love or hate me and Jim !!! Me I love what we have done !! M

[rockfenris2005]

I'm sick of the dribble with Meat and Jim. It's time for them to be put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's time for them to be more acknowledged. It's time for a BOOH box set which is way overdue. It's time for Dead Ringer and other albums to be remastered. They can put out compilations but not albums. Put out compilations at least of stuff people don't already have. Well done for at least making the 80s albums more easily available to the general public with that box set they did recently tho. It's time for a DVD of all the music videos as well, including all the stuff from BA and BBIS, and WttN etc. etc. Sick of it.

[anotherday]

God I love Meat Loaf.

[AndrewG]

Meat shouldn't let all that crap bother him so much.

I don't take much notice from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Something that is called that should obviously have Meat Loaf somewhere on its list, the fact that artists such as Run DMC (Rock?) and E Street Band are on there makes it all a bit meaningless. Love Springsteen obviously. But his band is not really a separate entity deserving of an award that goes to individual artists in my opinion. Any backing band should then be considered. I'd rank the NLE at least on the same level if not higher. The songs are far more complex for one.

Awards shows are quite meaningless in today's world I find in general. What's the point having a TV awards show when the award for best presenter goes to the same bunch of childish idiots each year? Pathetic. There are more awards shows than artists who can be considered for an award it seems these days.

As the media clearly shows today it isn't until an artist is gone that people stop bitching and just appreciate the smiles and joys these artists give us. The fact they have some money seems to make many people resent artists and they get jealous, thinking about what they could all do with that wealth but totally forgetting it's a completely different life with different dreams who has it. Interestingly to me it seems that the best artists usually don't live extravagant life styles and aren't even home enough to enjoy their money. They just keep working and anyone denying that of Meat is a hypocritical lunatic.

[Mr. Happy]

If he actually believed his voice hasn't deteriorated, he wouldn't be taking down YouTube clips from recent shows.

When I won't pay to see my favourite artist live, something is very, very wrong.

[stretch37]

He's standing up for himself like anyone would do. Good on ya Meat.

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Mr. Happy

If he actually believed his voice hasn't deteriorated, he wouldn't be taking down YouTube clips from recent shows.

When I won't pay to see my favourite artist live, something is very, very wrong.

He's taking down youtube clips because a) he doesn't want feedback about the guide vocals, and the clips show where they are b) He's sensitive and despite all the good, he takes the bad seriously and tries to improve. He's an honest person that way and I totally get why he protects himself. He has to! c) He's said many times, to him it's not a concert, it's a stage show, and isn't meant to be watched on YouTube. So with that opinion in mind, makes sense to me he would want them taken down.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Mr. Happy

If he actually believed his voice hasn't deteriorated, he wouldn't be taking down YouTube clips from recent shows.

When I won't pay to see my favourite artist live, something is very, very wrong.

You could have the voice of an angel on Youtube, people will still find a reason to give you downvotes (mostly jealousy I think) and complain or insult you like a little pathetic bitch.

Up till yesterday if you tried to look for a recent Prince live video on YT you'd find none, not even official videos for many songs were left on YouTube. Did Prince's voice suck at any time during his career? I doubt it. Why should anyone other than the original artist get clicks / subs and thus potential revenue via these videos just because they happened to be at a show? I could go watch the Jungle book at the cinema tonight, record it with my video camera and upload the whole movie onto YT. Sure people will click and watch till it gets flagged. Ultimately I have no copyright for sharing that material. It is down to the artist in the end for leaving them up or not. As much as I like to see live videos, if one is solely basing the reason for going to someone's show just because of YT vids then you are probably not a reliable source of income for the artist so you might as well go see someone else as far as they are concerned. They still sell out shows even without social media. People still have a great time. Not until all the seats are empty will the artists keep playing and why not? Should one stop just to suit you?

