Official Bio Released
for the Bat out of Hell II:Back into Hell tour
Meat
Loaf was born in Dallas, Texas in the midst of America’s post-World War
II baby boom. In 1967, after spending his childhood in the Lone Star State,
he moved to Los Angeles, California and then to Detroit, Michigan.
During
the last few years of the ‘60s, Meat Loaf fronted a band (in California
and in and around Detroit) known alternatively as Meat Loaf Soul, Popcorn
Blizzard and the Floating Circus, which opened for such rock and roll superstars
as the Kinks, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, MC5, Ted Nugent, and Big Brother and
the Holding Company (with Janis Joplin). Meat Loaf remembers, “We opened
for every band you can name, with the exception of the Beatles, the Rolling
Stones and the Jefferson Airplane.”
As
Meat Loaf was paying his rock and roll dues, he also enjoyed his first
success as an actor. In 1969, he landed a part in Los Angeles production
of the infamous ‘60s stage musical, Hair, then travelled with the show
to Detroit, and eventually, to Broadway.
While
in the Motor City, Meat Loaf met a singer who went by the name of Stoney.
In 1971, the two released an album, Stoney And Meatloaf, featuring the
single “What You See Is What You Get”, which climbed to number 11 on the
national R & B charts. The album was released in 1979 as Meat Loaf
(Featuring- Stoney).
In
the early 1970’s, with his foot in the doors of both music and theatre
worlds, Meat Loaf moved to New York City and broke through both doors.
Over the next few years, Meat Loaf starred in several productions for Joe
Papp’s Shakespeare In The Park (including productions of Othello and As
You Like It). He appeared off-off-Broadway at Cafe La Mama (in Silver Queen
and other productions), at the Downtown Playhouse (in the Sam Sheppard
play, Billy The Kid And Jean Harlow), at the Manhattan Theatre Club (in
Black And White), and in Gold Pizizer, a one-act at Actor’s Studio. Meat
Loaf also appeared in the off-Broadway production of the gospel musical,
Rainbow In New York, and productions of The Vietnam Project and More Than
You Deserve.
On
Broadway, Meat Loaf appeared in Hair, starred as Eddie in 1974’s hugely
successful production of The Rocky Horror Show (which also played at Los
Angeles’ Roxy Theatre during this time), in The National Lampoon Show and
had a featured role in Gower Champion’s Rock-a-Bye Hamlet. Meat Loaf also
appeared at Lincoln Center and at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
in Washington, D.C.
Also
about this time, Meat Loaf sang lead vocals on Ted Nugent’s double-platinum
album, Free For All. Meat Loaf’s television credits include appearances
on such diverse shows as Tales From The Crypt, The Equalizer, Monsters
, The Odd Couple, Lighting Force, Saturday Night Live and nearly every
talk show in the world, with the exception of The Arsenio Hall Show.
Despite
his extensive experience before the cameras, Meat Loaf never lost his love
for the concert stage. Since his landmark Bat Out Of Hell tour (during
which Karla DeVito replaced Ellen Foley as back-up singer), Meat Loaf has
played countless hundreds of shows all around the world.
“I’m
a touring fool,” Meat Loaf enthusiastically agrees. “I did 500 shows before
we started recording Bat Out Of Hell II. I signed my MCA contract on a
tour bus. They sent it to me by Federal Express, I signed it, I had my
road manager snap a Polaroid, and I went from there onto the stage.”
Meat
Loaf also toured in many out-of-the-way places that aren’t typically visited
by the rock and roll elite. “I was the first international artist to extensively
tour Ireland,” he says. “U2 won’t tour Ireland the way I toured Ireland.
I spent three and a half weeks playing in these barns, in the middle of
fields. I’d think, ‘Who’s gonna come here?’ and there’d be 3,000 people
in the barn by showtime.”
“On
tour is where I’m most comfortable,” Meat Loaf says. “I want to have the
best show in the world, give real value for the money, and I’m willing
to work my ass off for it.”
It
was inevitable, however, that Meat Loaf would one day return to the recording
studio for the sequel to his landmark Bat Out Of Hell album. So in April
1989, after Meat Loaf and Steinman signed with MCA Records, they began
preparing the songs that would become Bat Out Of Hell II. After more than
three years of hard work, the album, co-produced by Meat Loaf and Steinman,
is finally ready.
“I
think the record is very deep in songs,” Meat Loaf says. “I never want
to say I’m equal to anybody, and I never want to compare myself to anybody,
but I think this is a really great record.”
Bat
Out Of Hell II features the songs “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I
Won’t Do That),” “Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back,” “Rock ‘n Roll
Dreams Come Through,” “It Just Won’t Quit,” “Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad
Girls Go Everywhere),” “Objects In The Rear View Mirror (May Appear Closer
Than They Are),” “Everything Louder Than Everything Else,” “Lost Boys And
Golden Girls” and a frantic burst of guitar and vocal screaming called
“Love, Death and American Guitar.”
