Meat Loaf Thread

[Malcolm]

Meat Loaf is cooking up a 2007 world tour to support his "Bat Out of Hell III: the Monster is Loose" album, which was released on Halloween.

Dates kick off in the US with a Feb. 23 show in San Diego. The theatrical rocker then heads to Canada through mid-March, and wraps up the North American leg with a bunch of East Coast dates that extend into mid-April. North American shows are listed below.

In May, Meat Loaf will head to Europe, where he'll play gigs in the UK, Ireland and Germany through June. Those dates can be found on the singer's website.

Thirteen years in the making, "Bat Out of Hell III: the Monster is Loose" is the third installment of the rock epic. Meat Loaf released "Bat Out of Hell" in 1977 and "Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell" in 1993. The first two albums of the series have sold nearly 50 million copies worldwide, according to the artist's website.

Meat Loaf said in a statement that his latest project was the most ambitious, committed and emotional of his three-decade career.

"I knew I would have to shoot for the moon, or the end of the universe, if I was going to do 'Bat Out Of Hell III.' The Bat just has a life of its own, so you can't say you're gonna top it or you're gonna beat it; you just have to try to do something special."

The singer has hinted that "Bat III" may be the last in the series. A few songs from the new record are streaming at Meat Loaf's MySpace page, including a new version of "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" featuring Norwegian singer Marion Raven.

Coinciding with the record's release, Meat Loaf recently starred in a series of one-night shows staged at London's Royal Albert Hall, New York City's The Palace, Toronto's Elgin Theatre, Atlantic City's Estes Theatre and Uncasville, CT's Mohegan Sun. Each of the show's three acts was devoted to the songs of the "Bat Out of Hell" albums, in sequence.

Meat Loaf also appears in the new Tenacious D movie, "Pick of Destiny."

February 2007
23 - San Diego, CA - Pala Casino
28 - Victoria, British Columbia - Save-On Food Centre

March 2007
2 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific Coliseum
4 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
6 - Kelowna, British Columbia - Prospera Place
8 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
11 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
14 - Toronto, Ontario - Hummingbird Centre For the Performing Arts
16 - Ottowa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
18 - London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
20 - Hamilton, Ontario - Copps Coliseum
22 - Syracuse, NY - On Center
24 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
26 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Mid Hudson Civic Center
28 - Binghampton, NY -Broome County Arena
30 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center

April 2007
1 - Washington, DC - Dar Constitution Hall
3 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
5 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Amphitheater
7 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock
10 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
12 - New York, NY - Theater @ Madison Square Garden

[judaskennedy]

winnipeg is not in alberta

[Malcolm]

Im getting tickets to see him on march 14 in Toronto...Pretty puimped about this, New fan but I love his new album...Anyone ever been to see him?like the new album?Aspen Miller is the new female lead role and shes great...Blind As A Bat is also an amazing song off the new album

[CheapJon]

he kix ass in pick of destiny

[stinson4ever]

Im getting tickets to see him on march 14 in Toronto...Pretty puimped about this, New fan but I love his new album...Anyone ever been to see him?like the new album?Aspen Miller is the new female lead role and shes great...Blind As A Bat is also an amazing song off the new album

the album got a lot of crap, but i think it lived up to th name. kinda sad listening to the last song "Cry to Heaven" knowing that it might br his last. the flutes in it make it sound like the end of a big journey. if that makes sense at all

[Fingers]

I seen him when he did the VH1 storytellers tour-amazing voice in that setting-I was a casual fan, concert really took me by surprise-it was great in that setting-he has a great sense of humor also-just an incredible voice that you don't appreciate until you hear him live

[Malcolm]

Heres the Setlist from the opening night of the tour for anyone whos interested...He said it will change a bit as the year goes on

Friday 23rd February 2007
Pala Casino, Pala, (San Diego) CA

All Revved Up
Paradise By The Dashboard Light
You Too The Words Right Outta My Mouth
Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire)
Anything For Love
Rock 'n' Roll Dreams
Objects In The Rear View Mirror

Seize The Night
The Monster Is Loose
Bad For Good
If It Ain't Broke
Blind As A Bat
Bat Out Of Hell

Two Outta Three Ain't Bad
Life Is A Lemon

Gimme Shelter

I would love to hear him do Gimme Shelter as the encore for the Toronto show...

[Malcolm]

Meat Loaf Scraps Euro Tour, Vows To Return

Meat Loaf has cancelled his European tour after developing a cyst on his vocal cords, but he denied media reports he might be quitting the stage for good.

A series of November concerts across Europe, including one at Wembley Arena in London tonight (Nov. 6), have been scrapped.

"It really breaks my heart not to be able to perform these shows," Meat Loaf said in a statement. "But I have to do what the doctors tell me so I can look forward to healing and coming back strong in 2008. Let me dispel any rumors before they start -- I will be back."

According to the statement, most inter-vocal cord cysts require surgery, but voice therapy is normally conducted first to determine if it is necessary. It will take four to six weeks to decide in this case, it added.

