Meat Loaf

Newbury Race Course

Saturday, August 17, 2013

I DON'T understand you English people sometimes. A lot of the time actually.

Take Meat Loaf. No one will admit to even a passing admiration for a man whose Bat Out of Hell album sold 45 million copies. And it still shifts about 200,000 copies annually, apparently, despite being 36 years old.

That album has to be a milestone for most young men growing up, so why the averted eyes when talking about seeing the great man at Newbury Racecourse following the Ladies Day racing? You can't be a man if it didn't.

The show, despite squally rain, was outstanding. Meat vocally may not be able to hold some of those power notes but the guy is 65-years-old. His gigs are a show and as a showman he ticks every box.

Sniffy music critics are probably right - Meat Loaf is all about easy and transparent songs about adolescent sexual tension.

But it just works so well. On every level.

Meat Loaf's initial shock value back in the 1970s was that this overweight, lank haired creature could, through the sheer power of his voice and Jim Steinman's music be a sex god.

And still at 65 he can get away with grappling with a backing singer in her 40s and in a cheerleader outfit during the classic Paradise By The Dashboardlight song about two 17-year-olds in the back of a car and it doesn't look silly at all.

It just works, as evidenced by the thousands of people adopting the boy or girl parts at the song's crescendo - alternately demanding or promising unconditional lifelong love.

Mr Loaf, with his exaggerated slow southern drawl, is almost preacher-like as he whips up the crowd to worship like this rain-sodden stage next to a racecourse is some sort of rock n roll cathedral.

Other highlights were You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth and I'd Do Anything For Love - which includes the hottest line in rock: Would you cater to every fantasy I've got? Would you hose me down with holy water if I get too hot ... hot?

This was supposed to be the farewell tour but I'd suspect that Meat still has a few more versions of Bat Out of Hell to belt out yet.

But if he is bidding farewell (leaving us on a stormy night, to borrow one of his lyrics), then this 1hr and 45m gig was a fitting send-off from a legend - particularly with his thanks "from our hearts to your soul".

Classic.