Like A Batman Out Of Hell
October 12, 2011 5:55 PM   Subscribe

Batman: The Musical was going to be written by Meat Loaf songwriter Jim Steinman and premiere in 2001. It was never finished, but demos and lyrics to many of the songs survive, as well as MP3s on Steinman's blog. Several of the songs such as Seize The Knight, In The Land of The Pig The Butcher Is King and Cry To Heaven were officially recorded and released by Meat Loaf.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn (36 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
I finally made this post in honor of seeing the great man himself last night. During Bat Out Of Hell he played in front of a giant inflatable man-bat.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:56 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


I've had a Batman ballad on the shelf for a couple of years now that I keep not recording because it's just so overtly dramatic and emo and such. So I thank Mssrs. Steinman and Loaf for shifting the balance like this.
posted by cortex at 6:14 PM on October 12, 2011


I've had a Batman ballad on the shelf for a couple of years now that I keep not recording because it's just so overtly dramatic and emo and such. So I thank Mssrs. Steinman and Loaf for shifting the balance like this.

It's impossible for music to be too dramatic and emo, and anyone who said that is a liar.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:15 PM on October 12, 2011


During Bat Out Of Hell he played in front of a giant inflatable man-bat.

As seems only fitting.
posted by Trurl at 6:34 PM on October 12, 2011


How about Adam West era Batman: the musical
posted by Chekhovian at 6:40 PM on October 12, 2011


I finally made this post in honor of seeing the great man himself last night. During Bat Out Of Hell he played in front of a giant inflatable man-bat.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:56 PM on October 12


So you mean the musical could have had not only Bruce Wayne singing but also Dr. Kirk Langstrom? I can't imagine how they'd ever manage to depict that transformation on stage.
posted by sardonyx at 6:41 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Nah I'm pretty sure it was just meant to be the image from the Bat Out of Hell covers, but it looked similar. Though Man-Bat was probably based on that image.

I wish he'd make the musical, though. Strange how talented Steinman is but none of his musicals have been finished and they all end up recycled (Bat Out Of Hell was originally a musical too).
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:46 PM on October 12, 2011


I finally made this post in honor of seeing the great man himself last night.

Meatloaf? Or Jim Steinman?

I started constructing an epic Jim Steinman post (there can be no other kind, really) and now I am not sure whether I should post it or put the links in here.

It's out of hand.
posted by louche mustachio at 6:49 PM on October 12, 2011 [3 favorites]


Meat Loaf

I started constructing an epic Jim Steinman post (there can be no other kind, really) and now I am not sure whether I should post it or put the links in here.

Post it. Please. We've had this thread, we've had a bunch of Streets of Fire threads. We need one on Jim himself.

Last night, near the end of the show (before Paradise By the Dashboard Light) Meat said something like: "When I die, my tombstone will read 'friend of Jim Steinman. And when Jim dies, his tombstone will read 'friend of Meat Loaf'" and he went on to talk about him as his brother.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:53 PM on October 12, 2011 [3 favorites]


I had to check the dates for Bat out of Hell, but it appears that came out in 1977. Man-Bat was created in 1970, so I'm guessing any influence went in the other direction. (Actually I had to check the Man-Bat date too. I was guessing late 60s for his origin, just based on my own recollections and collections.)
posted by sardonyx at 6:54 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Nth-ing the request for a Steinman FPP.

My own attempt at one foundered for a lack of links worthy of the subject.
posted by Trurl at 7:17 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


I've got the links. SO MANY LINKS. I just have to find a few more things and structure them somewhat coherently.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:26 PM on October 12, 2011


Batman would make for a good opera.
posted by The Whelk at 8:04 PM on October 12, 2011


(YOU KNOW CAUSE IT WAS ONE ONCE)
posted by The Whelk at 8:04 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


I've got the links. SO MANY LINKS. I just have to find a few more things and structure them somewhat coherently.

Part I. Paradise
Part II. Let Me Sleep on It
Part III. Praying for the End of Time
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:07 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Am I the only poor slob who thought Meatloaf was Jim Steinman? (In high school--Sheesh! I am a lot more "with it" now!)
posted by thebrokedown at 8:27 PM on October 12, 2011


This is totally crying out for a reprise of "Holding Out For A Hero". "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" would have to be used in the fight scene against Superman from Dark Knight Returns, and the soundtrack could be called "Faster Than The Speed Of (Dark) Knight".
posted by sourwookie at 8:43 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


*comes up for air*

He has reprised "Total Eclipse" in .. another musical...

