Bat out of hell flies into Whitley Bay of hell flies into Whitley Bay
MEAT LOAF IN CONCERT 25 YEARS AGO
YOU probably haven’t heard of Michael Lee Aday - but you’ll almost certainly be familiar with his alter ego, Meat Loaf.
The Texas-born rock superstore is best known for his Bat Out Of Hell album trilogy which has racked up more than 50 million sales.
The first record especially, released in 1977 and written by partner Jim Steinman, yielded a string of classic cuts, notably Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, You Took The Words Right Out Of My Month, and the title track.
Later, in 1993, Meat Loaf would score a major worldwide hit single with I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), featuring the soaring vocals of Whitley Bay singer Lorraine Crosby.
In December of that year - on this day 25 years ago, in fact - the larger-than-life star rocked out at Whitley Bay Ice Rink, the region’s largest indoor venue until the opening of Newcastle Arena two years later.
It would be a memorable night for the 4,500-strong audience - and for singer Lorraine Crosby.
If Lorraine had provided a powerful vocal part for the duet, I’d Do Anything for Love, she hadn’t appeared in the official music video, and her performance had been mimed by an actress.
But, on this night in 1993, the singer who plied her trade in the North East clubs would appear alongside the American superstar.
The Chronicle reported on its front page: “Her performance was short - but Tyneside lass Lorraine Crosby
proved a knockout hit with her capacity hometown audience.
“The powerful vocalist joined Meat Loaf on stage at Whitley Bay Ice Rink for the opening song and number one hit I Would Do Anything For Love, and stayed for the start of You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth.”
For Lorraine, it was the biggest night of her career. Afterwards, she told our reviewer: “I was an absolute bag of nerves. We only had a 20-minute rehearsal. But Meat Loaf was magnificent. It was a tremendous feeling walking out on that stage.”
The show itself went down a storm. Our reviewer enthused: “All the favourites were there, including Bat Out Of Hell, All Revved Up, Dead Ringer For Love, and the highlight of the night Paradise By The Dashboard Light, which saw him taking part in raunchy dance routines with backing singers.”
Meat Loaf has played many times in our region over the last three or four decades, but not all of his shows ran as smoothly as the 1993 Whitley Bay outing.
In 1985 the singer collapsed on stage at Newcastle City Hall, and was taken by ambulance to the city’s RVI, suffering from food poisoning and dehydration.
Then in 2007 a show at Newcastle Arena was cut short when Meat Loaf’s voice broke up. Three years later, he told the Chronicle: “I went out and it started OK but after the first couple of songs it fell apart.”
Future visits to Newcastle would thankfully be less troublesome.
Today, one of the bestselling rock acts of all time, Meat Loaf is still active at 71. His last album Braver Than We Are was released in 2016.
Lorraine Crosby has since worked with the likes of Bonnie Tyler, while the Chronicle reported last month how her new ultimate diva tribute, Ready Steady Girls, has been wowing audiences in Corfu, on the high seas with Celebrity Cruises, and on her home turf in North East venues.