News & Notes

New version of Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Alex Christensen & The Berlin Orchestra have been putting together an album called "Classical 80s Dance", and one track is a new version of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, featuring Bonnie Tyler on vocals.

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical returns, dedicates performances to Jim Steinman

Bat is back! It's now running at the Opera House, Manchester, UK. Preview shows started on 11th September, with the official opening tonight, 14th September, and running until 2nd October 2021.

Jay Scheib, the show's wildly skilled director and friend to Jim Steinman, gave a speech before each preview show on the first day. We're sharing this clip today so everyone can hear his dedication.

"The last 19 months have been hard and we've lost a few people including our friend Jim Steinman. We're dedicating this performance, and for that matter, the rest of the year, to our friend Jim. We love you Jim!"

For further dates and ticket info on the UK & Ireland tour running through 2021 - 2022, check the official Bat Out Of Hell website.

Ellen Foley - upcoming live gig at The Bowery Electric, NYC

Along with her band The Worried Men, Ellen Foley is going to perform a live gig at The Bowery Electric, NYC.

Friday 22 October, doors open 6:30PM. Tickets are priced at $17.60.

In accordance with the newest NYC Vaccine Mandate (Key to NYC Pass), all artists performing at an indoor venue AND all guests attending any concert held indoors must provide proof of at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine alongside a valid photo ID. Only guests and performers with both items will be permitted inside the venue.

This is an 18+ event.

More details and booking info here.

Bonnie Tyler - East West Box Set, and Making Love Out Of Nothing At All music video

Way back in 1995, Jim Steinman collaborated with Bonnie Tyler on two recordings of his songs - Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, and Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad. They were released on the album "Free Spirit", but that has been out of print for many years by now.

But here in 2021, Bonnie Tyler is releasing a 3CD box set of her work on that record label, making those tracks available once more. Not only that, but it contains all the single remixes of these songs.

So in total, this box set contains FOUR versions of Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, and SEVEN versions of Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad!

The album "Bonnie Tyler : The East West Years 1995-1998" is released on September 17, 2021, both digitally and physically on CD.

More details and pre-orders here.

The music video for Making Love Out Of Nothing At All has also been remastered and released on Bonnie Tyler's YouTube channel. Check it out!

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical 2021 UK and Ireland tour cast announcements

So excited to see this new cast for the touring production of Bat Out Of Hell through this year and into 2022.

And the ensemble cast:

Fighting Words is Here!

"One of the greatest and most passionately true rock albums in recent times."

- Paul Zollo, American Songwriter

Ellen Foley's new album, Fighting Words, is now available! The CD can be found at Amazon. Autographed CDs are at Bandcamp. If you pre-ordered the album, thanks a million for your support and your patience! The orders went out early this week and will be arriving as fast as the mails will allow.

Stream it at Spotify, Apple, and many other fine streaming services.

In Europe, the CD is now available by mail order using this link from Shiny Beast in the Netherlands. If you are in Europe and you would like to offer Fighting Words for sale, you can get the CD from Clear Spot distributors, including in the Netherlands.

It's a rocking collection of eleven tracks mostly written by her longtime collaborator, Paul Foglino. The album's first single, "I'm Just Happy to Be Here," finds Ellen duetting with Karla DeVito. Both women were featured vocalists during Meat Loaf's mega-platinum Bat Out of Hell period (1977). Additional guests on Fighting Words include bassist C. P. Roth (Ozzy Osbourne, Suzanne Vega, Garland Jeffreys), drummer Steve Goulding (Graham Parker & The Rumour, The Mekons), vocalist Ula Hedwig (Darlene Love, Bette Midler), and many other stellar artists. The album features Ellen's covers of Wilson Pickett's "I Found a Love" and Jim Steinman's "Heaven Can Wait."

Andrew Polec's Legacy Of Love

Does this man need any introduction? He spent years starring as Strat in Bat Out Of Hell The Musical, performed as Baal in the Dream Engine at the Amherst College reunion 50 years after Jim Steinman played the role himself. He is the man Jim Steinman fondly referred to as "The Miracle".

Andrew Polec is doing a solo show! And you can buy a ticket and watch it streamed! Tickets are available for $25 US dollars - stream live, or on demand - whichever is your preference.

Live debut viewing party on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 2:30 pm (Eastern), hosted by Andrew Polec. Video available until August 28.