*dives back into a deep and boundless sea of Steinman*
posted by louche mustachio at 8:53 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Alternatively, the Batman Beyond version: "A superstitious, cowardly lot"
posted by zhwj at 10:16 PM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]


Batman will need to take on The Music Meister
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 10:19 PM on October 12, 2011


oh man last night he replaced the baseball commentary on Paradise with Alice in Wonderland costumes and rave music, including The Mad Hatter... so clearly he'll be in it too
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 10:22 PM on October 12, 2011


A genuine question, LiB - was he actually any good last night, or was it 99% old memories and anticipation? Every TV performance I've seen in the last 20 years, he's sucked the balls of every donkey in a 99-mile radius. And a friend who's been a rabid fan since childhood (for slightly odd reasons I won't go into here…) won't even bother going to see him anymore - he prefers to catch the occasional impersonator / tribute artist (especially one who's another old mate of mine) as they tour the RSLs.

If it turns out he's picked up his act & isn't just half-arsed phoning it in while totally out of it, I'll let them both know…
posted by Pinback at 1:35 AM on October 13, 2011


"break the chains of imagination"?
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 2:36 AM on October 13, 2011


A genuine question, LiB - was he actually any good last night, or was it 99% old memories and anticipation?

Isn't LiB, like, 20 years old? I doubt it was old memories...
posted by hippybear at 3:40 AM on October 13, 2011


Meat said something like: "When I die, my tombstone will read 'friend of Jim Steinman. And when Jim dies, his tombstone will read 'friend of Meat Loaf'"

That's no way to pick your friends.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:14 AM on October 13, 2011


This makes the argument that Meat Loaf was much, much smarter than Bono about something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:17 AM on October 13, 2011




A genuine question, LiB - was he actually any good last night, or was it 99% old memories and anticipation?

Isn't LiB, like, 20 years old? I doubt it was old memories...


Bat Out of Hell was the first rock album I listened to, so yeah lots of memories and anticipation.

I can't be objective. I see about 3 gigs a week, I'm technically a music reviewer, but I get overwhelmed by seeing these people live. I thought he was entertaining. His band was great, and even his new stuff sounded good.

and since it literally just came in, here are the photos from the show our photographer took
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:36 PM on October 13, 2011


Meat said something like: "When I die, my tombstone will read 'friend of Jim Steinman. And when Jim dies, his tombstone will read 'friend of Meat Loaf'"

That's no way to pick your friends.


The hell, octobersurprise. It show'nuff is.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:40 PM on October 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


"Isn't LiB, like, 20 years old? I doubt it was old memories..."

Perhaps I should have said "archival", or "inherited", or something.

But I was just talking to a couple of people who went to the concert here last week. The consensus was "he tried, but sucked". They all thought Thirsty Merc were great.

(At least he tried, I guess. Last time I saw The Saints they didn't even do that. I've never been to a gig where the band was more obviously disinterested in being there. Not that you would've known from the newspaper reviews, which raved about how fantastic it was to once again hear songs they didn't even play.

I know that's music journalism all over, but I expected something more even from the News Ltd rag…)

posted by Pinback at 3:48 PM on October 13, 2011


But I was just talking to a couple of people who went to the concert here last week. The consensus was "he tried, but sucked". They all thought Thirsty Merc were great.

I skipped Thirsty Merc because for once I WASN'T reviewing and I didn't have to sit through the crappy support.



(At least he tried, I guess. Last time I saw The Saints they didn't even do that. I've never been to a gig where the band was more obviously disinterested in being there. Not that you would've known from the newspaper reviews, which raved about how fantastic it was to once again hear songs they didn't even play.


You should hear me sing Stranded. I've got kicked out of three punk rock karaoke nights for caring too much. And being out of tune.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:50 PM on October 13, 2011


for once I WASN'T reviewing and I didn't have to sit through the crappy support

Two of the best bands I've discovered in the past 5 years have been "crappy support". Don't knock 'em until you've heard 'em.
posted by hippybear at 4:41 PM on October 13, 2011



for once I WASN'T reviewing and I didn't have to sit through the crappy support

Two of the best bands I've discovered in the past 5 years have been "crappy support". Don't knock 'em until you've heard 'em.


Er, I'm a massive gig pig. I've also discovered a zillion bands because they were the support act. I'm friends with the guys in both the go-to hair metal support acts. Thirsty Merc are too MOR even for me... no way they would have been good.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:10 PM on October 13, 2011


The hell, octobersurprise. It show'nuff is.

"That's no way to pick your friends!"
posted by octobersurprise at 5:31 PM on October 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


"Thirsty Merc are too MOR even for me..."

Once again I'm forced to find myself in agreement with your musical tastes - but wryly amused that, having gone to a Meat Loaf concert for the express purpose of seeing Meat Loaf, you dismiss the support as being "too middle of the road". For christssake, the man had just sung at one of the biggest middle-of-the-road bogan-fests in the country!

Unless you went ironically.
posted by Pinback at 2:16 AM on October 14, 2011


I don't do anything ironically. When you see me at a Chisel or Choirboys show it will be because I love the music.
Meat Loaf has passion and grandeur that makes him un MOR.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:53 AM on October 14, 2011


Or to say it in my usual tongue:

C9 is for the making eyes and it's Paradise by the Dashboard Light

And Ellen Foley gave us hope
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:07 AM on October 14, 2011


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