Recently I happened to catch Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown, where Meat Loaf competed with four other players for charity. When introduced, Meat Loaf ran on to stage with his arms in the air, flailing about like a madman while shouting hysterically at the audience. The studio was cheering so loudly that no one even heard comedian Howie Mandel’s name being introduced. It was even better than I had hoped for.

Just a few weeks earlier, I participated in a teleconference regarding his Hair of the Dog tour, coming to the Whittemore Arena on Monday, Sept. 4.

As part of my research, I hit Google for whatever might turn up. Meat Loaf’s resume is impressive. Those whose imaginations have been bound by “Bat Out of Hell” would be surprised to learn that he’s acted in more than 40 films, recorded and released over a dozen albums, and is currently selling out shows all over Europe and the United States. “Bat Out of Hell,” which was released in 1977 and has gone on to sell 30 million copies, was the result of collaboration between Meat Loaf and songwriter/producer Jim Steinman. The two met in 1971 when Steinman was working as musical arranger for the comedy company National Lampoon. Their collaboration was a recipe for success, given Meat Loaf’s theatrical background and Steinman’s epic-scale compositional style. The result was a bombastic, unconventional, Wagnerian rock-opera drama that broke all the rules. “Bat Out of Hell” is part funk, part blues and part R&B, all twisted and fused together as a form of rock ’n’ roll that was somehow ahead of its time and still stands apart from rock’s archaeological record.

I was a bit nervous while waiting on the phone for the conference to begin, but my nerves settled when Meat’s voice finally came on the line. He sounded tired—perhaps a little jet-lagged from having flown from Las Vegas, where he filmed the episode of Celebrity Poker Showdown the day before, to New York City, where he was now taking the call—but I almost immediately felt like I was talking with a close friend. Even his voice has presence, the type that draws you in to the intricacies of his every word, phrase and articulation.

Early questions were about his most recent release, “Bat Out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra,” a much-anticipated collaboration he says was a long time coming.

“The whole project was something I was very much looking forward to doing. It gave me a chance to perform some classic songs with a new energy that myself, the band, and especially the audience really fed off of. I consider that the ultimate success,” he said.

Will Meat Loaf ever do such a collaboration again? “Only time will tell,” he said. “Since then, a number of people have asked me why I don’t go on tour with an orchestra. If I could I would, though the cost of taking 90-plus musicians on tour would be astronomical.”

Meat Loaf is currently working on a new “Bat” album, titled “Bat Out of Hell: III.” He has once again teamed up with Jim Steinman, and the prospect of another successful album is likely. “‘Bat Out of Hell: III’ has an edgier sound than the earlier Bat albums,” said Meat, “It’s definitely me singing, but it has evolved into something much different. Music has to evolve, and this collaboration with Steinman is evidence of that evolution.” Meat Loaf did, however, refrain from elaborating about the new recording. During the interview, he also claimed on a number of occasions that he didn’t know the answer to a question, and most often blamed it on him “just getting old,” which I found peculiar and perhaps a little disappointing.

At the age of 54, after having suffered countless injuries and having been on the road and around the world for more than half a year, I asked him what continues to motivate him after nearly 30 years as a world renowned entertainer.

“I am motivated by my fans, and I feel I owe it to them to give them the best possible performance I can give, every single night,” he said. He stressed the importance of remaining focused at all times. “A surgeon doesn’t stay out late with his friends getting drunk and knowing he’s got a surgery to perform the next day. He remains focused and concentrated, much like myself.”

The talk turned to musicianship, and he offered some words for aspiring musicians.

“If I can give you any advice at all, it’s that you’ve got to love what you’re doing. If an audience doesn’t like what you’re doing, then you’re not doing your job. I’ve never played a show where an audience wasn’t responding to what I was doing. So many artists blame a lousy show on the audience. But it’s totally the other way around. If you truly love your art, then people will respond no matter what. I often think to myself, ‘These people have paid good money to come here and see me perform. Now it’s my time to give them something back.’”

As I watched Meat Loaf interact with his Celebrity Poker Showdown competition, I was struck by his energetic magnetism.  Meat Loaf gave it his all, every single minute, and that’s what the people want and need. I’ll expect that will be the case when he comes to the Whittemore Center next week.
The Hair of the Dog tour ends in September in Kansas City, Mo, at which point Meat Loaf intends to finish and release “Bat Out of Hell: III.”