[loaferman61]

Most of the Ticketmaster reviews from the last several years have complained of the sound mix and being too loud for the venue. This is mentioned numerous times over different tours. Maybe a lot of talk about his vocals would cease if the mix were changed. Too many people are saying they can't hear him well for it to be some coincidence.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Meat just posted this on his Facebook account - I thought it was really interesting to finally hear him talk about it from that side of the fence! Here's the post in case you missed it:

[I]Meat Loaf: Just let me tell you this !!! Rolling Stone was so against us , Why ? Because Max and Roy from the E-street Band played on Bat. A guy named Dave Marsh Reviewed the album and gave it no stars in July of 1977 and the album was not released until Oct. of 1977 So across this nation we were the the easy target . Because Rolling Stone in July of 1977 said we sucked .

I just had a look at Meat's FB page, and I didn't see this posted- is it still there?

First off, he's wrong about the date- Marsh's review is dated December of 1977, not July. Secondly, while I wouldn't call it a glowing review, it doesn't exactly say they "sucked" either: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/al...-hell-19771215

As for the album being "Not Rated", that isn't the same as zero stars; I could be wrong, but I don't think Rolling Stone gave star ratings in all of its reviews back then.

That isn't to say that I don't think Marsh is a bit of a tool who just happens to worship the ground that Springsteen walks on. I'd say this review falls under what one author called "Curmudgeonly Reviews":

(2) Curmudgeonly Reviews: Reviews that are unduly harsh or dismissive, or offer a specious critique of a band. In many cases the artist that is the target of the curmudgeon's wrath is inventing a new genre, which confuses the critic, causing him (or her, though as we shall see, this was, to a large extent, a man's man's man's world) to lash out with sarcasm and invective. In other instances, the curmudgeon has a personal ax to grind, and is lambasting an album for reasons that are completely tangential to the music itself. Almost all of Dave Marsh's reviews fall under #2.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/schmid..._in_progress_/

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Love Springsteen obviously. But his band is not really a separate entity deserving of an award that goes to individual artists in my opinion. Any backing band should then be considered.

That's not exactly correct. The E Street Band was inducted under the category of "Award for Musical Excellence", which replaced the former "Sidemen" category:

This category, which replaced sidemen, "honors those musicians, producers and others who have spent their careers out of the spotlight working with major artists on various parts of their recording and live careers."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...cal_Excellence

They were inducted as a unit, as have many bands in the "Performer" category. So theoretically, yes, any other backing band could be similarly considered.

Some fans felt that the ESB should have been inducted as a band along with Bruce, but he (rightly so, IMO) elected to be inducted as a solo artist. I think he lobbied to get the band inducted to amend what some considered a former wrong. If you heard the induction speech that Bruce gave for the band, and Steve Van Zandt's comments, it was clearly a very delicate and emotional situation for them.

If fans feel that strongly that Meat and Jim should be in the Hall, they need to lobby for their induction. The Hall has changed its stance in recent years; Rush was excluded for the longest time (much to the chagrin of their fans), before finally getting in a few years ago; Chicago was finally inducted this year.

[stretch37]

People don't like change, and I get that. THey want him to sound how the expect him to sound. And depending on what decade they last saw him, or which decade they listen to CD (or streaming now I guess) they expect him to sound like that.

Meat's voice has morphed since the Hang Cool tour. It's just different now. He's singing with a different technique. Personally I think he changed his singing style after his bleeding vocal chords in 2011 Australia. I'm not sure why, but everything from Mad Mad World tour onward has sounded different to me.

I had the shock happen to me in 2012 when I went to see MMW tour in Seattle. I was surprised. But I've since gotten used to his voice as it is now, and accepted it, and I have found that I am now just as excited watching him live as I had been in the past.

Expect this: Meat's voice will change again, and again. He has been told many times by fans and critics alike that he has no voice, that is voice is shot, that he is "over done", etc, etc. He has had many ups and downs. And will probably continue to do so. This is who Meat is. He is awesome. He is flawed. He is everything awesome we see in ourselves and everything we perhaps despise about ourselves at times. Meat Loaf is all about changes, about moving forward and making the most of the moment.

