# Did Jim Steinman help write "Rocky Horror"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 19, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317 "2006-08-19T05:06:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/1 "2006-08-19T05:06:25Z")
One of my many weaknesses is overwrought, bombastic pop, so I enjoy both Meatloaf and the soundtrack of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” though the movie itself bites the big one. Once, I heard someone suggest that Jim Steinman wrote the songs for “Rocky” as he does for Meatloaf and it was if I were thunderstruck–OF COURSE he did! It’s so obvious!
After sobering up, I’m not so sure, but the stylistic similarity is still striking. Am I huffing or is there some basis for that suspicion?
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### Author:  [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/2 "2006-08-19T05:09:07Z")
Ever hear of Richard O’Brien?
I have no idea why anyone would think Steinman wrote Rocky Horror.
Please stop huffing or listening to huffers. Its dangerous.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/3 "2006-08-19T05:20:14Z")
> [@Push You Down](#):
>
> Ever hear of Richard O’Brien?
>
> I have no idea why anyone would think Steinman wrote Rocky Horror.
> Please stop huffing or listening to huffers. Its dangerous.
[Richard O’Brien?](http://imageserver4.textamerica.com/user.images.x/61/IMG_443061/_0722/T52005072205244555.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/4 "2006-08-19T05:26:30Z")
Jim Sharman, who directed the movie, also wrote some of it. It was mostly written by Richard O’Brien though. I suspect the person who talked to you confused Jim Steinman and Jim Sharman.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/5 "2006-08-19T05:27:54Z")
Richard O’Brien wrote _The Rocky Horror Show_ (the play which later became the movie _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_) in London in 1973. Jim Steinman was working on musicals at this same time but in New York. Steinman didn’t even meet Meat Loaf until 1974.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/6 "2006-08-19T05:40:23Z")
Perhaps the confusion came about because Jim Steinman wrote so many songs for Meat Loaf, who appeared in the movie.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/7 "2006-08-19T06:21:11Z")
And stole the song style? Not that nobody’s ever done that…
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### Author:  [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/8 "2006-08-19T10:49:55Z")
> [@dropzone](#):
>
> And stole the song style? Not that nobody’s ever done that…
I’m not seeing the song styles as all that similar. Overblown isn’t really a style. The arrangements are different enough, and Steinman in funny mostly in the unintentional way.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/9 "2006-08-19T12:58:05Z")
Considering how much well Rocky Horror has made, and how badly Dance of the Vampire did, I bet Steinman wishes he’d written the former instead of the latter.
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### Author:  [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jim-steinman-help-write-rocky-horror/369317/10 "2006-08-19T13:26:49Z")
> [@11811](#):
>
> I’m not seeing the song styles as all that similar. Overblown isn’t really a style. The arrangements are different enough, and Steinman in funny mostly in the unintentional way.
I think the humor is very intentional.
I want you
I need you
but there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you
Now don’t be sad
two out of three ain’t bad
Is intentional – I’d put money on it.
He has a wicked and dry sense of humor and is a very talented writer.