| Loaf Feature Story | |
|
Posted by: |
Jacqueline 12:42 pm UTC 02/28/07 |
| http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/arts/story.html?id=68f747a3-89ce-4a67-8233-b907b7a80a16 Recipe for longevity Veteran rocker Meat Loaf keeps act fresh with Bat Out of Hell trilogy Adrian Chamberlain Times Colonist Wednesday, February 28, 2007 PREVIEW Who: Meat Loaf (with guest Marion Raven) Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre When: Tonight at 7:30 Tickets: $69.50 (tel. 220 7777) - - - Thirty years after his heyday, one of rock's most colourful singers insists his show will be more than left-over Meat Loaf. "I really want to give them everything I got," said Meat Loaf, 59, adding that he's now singing well and working out regularly. "I give [audiences] an emotional centre as opposed to a flash in the pan. I want to move them like when you saw Rocky for the first time." For those who missed him the first time around, Meat Loaf, a.k.a. Michael Lee Aday, is the larger-than-life belter who put the 'B' in bombast with his 1977 album, Bat Out of Hell. It was the kind of music the then-nascent punk rock movement detested: an overblown, operatic epic with histrionic guitar solos and do-or-die vocals courtesy of a 300-pound, stringy-haired-singer. Meat Loaf and his theatrical shows made bands like Queen (of Bohemian Rhapsody infamy) seem almost tasteful and reserved by comparison. Still, Bat Out of Hell -- with its garish cartoonish graphics -- went on to sell more than 34 million copies. Bat Out of Hell II eventually followed, also selling millions and earning a Grammy in 1994 for the single, I'd Do Anything for Love. And in 2006 the saga continued with Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose. Meat Loaf -- always garrulous, sometimes combative -- fielded calls from North American newspapers (including the Times Colonist) recently before launching his concert tour. He immediately took exception to a reporter's observation that Bat Out of Hell III was a "troubled" project. This was, apparently, in reference to reports that longtime songwriter Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf had legal battles during the recording -- specifically over the use of the name Bat Out of Hell (which Steinman registered as a trademark in 1995). "Whatcha been readin' isn't true," said Meat Loaf, before the reporter had time to explain. Although he contributes seven tunes to Bat Out of Hell III, Steinman's involvement as a producer and otherwise was minimal. Meat Loaf said his old partner -- who initially signed up to write and produce -- suffered a stroke and indicated he would need up to nine months to recover. That being the case, the album ended up being produced by Desmond Child, who also did some songwriting. (In a manner typical of rock-music legal hassles, this tale contradicts reported comments by Steinman's manager, who has said that although his client had suffered ill health, this in no way affected his involvement -- potential or otherwise -- in Bat Out of Hell III.) In any case, Meat Loaf said toward the end of recording, Steinman recovered sufficiently to offer advice and tweak lyrics. The album is dedicated to Steinman and his "30 years of friendship and inspiration." The singer, sounding gruff and gravel-voiced, cheered up when talking about his concert tour. It kicks off tonight in Victoria and stops in Vancouver on Friday before continuing to Ontario, the U.S., Britain, Ireland and Germany. Meat Loaf, who has endured his share of health problems, said he now feels great and is singing well. In 2003, he underwent surgery after collapsing on stage in London. Doctors diagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which causes an irregular heartbeat. Although his health improved enough to allow daily gym workouts, Meat Loaf was initially frustrated while recording Bat Out of Hell III. He felt physically unable to replicate vocal feats he was capable of 15 years ago. "I didn't want to cheat it," he said. "I didn't want to go, 'Well, I can't really do that any more.' I hate that." So he hired vocal coach Eric Vetro, who has also worked with John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls and actors Billy Crystal, Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons. Meat Loaf credits Vetro with greatly improving his vocal technique and helping him overcome his legendary stage fright during televised performances. Meat Loaf's chipper mood continued as he chatted about Bat Out of Hell III earning gold status in the United States and Canada, and platinum in the U.K. and Germany. "That's pretty good for an old guy," he said. He also expressed pleasure about scoring good concert reviews from the New York Post's Dan Aquilante (who has apparently dissed Mr. Loaf in the past) and other critics. His ebullience vanished, however, when a reporter said something about his shows being "theatrical." "I don't do theatrics," said Meat Loaf, cutting off the journalist in mid-sentence. "I don't do fire and motorcycles and girls in dancing cages and I never have .... We don't go in for tom-foolin' trickery." That said, the show will feature plenty of razzle-dazzle video footage and light effects, said Meat Loaf. The set-list will sample music from all the albums. "It's all Bat, all the time," he added. He became even more annoyed when another interviewer -- again interrupted mid-stream -- noted that Meat Loaf doesn't write his own songs. "Did Marlon Brando write On the Waterfront?" demanded the singer. "Did Al Pacino or Robert De Niro write The Godfather?" Meat Loaf said he makes a point of connecting emotionally to the characters portrayed in his music. He cited his extensive acting experience. It not only includes roles in the films The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club but extends to performing in the musical Hair and Othello and A Midsummer Night's Dream in New York's Central Park. Meat Loaf even mentioned the musicals he did while attending Thomas Jefferson High School in his home town of Dallas, such as Where's Charley? and The Music Man. "You learn to develop characters," he said. "You understand the emotional content." Meat Loaf suggested that his fans are lucky to see him in concert again. During his last tour he had a few shows where he didn't sing as well as he had hoped. He became discouraged. "I really thought I wasn't gonna do it again, because there were nights when it was just too heartbreaking for me. I'm very emotional. I don't know how I've lasted 40 years [in show business]. I wear my feelings on my sleeve; I take everything to heart." When it comes to Meat Loaf, music consumers tend to join one of two camps. He says they either love his music ... or they hate it. "People are very passionate both ways. And I like it like that." | |
| reply | | |
| Previous: | re: Blurb from NY Post - rockfenris2005 02:32 pm UTC 03/01/07 |
| Next: | re: Loaf Feature Story - GTKarber 03:38 pm UTC 02/28/07 |
| Thread: |
|