Meat Loaf has been through a lot in his time – injury, drug addiction, attempted suicide, crooked manager, lawsuits, disease, bankruptcy – but in the end it looks as if it's Newcastle that's done Meat Loaf in.
It's been reported that Meat Loaf has quit music forever, and this is something he apparently decided mid-show in Newcastle on Wednesday night. Mid-song, in fact – as the opening bars to Paradise By The Dashboard Light kicked in, Meat Loaf suddenly decided that he couldn't be bothered to sing for a living any more and trudged offstage. Sure, Meat Loaf's apparent breakdown might sound a little worrying, but if he really has quit music then maybe he can start to concentrate on acting again – and who doesn't want to see more films about man-titted Meat Loaf punching people in a cellar?
Everyone, if they're honest, has asked themselves "why am I doing this?" at one point or another, whether it's about work, a relationship or three seconds after you've just paid for cinema tickets to see Rendition. But Meat Loaf is a larger than life chap, so when he questions his future, he is sure to do it in front of 11,000 confused Geordies who just want to hear Meat Loaf belt out Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are or any other of his identikit blustery songs without spazzing out in the middle bit.
Sadly, though, Meat Loaf couldn't meet those obligations on Wednesday night. Perhaps it was the breathtaking natural beauty of local attraction Jesmond Dene, or the knowledge that he was just a short distance away from the UK's first biotechnology village, or just the fact he was singing ridiculously overblown power-ballad after ridiculously overblown power-ballad to 11,000 powerfully drunk northerners and their nearly-nude Spuggie-alike girlfriends – but something caused Meat Loaf to lose control of his senses.
According to witnesses, Meat Loaf, who had been struggling to hit notes and launching into rambling emotional, if irrelevant, stories between songs, suddenly told the crowd that he would never perform another concert in his life during the opening bars of Paradise By The Dashboard Lights, and then walked offstage into the arms of some St John's Ambulance workers. Or, as Meat Loaf audience member Phil Cammish told The Times:
“[Meat Loaf] started saying ‘This is my last ever gig, this is my last ever song. Thanks for 30 years, I can’t do this anymore’… I saw a man dressed up as Meat Loaf weeping on the steps. Everyone during the gig was commenting that they thought he was plastered. He kept having emotional talks during the gig and telling stories about his children and slurring his words. He was saying things that had nothing to do with the gig. His backing singers had to carry him through most of the songs. He couldn’t finish some of his hits.”
But is this really the end of Meat Loaf's musical career? At the moment nobody knows – Meat Loaf is scheduled to perform at the NEC Arena tonight, but there's still no word about whether the show is still going ahead. Although if Newcastle was too depressing for Meat Loaf we wouldn't hold much hope of seeing him turn up in Birmingham any time soon.
But let's look on the bright side of things here. Although we hope that Meat Loaf is OK, it's heartening to see that a career of frightening egotism, disproportionately bombastic soft-rock anthems and adoration from denim-wearing older ladies with giant permed hair and a fondness for professional wrestling will only end in an embarrassing onstage breakdown.
Because, you know, we've got Rhydian from X Factor earmarked for one of these babies before the year is out.
Caryl Burton says
Meat Loaf’s vocal chords froze and gave up on him, so he had to close the show early. He is hoping to rcover soon because he wants to get back and dekiver the shows for his fans. Paul Cammish has a very warped perspective of the show. Meat did NOT tell rambling stories about his children .. he told one amusing one about his daughter who performed the opening set, and used that to lead to a quote from his first album, which if Mr Cammish was a fan he might have spotted. It’s called humour!! Meat did NOT stagger about like he was intoxicated, and although the press (embittered because they could not be admitted to take photos for H&S reasons) only reported negative comments, I was there and heard quotes from audience members like “The man sang his heart out .. you can’t fault him .. he put on a tremendous show for an hour!” And after the announcement that he was ill, there was a standing ovation and cheers from the audience.
Meat said it was “his last show” because when his voice gave up that’s how he felt. It was said from the depths of despair by a man who always says “The show must go on” and “I never give up”
It is however true that many of the audience were very drunk, and most of the complaints seemed to be coming from them immediately afterwards.
Finally, to suggest this talented man who lives more modestly than any rock star you’d be likely to meet has had “a career of frightening egotism” is so ridiculous it’s almost amusing rather than insulting. His modesty, his dedication to his performances, and the concern for and interest he shows in his fans is simply a hallmark of this remarkable man who stated quite simply when he was forced to reschedule his show in Birmingham because he is still suffering from severe laryngitis:
“Performing for my fans is the most important thing in the world to me. Over the years, I’ve gone on stage with a broken foot and an arrhythmic heart. It was devastating having to come off stage in Newcastle but over time, I’ve reluctantly learned that I have to abide by what the doctors tell me to do.”
He won’t expect the press to cut him some slack, but then he dosn’t need that. What he should be able to expect is some honest and responsible reporting. He’s earned that through 30 years of excellence and dedication to delivering his unique brand of rock and roll par excellence. And if you doubt that .. just ask how long it took for tickets to sell out at the Royal Albert Hall and in New York this year .. 15 minutes!!
Viv says
I was at that Newcastle gig, I still don’t know what to make of the Performance as it was the first time my friend and I had seen him live though we had both been fans for 25-30 years. We had been looking forward so very much to finally be able to see him live, we joked about being unable to contain our excitement as we sat in our seats moments before he came onstage. I remember we looked at each other confused on several occasions no understanding what was wrong and we knew something MUST have been up,
I think to call him childish names is pointless and just sounds like a personal opinion if you ask me. Yes, the show was of a poor standard, and IF he was ill and not drunk then he doesn’t deserve name calling.
I DO however think that this charity gig he intends on doing should include free replacement tickets to those who were so bitterly disappointed and upset about what happened at Newcastle, Most of us will still be able to prove we had tickets to that gig on our bank statements, confirmation emails from the tickets providers or even the physical tickets I think I have kept mine still., they were not cheap tickets after all and it’s not just the price of the tickets that needs making up, I think Meatloaf needs to give back to those fans so that they can believe in him again so their reason to be his fans is restored to full.
Please refrain from posting your own abusive opinions that really are not very articulate or worth hearing.