I just hope that the troves of people I see on ticketmaster giving Meat 1 star reviews don't come back, and I hope all of the 5 star reviews do. Natural selection baby. And i'll be there, rockin out to Meat's old voice and passion. <3

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

Most of the Ticketmaster reviews from the last several years have complained of the sound mix and being too loud for the venue. This is mentioned numerous times over different tours. Maybe a lot of talk about his vocals would cease if the mix were changed. Too many people are saying they can't hear him well for it to be some coincidence.

How many people would actively go onto Ticketmaster and post they thought the mix was excellent when that is the case? These will be skewed review figures if anything. Not saying they haven't got a valid point it's just that on a lot of review websites about anything the negative ones tend to prevail because the people who are satisfied just move on with life. I've written 3 Ticketmaster reviews in my life and probably seen about 50 other shows which I thought were equally as good as the review ones (which I rated 4 or 5 stars)

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by stretch37

People don't like change, and I get that. THey want him to sound how the expect him to sound. And depending on what decade they last saw him, or which decade they listen to CD (or streaming now I guess) they expect him to sound like that.

Maybe it's because whenever programs on TV talk about Meat they still show the live-ish looking video of Bat out of Hell from 1977?

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Maybe it's because whenever programs on TV talk about Meat they still show the live-ish looking video of Bat out of Hell from 1977?

Could very well be

[Wario]

Not better than 2005-2006 and certainly not 2010-2011

That being said meat really should rant like this on facebook. I understand he's annoyed with the voice comments (which are needlessly cruel).

The point is meats having fun. As long as he puts on a great show is all that counts. Tho I don't think raising a song up a key will help :/

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Wario

Not better than 2005-2006 and certainly not 2010-2011

That being said meat really should rant like this on facebook. I understand he's annoyed with the voice comments (which are needlessly cruel).

The point is meats having fun. As long as he puts on a great show is all that counts. Tho I don't think raising a song up a key will help :/

From what I've seen (And I've seen basically ever bootleg and every youtube video of 2015 and 2016), Meat started out both legs vocally better this year than he has been since the fall of his Hang Cool tour voice (After the stupid AFL fiasco)

No, not as good as 2010 or first half of 2011, and not as good as 2006 RAH, but I do think its better than his 2005 vocals, which I didn't really like. Also, better than 2012 and 2013 in terms of his higher range (What some people like to refer to as yelling or screaming....Something IMO Meat has always done...WHy people are just realizing that now is beyond me.)

Definitely better than many of his 2007 vocals and all of 2008. (Although arguably some of his 2007 performances were better than 2015...ones not recorded profesionally..)

As always, I'm not nearly as concerned about where Meat has been, as where he is going. His voice will continue to evolve as Meat works on his performance and training and technique, and depending on how Meat feels and his health.

I think he's made good progress this year, and I think all the hype around Braver will spawn some new energy around the man himself.

[Evil Ernie]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. ML needs to stay off the internet or at the very least not read up personal reviews.


No good can come of it IMO. He will inevitably read something he doesn't like and go on another rant like in the OP, which opens himself up to further criticism.

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Evil Ernie

I've said it before and I'll say it again. ML needs to stay off the internet or at the very least not read up personal reviews.


No good can come of it IMO. He will inevitably read something he doesn't like and go on another rant like in the OP, which opens himself up to further criticism.

Why should Meat stay off the net just because of some haters? I'd rather he just do whatever he damn well pleases, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he's outgoing and talks a lot, makes sense that he's online saying that stuff.

As is very clear on his facebook page alone, he has many fans who love him in his current state, and adore the shit out of his voice and music. They'll keep buying tickets and keep (by what i've read) having a great time at his shows. He will continue to lose fans and gain fans all based on his actions as an artist.

I must say though, I do feel bad seeing those reviews where people have been fans of Meat for years, and honestly say they feeling disappointed and ashamed of Meat, etc.....That sucks, I mean if I were a fan of someone, and suddenly I felt kind of divorced from my favorite artist, that's tough. I feel sympathetic towards anyone who is going through that as Meat fan right now. It's not anyones fault, interests change and sometimes people grow apart.