Holding Out For A Hero goes Platinum in the UK

Following a month where Holding Out For A Hero was featured in a trailer for the new Netflix series Masters of the Universe : Revelation, a trailer for an upcoming Marvel Comics Guardians Of The Galaxy video game, and in a scene in the hit Disney+ TV series Loki, the song has been certified Platinum in the UK!

Read more on Bonnie Tyler's website.

Tanz Der Vampire to re-open in Germany and Hungary

Theatre is re-opening in Europe! Two productions of Tanz Der Vampire are scheduled for this year:

July 15 - July 20, 2021 : Vámpírok bálja, at the Magyar Theatre in Budapest, Hungary.

October 6, 2021 onwards : Tanz Der Vampire, at the Stage Palladium Theater, Stuttgart, Germany.

Premiere : Ellen Foley : Are You Good Enough

Ellen Foley has released a second song from her upcoming album! Also, she is now selling a limited number of autographed copies of the album on CD, through Bandcamp, priced at $30 USD.

Paul Zollo of American Songwriter magazine writes:

“Are You Good Enough” so rocks right out of the gate that it is thrilling. And this thrill expanded even more as I listened to it the first time. And also the next thousand-plus times. It is the kind of rock and roll we’ve missed: essential and pure.

And Amplify Magazine say of the album:

The wide array of talent has delivered a diverse, radio-friendly collection of eleven songs. First single “I’m Just Happy to Be Here” is a jubilant sugar rush featuring Foley duetting with fellow Meat Loaf alumnae Karla DeVito. “Leave Him Janie” is a tender rocker that evokes the storied days of Laurel Canyon. “I’ll Be True” and Foley’s cover of Wilson Pickett’s “I Found a Love” are emotive rhythm & blues infused with the girl group harmonies which enraptured Foley as a youth in St. Louis. “I Call My Pain by Your Name” is Foglino’s convincing take on country blues. And while the record is primarily an organic-sounding, roots-rock affair, the closing track, Foley’s version of Meat Loaf’s “Heaven Can Wait,” finds the vocalist closing the curtain with an altogether different dramatic flair. Although Foley did not contribute to the original version of this Steinman-penned track from Bat Out of Hell, she now makes it fully her own, with a dramatic, show-stopping solo vocal performance.

The album, Fighting Words, is available for presale (digital download and physical CD) on Bandcamp. The release date is August 6, 2021.

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical - 2021 - 2022 UK and Ireland tour announcements

Huge tour announcement for Bat Out Of Hell The Musical today! More venues than originally planned. Notice the gap in dates Nov - Dec 2021? That's when the Australian tour will happen!

Sources: Official website,Broadway World

New single and album from Ellen Foley : Fighting Words

Ellen Foley has a new single out now, and an album coming out soon.

The album will be called FIGHTING WORDS and will be released on August 6, 2021. It will be 11 tracks long, closing out with her version of Jim Steinman's Heaven Can Wait. You can pre-order it digitally right now, on Bandcamp where you will be able to stream or download the tracks in top quality. Pre-orders are priced at $10 (USD) and you get 1 track now and the rest on release day.

The single is called "I'm Just Happy To Be Here" and features Karla DeVito singing alongside her. It's available digitally on most platforms (Spotify, Apple, YouTube Music, Soundcloud, Bandcamp), or from her own website.

In her words:

“Every song on Fighting Words could represent something I’ve made it through in life, whether it be personal relationships or experiences I’ve had as a singer and actress,” said Foley. “My songwriter, Paul Foglino, is well acquainted with the peaks and valleys of my history. He does an amazing job interpreting them into songs for me to sing. As for the album title, let’s just say that I was not a fan of the previous presidential administration. There is a definite undercurrent of resistance in songs like ‘Leave Him Janie’ or ‘This Won’t Last Forever’.”

Jim Steinman : November 1, 1947 — April 19, 2021

Jim Steinman, Hall of Fame songwriter and Grammy-winning record producer for Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and others, has passed away due to ongoing health issues. Born November 1, 1947, in Hewlett, Long Island, he was 73 years old. In addition to his genre-defying contributions to music, Jim also leaves behind an important legacy in theater and music videos.

Ignoring the boundaries separating artforms, Steinman's style was reflected in his belief; "If you don't go over the top, you can't see what's on the other side." He was described by the LA Times as the "Richard Wagner of Rock and Roll" and is credited as "Father of the Power Ballad" for bringing theatrical rock-opera to the masses.

