So, I’m having an argument in my local bar. I need the wisdom of The Dope.
We all know that Bat Out of Hell was recorded by Meat Loaf. But does that refer to Meat Loaf the man (with supporting musicians and singers, obviously), or was the band as a whole called Meat Loaf?
Need answer fast!
The man’s name (stage name) is Meat Loaf.
ETA:Wiki.
Yes, but stubborn bloke in bar insists that the band took the man’s name. Like Dio. Or Van Halen.
You can tell which side of this argument I’m on.
No. Meat Loaf was a solo act from the start, teaming up with Jim Steinman to hiring session musicians for Bat Out of Hell. He’s no more a band than Aretha Franklin is.
The credits for Bat Out of Hell show that different musicians played on different cuts. That’s the sign of studio musicians, not a band.
Now, Alice Cooper could be both the band and the frontman.
The funniest thing was when they wrote about him in the Wall Street Journal and referred to him as Mr. Loaf.
Bat Out Of Hell was supposed to be credited to Meat Loaf & Jim Steinman together, but it was credited solely to Meat Loaf because it’s just easier that way, though there was the famous “Songs by Jim Steinman” label on the cover as a compromise.
But no, there was never a band called Meat Loaf in the sense that there are bands called Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson and Sade, all of which share their name with their leader.
Meat Loaf’s first band was called Meat loaf Soul. I’ve been Googling around a bit, but can’t find anything that says which name came first, or if they came about at the same time. That was in the late 60’s, so at this point it may be hard to know definitively.
By Bat out of Hell, though, that was his name, not a band name.
Besides, most of the band was already a band, namely, Utopia (*Bat Out of Hell *producer Todd Rundgren’s band). Plus Roy Bittan of the E-Street Band.
Meat Loaf is specially credited(with a shot of him and his name) on the Rocky Horror Picture Show. You can see it’s just the one guy with the words “meat loaf” on the screen when it shows him. No band members present in the shot, so it’s a good bet it’s the name of the dude, not the band.
Enjoy,
Steven
I thought Meat Loaf was his last name and his first name was Don’t Let Your.
My ignorance has been fought.
Meat Loaf is the guy with love hate on his fingers. The band is secondary.
Thanks everyone. I did some of the Wiki-ing and Googling to try and settle the argument, but… well, you know how it goes.
Also note to self to use “dude” instead of “bloke” in future around here!
As of the early 1980s, when I worked several retail jobs around the Westport, CT area, his Visa card still read “Marvin Aday.”
…damn. I’ve gotten old…
A friend of mine drove for a limo company for a while in LA. He picked him up once and he introduced himself saying, “How are you? I’m Meat Loaf and this is my wife, Mrs. Loaf.” (And my friend always wrapped that story up by saying they were some of the nicest people he ever drove for .)