Steve Steinman’s The Meat Loaf Story

I recently went to Steve Steinman’s latest tour of the incredibly popular Meat Loaf Story.

Having witnessed the show for the first time I can now see why he has such a huge following, not only with this show but also with Vampires Rock that he wrote and produced. I have seen many tribute style shows and I wasn’t expecting the humour Steve brings to the stage. Steve has a way of drawing the audience into the show from the very start and doesn’t let you go until the final curtain. It’s plain to see this is one of the many reasons why people keep coming back time and time again to all his shows.

What also struck me was the very talented band and the cast of singers and dancers, they were just incredible as was the stage show, we could have been watching the real Meat Loaf in his heyday.

During the show Steve had some fun when he opened the show wearing a long brown wig imitating the early days of Meat Loafs career, at first, I wasn’t sure about this but soon got into the whole thing singing along with the rest of the audience to paradise by the dash board light. Before first half ended Steve discards the wig and the show seemed to step up a gear when he performed ‘For Crying Out Loud’; one of my favourite songs from Bat Out of Hell. I never thought I would hear this sung live with such passion and feeling, and it was accompanied by Steve’s backing band with pure perfection and a lady sat next to me was sobbing her heart out.

After the intermission the show was at full speed, opening with the number one hit song ‘Anything for Love’, probably one of Meat Loafs Biggest hits. This song then gave way to hearing the amazing vocals of Charlotte Gallagher who took the lead female lead part of the song and she was outstanding, and we were lucky enough to hear Charlotte again when she performed the Jim Steinman song ‘All Coming Back To Me Now’ made famous by Celine Dion.

The climax of the show was ‘Bat Out of Hell’ and by the audience’s reaction as the first chords were struck this is what they had all been waiting for. Immediately the whole of the audience was on their feet clapping and waving their hands with pure pleasure and glee in their faces. Steve and his crew rocked the rafters in the Mansfield Palace Theatre that night and I’m sure they will do the same when they return next year with Vampires Rock, I know I will be there to see it.

A fantastic rocking night, be sure to catch a Steve Steinman show soon, you won’t regret it!

Tim Stevens