Speculation about the tour, and "Bat Out of Hell" star Meat Loaf's long-term performing career, first started when a regional British newspaper quoted him as saying: "This is the last show I may ever do in my life," before walking off stage.

[Red1]

That sucks man!  I was with his daughter last night and she was telling me how much he was looking forward to playing Wembley and hoping he'd be feeling okay.  She was also due to be playing as support and was so excited about it, so I feel really sorry for her.

I hope he doesn't quit the stage for good!!!  The world cannot live without Meatloaf concerts!!!!

[CSS]

That sucks, I hope he gets better.

I've always liked the guy and juding by the pictures posted above, he looks great.

[Malcolm]

Anyone know what Meats up to these days?..Anyone else here still like Meat Loaf? this guys awesome..Watching his Three Bats DVD right now...such an amazing entertainer

[Malcolm]

Meat Loaf is now working on a new album with Rob Cavallo which is scheduled to be released April 2010. It was reported in August 2009 that Brian May of Queen had joined Meat Loaf in the studio to record a guitar solo for a new song

[inlikeflynn420]

I remember watching something about Meat Loaf once. There was a lot of old footage when he was fat and sweaty and wore the ruffled tux (but he pulled it off -- to me, the dude is a true rock star). They said he would pound the piano keys so fucking hard his fingers would be bleeding all over the keyboard and it wasn't uncommon for him to collapse from sheer exhaustion because of everything he put into his performances. My parents actully saw him a few times in that era. I don't know how he is in concert anymore but man do i wish i could've seen him back when he was that crazy on stage. I really like most of his music. The original "Bat Out Of Hell" has got some classic songs on it.

[Malcolm]

Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud Records has announced the signing of MEAT LOAF. His new album, "Hang Cool Teddy Bear", whose title was taken from a line in "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls", is 13 tracks of classic Meat Loaf, primed and ready for the 21st century. More than four decades into his career, the man and his voice are as big, bold and relevant as ever. The album features a hot producer, a slew of impressive guest appearances, ranging from guitar god Steve Vai to actor Hugh Laurie, and of course, Meat Loaf's signature pipes!

Meat Loaf has been a towering monument on the musical landscape for the past 35 years and his new deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud will allow him to retain his post as the pre-eminent voice in rock music and beyond.

"I wanted it big, I wanted it dramatic, I wanted a rock record," Meat Loaf said about the new album. "Yes, it sounds like a Meat Loaf record. But it sounds different too: it sounds new, it sounds fresh. It speaks to you in a different way." For "Hang Cool Teddy Bear", Meat Loaf's creativity was sparked by working with a new collaborator, producer Rob Cavallo (GREEN DAY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, PARAMORE, FLEETWOOD MAC), a lifelong MEAT LOAF fan who has worked with some of the most explosive names in rock music and who helped to foster a modern and contemporary vibe for the album. Of their relationship, Meat Loaf said, "Rob is the number one rock producer in the world because he leaves his ego out of the equation and gives an artist his voice, making it sound better than the artist could even imagine."

Regarding Roadrunner/Loud & Proud, Meat Loaf is excited about his new label digs, saying, "In my bones, I've always been a rocker and I finally found a home that rocks." Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky also commented on the signing, saying "Meat Loaf has once again created a masterpiece and we are excited and proud to be his new label partner."

Thematically, like most Meat Loaf albums, "Hang Cool Teddy Bear" has a larger concept and was inspired by a short story written by Los Angeles screenwriter, director and longtime Meat Loaf friend Kilian Kerwin.

"It's the story of a soldier," revealed Meat Loaf. "He's been in battle and he's lying face down on the ground. He can't move, but he turns his head and starts to see blood run across the ground, and so he thinks he's going to die. They always say you see your life flash backward when you're about to die. But his life flashes forward ? into what possibly could happen. He sees what his life could be: the good and the bad. The songs are the different scenarios he finds himself in. It's not always the same time or the same place, but it's always the same woman. But I don't want to give too much away. I want people to work it out for themselves."

"Hang Cool Teddy Bear" features a stellar array of big-name guests, including Steve Vai (who appears on "Love is Not Real"), QUEEN guitarist Brian May (who appears on "Song of Madness" and "Love is Not Real"), "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi (who co-wrote and sings on "If I Can't Have You") and Hollywood star Jack Black, who duets with Meat Loaf on "Like a Rose". Additionally, English actor Hugh Laurie of TV's "House" fame has a cameo on the album, playing piano on "If I Can't Have You". The pair met after Meat Loaf guested on Laurie's hit series and discovered the star was a classically trained pianist.

For "Hang Cool Teddy Bear", the singer enlisted elite musicians, including THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins, who co-wrote two songs for the album, guitarists Tim Pierce, Paul Crook and Randy Flowers, legendary bass players Chris Chaney and Kasim Sulton, genius keyboardist Jamie Mulhoberac and one of the world's greatest rock drummers, John Micelli.

"Hang Cool Teddy Bear" is due out May 11 in the U.S.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/meatteddy.jpg