The good news for me is that I still love Meat, I enjoy his facebook rants and his facebook love, and his communication with his fans. I like his personality, and we don't agree on everything (Like endorsing Romney), I don't feel that way. If I see he's having an off day, I'm genuinely concerned for him, or hoping he rests his voice and body if he needs to rather than pushing himself way too hard for his fans or some debt he feels he owes the world.

[loaferman61]

Originally Posted by stretch37

From what I've seen (And I've seen basically ever bootleg and every youtube video of 2015 and 2016), Meat started out both legs vocally better this year than he has been since the fall of his Hang Cool tour voice (After the stupid AFL fiasco)

No, not as good as 2010 or first half of 2011, and not as good as 2006 RAH, but I do think its better than his 2005 vocals, which I didn't really like. Also, better than 2012 and 2013 in terms of his higher range (What some people like to refer to as yelling or screaming....Something IMO Meat has always done...WHy people are just realizing that now is beyond me.)

Definitely better than many of his 2007 vocals and all of 2008. (Although arguably some of his 2007 performances were better than 2015...ones not recorded profesionally..)

As always, I'm not nearly as concerned about where Meat has been, as where he is going. His voice will continue to evolve as Meat works on his performance and training and technique, and depending on how Meat feels and his health.

I think he's made good progress this year, and I think all the hype around Braver will spawn some new energy around the man himself.

Meat is hands down the most interesting vocalist ever. He truly is all about the performance as an art and not some sterile routine. He sounds different from year-to-year and sometimes from one show to the next. I once saw him struggling during a show and he fell, got up and picked back up exactly where he left off and his voice after the spill was 100% better. Never seen anything like it.

[loaferman61]

Originally Posted by Evil Ernie

I've said it before and I'll say it again. ML needs to stay off the internet or at the very least not read up personal reviews.


No good can come of it IMO. He will inevitably read something he doesn't like and go on another rant like in the OP, which opens himself up to further criticism.

It is tough to say. Of course it is what he chooses to do and read, but as has been said he seems to not notice positive comments anywhere near as much as negative. The negatives really dig at him it seems and make him rant. I know he works hard and everything and tries so much to please but you can't please everyone. I wish he'd focus on the percentage that were pleased as much as the ones that are overly critical.

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

It is tough to say. Of course it is what he chooses to do and read, but as has been said he seems to not notice positive comments anywhere near as much as negative. The negatives really dig at him it seems and make him rant. I know he works hard and everything and tries so much to please but you can't please everyone. I wish he'd focus on the percentage that were pleased as much as the ones that are overly critical.

He does see the positive and feel it, but negative hurts him more than the positive can make up for it. So that's why it riles him up. I'm the same way. But yes, I think he should try to appreciate what he does have - all the positive support surrounding him. I have to stop and recheck that too from time to time!

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

Meat is hands down the most interesting vocalist ever. He truly is all about the performance as an art and not some sterile routine. He sounds different from year-to-year and sometimes from one show to the next. I once saw him struggling during a show and he fell, got up and picked back up exactly where he left off and his voice after the spill was 100% better. Never seen anything like it.

I've never quite heard it put like that, but that's exactly it!

And yes, i've noticed too when he gets distracted or something goes wrong suddenly he's singing way better haha. Its great

[rockfenris2005]

What has to be remembered is that he's putting his absolute 110% into it, even if it doesn't work out. I like Meat. I like Meat a lot. He has this belief that we are always learning and that as a rock star he compares his job to being a plumber and not being glamorous and getting the attention and all of that. And he's faced his fears and gone out and lived his dream, which can be one of the hardest things you can do. It's not easy to just face something, walk away and live out your dream. I really admire that. And I think there's a lot to be learned. He's not perfect - only Mary Poppins is perfect - but there's a lot there to admire.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Personally, I love what Meat and Jim have done!! (and, let's face it, it'd be a bit hypocritical if I didn't feel that way). I love the songs, I love the world, I love the fantastic epic fantasy of the scope of the stories that they've built together...