Read more…

Please do come and spend some time with us on the message board, or Facebook group, or Twitter.

Celine Dion : It's All Coming Back To Me Now, single now certified 2x Platinum

The RIAA have certified the single It's All Coming Back To Me Now as 2x multi-platinum as of March 3, 2021. Additionally, the album it's on - Falling Into You - has now gone 12x multi-platinum.

To celebrate, Celine has released a "behind the scenes" video of shooting the music video for the song:

Full transcript

New Release : Andrew Polec - You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth - Unplugged

Description from Andrew's Bandcamp page:

“Jim Steinman's song stripped down to its purest form - a voice and a guitar. Imagine Strat continuing to travel across a post-apocalyptic world with just a guitar strapped to his back. The fever dreams grow and he meets someone special - licking their lips and their lipstick shining, dying just to ask for a taste.”

Available to buy for $1 (or more, if you feel generous): Andrew Polec - You Took The Words - Unplugged

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical Australian tour - further rescheduling

TEG Dainty wish to announce the rescheduled dates for Jim Steinman’s BAT OUT OF HELL – THE ROCK MUSICAL. The jaw dropping, heart stopping, ARENA ROCK MUSICAL featuring an international cast scheduled to take place this May will now tour Australia in November/December 2021.

Tickets will be valid for the new show dates and there is nothing further to do. We encourage you to hold on to your tickets to support the Performers and the wider industry of Venues, Agents, Managers, Promoters, Hospitality Workers and so many more!

• RAC Arena, Perth WA
  Fri 7 May 2021 now valid for Thursday 18 November 2021
• Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, SA
  Mon 10 May 2021 now valid for Sunday 21 November 2021
• Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW
  Tue 18 May 2021 now valid for Wednesday 24 November 2021
• Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
  Thu 13 May 2021 now valid for Friday 26 November 2021
• Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
  Sat 15 May 2021 now valid for Sunday 28 November 2021

Patrons unable to attend the new dates listed above click here to request a full refund (including ticket insurance premium and refundable ticket purchase). Refund requests are to be submitted prior to 5pm, Wed 31 March 2021.

Source

New Release : Andrew Polec - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) - Unplugged

Description from Andrew's Bandcamp page:

“Jim Steinman's song stripped down to its purest form - a voice and a guitar. Imagine Strat as a balladeer traversing a post-apocalyptic world with just a guitar strapped to his back and the driving force of love that continues to make his blood pump and fever grow - he's all revved up, but hey… that goes into another song entirely.”

Available to buy for $1 (or more, if you feel generous): Andrew Polec - I'd Do Anything For Love - Unplugged

This is the second solo unplugged cover of his, the first was Bat Out Of Hell, which you may also wish to check out!

Out now on CD : Danielle Steers - The Future Ain't What It Used To Be

Track listing:

• The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
• Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through
• Lost Boys and Golden Girls
• Safe Sex
• Two Ain't Out Of Three Bad
• Surf's Up
• Total Eclipse Of The Heart
• Holding Out For A Hero
• Bad For Good

Available to order NOW: https://www.daniellesteers.co.uk/

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical 2020 Australian tour 2021 dates

TEG Dainty wish to announce the rescheduled dates for Jim Steinman’s BAT OUT OF HELL – THE ROCK MUSICAL in 2021:

• PERTH: Friday 7 May at RAC Arena
• ADELAIDE: Monday 10 May at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
• MELBOURNE: Thursday 13 May at Rod Laver Arena
• BRISBANE: Saturday 15 May at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
• SYDNEY: Tuesday 18 May at Qudos Bank Arena

Ticket holders will be contacted by Ticketek. Tickets will be valid for the new show dates and there is nothing further to do. We encourage you to hold on to your tickets to support the Performers and the wider industry of Venues, Agents, Managers, Promoters, Hospitality Workers and so many more!

Tickets to the new 2021 dates are on sale now at Ticketek → http://bit.ly/BOOH20

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Source

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical 2020 cast sing Out Of The Frying Pan

The new touring cast of Bat Out Of Hell rehearsed the show in London, but the pandemic and travel restrictions meant they never got to travel together to perform on stage in the US or Australia.

So, Sam Pope (Hoffmann / Alternate Strat / 2nd cover Ledoux) organised this performance of Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire) with the rest of the cast and team - each recording their part in isolation.