> > src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a206/rockfenris2005/batoutofexcess/vbolive.jpg"
> width="569" height="800">
>
> > This is from a post that BMV made in 2007?
> >
> > "Michael Whelan, the artist who created the Bat II and
> > Very Best of Meatloaf covers, is in Denver this weekend
> > for a Fantasy Art convention. I took off a few hours of
> > work today to go meet with him. I spent about 3 hours
> > talking to him about his work. One on one. It was great!
> > I've been a fan of his ever since Bat II.
> >
> > I asked a lot of questions about his work with Jim and
> > Meat and here are some of the points he made:
> >
> > Joe Stefko (drummer touring with Meat at the time)
> > recommended Whelan's work when Meat was looking for the
> > Bat II artist. Meat and Jim conceptualized the cover, but
> > had various disagreements (with Michael caught in the
> > middle!). One of them wanted the view looking down into
> > the city, the other wanted a view looking up. The end
> > result is the bizarre perspective of NYC skyscrapers on
> > the album cover.
> >
> > Apparently, Jim demanded an angel on the cover, but Meat
> > told Whelan "ah, forget all that angel shit." But, Jim was
> > adamant about having an angel on the cover. (Reminds me of
> > "Todd...where's my motorcycle??? from Bat I).
> >
> > The idea was the biker going back into Hell, but this time
> > the Bat was dominating and in charge.
> >
> > Regarding the Very Best of Meatloaf cover:
> > Michael really wasn't interested in doing this piece. He
> > had a great idea for the biker standing along a ruined
> > highway. From the impression he gave, neither Jim nor Meat
> > were directly involved with this concept, so it was left
> > to the ad execs for the record label. They wanted the
> > motorcycle in the sky. Michael did several versions (he
> > estimated about 12) before they found one they liked.
> > Michael had other commitments at the time and was finding
> > himself increasingly behind schedule for these other
> > projects. He was getting irritated with the record folks.
> > After all their demands, he finished the painting by
> > putting in a kitchen sink in the lower corner of the
> > cover. He said he wasn't sure you could see it in the
> > album cover, but when you view the full-size painting,
> > it's there.
> >
> > Regarding Bat III:
> > Meatloaf approached Michael about doing this cover. Meat's
> > original idea was having the biker riding across the
> > cover, with the girl/angel on the back of the bike,
> > holding a samurai sword, and slicing the head off the bat.
> > According to Michael the head was to be almost completely
> > decapitated with large amounts of blood oozing all over
> > the place. Michael turned down the conceptual sketch,
> > knowing that the ad execs would never approve it for
> > release. Eventually, the project went to Julie Bell.
> >
> > Michael mentioned that the original painting to Bat II was
> > purchased by Meatloaf.
> >
> > Michael keeps his original concepts/sketches and
> > occasionally brings them to shows for quick, cheaper sales
> > to fans. I asked him about the Bat II concept work and he
> > said he still had them, and that he'd run into them just a
> > few weeks back. He and I exchanged information, so I'm
> > going to try to buy a few off him. These will be the
> > original pencil/charcoal/acrylic sketches. I'll keep you
> > all updated!
> >
> > All in all, I've wanted to meet Michael Whelan for 13
> > years. Nice to say I finally did. Guess I can check him
> > off my list.
> >
> > --BMV"
> >

• re: VBO Meat Loaf Cover Artwork Variance - rockfenris2005 06:09 am UTC 05/16/11