not logged in
| re: Meat Loaf talks Jim Steinman reunion - Rolling Stone | |
Posted by:  |
renegadeangel 09:07 pm UTC 07/30/16 |
| In reply to: | re: Meat Loaf talks Jim Steinman reunion - Rolling Stone - rockfenris2005 06:49 pm UTC 07/29/16 |
> > In my mind, as soon as they announced that they were going > to make Bat 3, it was like drops of blood dropping into a > tank full of sharks. People just went ballistic. I mean, > think about it. When they made Bat 2, you didn't have a > sequel album. You didn't have "Anything for love" Number 1 > in how many places. The moment you announce Bat 3 to these > people, they start going crazy. No wonder Meat couldn't > get out of the deal. The record company were told they > were actually going to get Bat 3 and by God, were they > going to deliver come hell or high water, even if Diane > Warren had to write half the bloody LP. That's how I see > the situation. > > "Folks, we're doing Bat 3." > *Theme music to Jaws* > *The sounds of Columbia screaming when Eddie gets chopped > up into bits in "Rocky Horror"*. > > "One from the vaults..." > > And literally in quite a few cases with this album. > > If Meat and Jim had gotten together the way they had now, > and only decided to call it Bat 3 at the eleventh hour, > then they would have had it. Nobody would have gone > berserk, not until the content was down and everything had > been recorded. > > Makes me think of the quote on this website on the > "Whistle 96" page about how commerce can be detrimental to > the arts or words similar to that. > > > > > > > > Ha - I actually made the 2 out of 3 ain't bad joke when > > > Bat III came out. I remember all the politics, but Meat > > > said something about the record label forcing certain > > > things and Desmond doing things on his own and it wasn't > > > supposed to be this way... > > > > > > Do you remember anything about that? Have never been able > > > to get details. > > > > > > > > > > > > > From memory I think Jim had negotiated one of the best > > contracts ever to do this album. For some reason - > > possibly due to his management or attorneys - he dropped > > out. I seem to recall some confusion on whether a deal was > > struck or not - something to do with a fax. > > > > Meat had signed to deliver the record company a "Bat Out > > of Hell 3" and I believe he was under much pressure to > > fulfill that exact title which caused arguments and legal > > hand-wringing. > > > > They cobbled together what Jim songs that were left that > > they could use legally. Desmond was brought on board and I > > don't think Meat ever really liked that. Although I'm > > pretty sure he said the "usual stuff" during press > > statements. But he couldn't very well trash the album or > > Desmond at that time or probably risk being sued. > > > > Had the album been a hit I'm sure he'd have felt some > > better about it. Although I'm pretty sure Desmond went way > > over-budget and it was not discovered until too late and > > I'm pretty sure Meat was at least partially blamed by the > > record company for the budget. > > > > The fact that Meat cleaned house on management soon after > > pretty much tells a lot. I don't think Meat felt like > > anything more than most of us do on our jobs some days. > > Caught between the record company, Desmond, managers and > > having to meet commitments. > > > > I usually take what Meat says with a box of salt, > > especially when he gets angry and his real nature comes > > out. But in the case of this album I think he was catching > > hell from all sides and that is a big reason why he > > dislikes it so much now. > > > > I think it all boils down to having to meet commitments > > to numerous people and the pressure that brings which > > hurts creativity. Was it a good album as compared to say > > "Midnight at the Lost and Found"? Certainly so. But it > > just was not a "Bat 3" more of "Welcome to the > > Neighborhood 2" with more stress. > > I believe that Jim's health issues played a major role. I believe that Meat had said something to the affect of open heart surgery and that was a huge issue as it was creating a delay that the record company would not accept. I have to wonder if the record company wanted insurance policies on all principle participants as a way of protecting themselves. If that was the case again maybe Jim could not get adequate coverage due to his health and let the whole thing go | |
| reply | | |
| Previous: | re: Meat Loaf talks Jim Steinman reunion - Rolling Stone - rockfenris2005 06:49 pm UTC 07/29/16 |
| Next: | re: Meat Loaf talks Jim Steinman reunion - Rolling Stone - Loki 09:09 am UTC 07/28/16 |
| Thread: | |