2006年VOA标准英语-Meat Loaf to Release 'Bat Out Of Hell III' on O（在线收听）

By Larry London
Washington, D.C.
28 August 2006
 
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One of the greatest epics in rock music history will open a new chapter on October 31st with the release of Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell III". The winner of a 1994 Grammy for Best Rock Solo Performance and with 24 multi-platinum, platinum, or gold records, Meat Loaf, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, sat down recently with VOA's Larry London to discuss his latest album.

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Meat Loaf is celebrating a music career that spans more than 20 years, from his 1977 album "Bat Out Of Hell" to his upcoming release, "Bat Out of Hell III" But why a third?

"Everybody started talking about 'Bat Three,' 'Bat Three,' 'Bat Three,' " the performer told us, "and the minute people start talking about it, I go, 'Oh yeah, that's a really great idea.' "

How do his international fans feel about it? Duet partner Marion Raven answers that. "Well, Meat Loaf, he is huge in the whole world and he is such a big artist in Norway as well, so, they were very excited about me doing this song."

This new album includes several respected guests like Nikki Six, Todd Rundgren, and John 5.

Meat Loaf   
  
"You know this is the first time we reached out to so many people," said Meat Loaf. "Usually before we have kept it pretty internal.  We did reach out to Melissa Etheridge, for 'Anything for Love' and I think, I know she wanted to do it but the management thought. 'No we don't know,' well, that's the management's mistake. 

"You can not just call something 'Bat Out Of Hell Three.'  You cannot, it cannot be just a marketing tool.  It has to be because yeah, you can get some attention from it because its called 'Bat Out Of Hell Three,' but it does not serve any purpose.  It is a waste of time and a waste of effort … and a waste of my energy and (the) audience's energy so it has to reach levels that other things don't reach."

"This album," he continued, "I actually took less character studies into the songs then I have before and took them all a little more personal."

"I think people feel emotion and that's what you try to achieve if you are an actor, if you are a singer, if you are a writer of novels -- you want to reach an emotional connection with your audience and that's what you strive to do.  That is what you need to do.  That is what you have to do. If you don't do that, that is when you fail."

It has been a long road for Meat Loaf since 1977, and his latest project features a new version of one of his biggest hits, a duet with Marion Ravens. 

"She is a really great singer.  She is perfect for the song because she is a real personality."

Will there be a bat out of Hell Four?

"You have got to figure out the gaps between them and figure out how old I will be when the next one, if we were to try to do another one.  I do not think doing 'Bat Out Of Hell Four' with a walker will work." (laughs)