However, I'm not a fan of the current Meat Loaf 'sound' when it comes to live performances. If you like it, that's cool, but it's just not right for me. At the same time I'm not hankering for Meat to sound JUST LIKE HE DID in 1977, either. That was then, this is now - it's nigh on impossible for a singer to maintain the same timbre and range over a 40 year career.

For me, the vocal sound that I identify with - the one that I listen to and instantly go 'yeah, that's MEAT LOAF - ended around the time of Bat III. I know a lot of people here really DIDN'T like the live show in the streets of NYC (for a TV show whose name I've since forgotten), but I really dug that one. My own golden era falls somewhere between the mid-late 80s and the end of the Bat II touring cycle. Would I want that sound again now? You bet your ass I would!!! But being realistic it isn't going to happen, and I'm not sad about that and I definitely don't BLAME Meat for it, either. What I do like is that Meat is finally talking about his voice - it's really refreshing to hear, and I love how he's letting us in on how it is for him as a vocalist and what he's had/having to do. Maybe it's just me, but that shit's fascinating!

I'm looking forward to the new/potentially last album - I still enjoy Meat's studio voice - but live just isn't for me anymore.

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

It is tough to say. Of course it is what he chooses to do and read, but as has been said he seems to not notice positive comments anywhere near as much as negative. The negatives really dig at him it seems and make him rant. I know he works hard and everything and tries so much to please but you can't please everyone. I wish he'd focus on the percentage that were pleased as much as the ones that are overly critical.

Perhaps you don't read his page that regularly! Because what is very noticeable is that he DOES notice positive comments and increasingly focuses on fans who make positive comments .. thanking them with that humility that is his hallmark. He also notices when they are having difficulty getting tickets, and works his tail off to try and get things sorted. He has limited time and doesn't read every post made .. but his interaction is in the main interesting, helpful, amusing .. and interested and caring in a way that few artists of his stature are. Put simply, most times he comes on his page for many fans he makes their day .. showing he is interestED IN them, values them, holds a great affection for and gratitude towards them, cares deeply if they are having difficulties. He may not be unique in this ... but I doubt any other artists show it more. Rockferris says "He has this belief that we are always learning". He does and he practises this ... on his page as well as in everything he does as a performer.

You refer to those who are "overly critical" .. my observation is that those he reacts to with annoyance are those who are bloody rude while they are being overly critical, or simply outrageous in attacking his integrity. He is a passionate man; without that passion, we would not see the great performances we do, would not stand in awe at the level of emotion and passion with which he invests every song. And Meat invests SO much of himself in his work, his performance, that like it or not, when you criticise his work you are criticising the man; the two cannot be separated, and it is perfectly understandable when he responds defensively. Do this without a thought for how rudely you phrase it, waltz onto his page and attack his very integrity and values, and he will respond with anger .. as would most human beings. Most fans who really care about him and support him not only understand this .. many cheer him on. Those who were simply thoughtless and rude will often apologise .. those who were artfully poking the bear tend to disappear. Sometimes he goes into more detail than the commenter deserves .. but that is only because he cares so deeply about his work and his fans getting value, both of which are priceless.

Originally Posted by rockfenris2005

What has to be remembered is that he's putting his absolute 110% into it, even if it doesn't work out. ............. He's not perfect - only Mary Poppins is perfect - but there's a lot there to admire.

Indeed. On an off-day Meat still gives a more outstanding performance in terms of passion, stagecraft and sheer splendour than most artists, and most days he is still magnificent. Does he miss hitting the odd note as he'd wish to? Yes. But does he still hit thousands of them every night, and every night work his ass off to make it 100%? YES. He is more than a voice. He remains someone who can conceive, choreograph and deliver a night of music, colour, and spectacle as few others do; he can still bring an audience to its feet just by walking on stage, can command their attention for two hours, and send all but a few home on a high of excitement. That he cares and agonises about the few is a mark of the man. That thousands have a wonder-filled night they will long remember? That is the mark that he is still a top performer.