NZ visit among Meat Loaf's mishaps

PETER MEECHAM

DISHING UP A TREAT: Meat Loaf has been in Auckland to promote his new album.

Meatloaf talks to stuff.co.nz

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When American rock legend Meat Loaf thinks of New Zealand, he winces with pain.

Not that he doesn't like our little slice of heaven, he says, but while on stage during a tour to New Zealand in 2004, he impulsively attempted a flip in front of the audience, which had agonising results.

"I was introducing the band and Patti Ruso came out and did a cartwheel. I am really competitive and so not to be outdone, I decided to do a flip – it went wrong and I broke my collarbone."

Although he managed to complete his show, Meat Loaf, otherwise known as Michael Aday, said he suffered from the injury for two years.

The 62-year-old was flying back to Los Angeles today after a whirlwind visit to New Zealand promoting his latest album Hang Cool Teddy Bear, which is due to be released at the end of April.

The album is the Dallas-born singer's 11th album in a career that spans four decades. His most successful album, Bat Out of Hell, has sold more than 40 million copies.

He admits he has had many other "mishaps", including rolling in a car nine times, being hit on the head by a flying shot put at high school and collapsing on stage due to the heart condition Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

In 1996 his private jet's landing gear malfunctioned near Stansted Airport in England, leaving the crew panic-stricken.

"You know you're in trouble when the pilot's got the manual out. Everyone was afraid we were going to die, I was the only one who was calm.

"The only thing that went through my mind was it's going to hurt, and I may break my leg."

Meat Loaf said his new album was unconventional. "It's a short story about a soldier who is dying, his life flashes forward into scenarios of what can happen in his life. The songs tie together and speak to each other."

Hang Cool Teddy Bear was produced by Rob Cavallo and included contributions from Jack Black, Brian May, Justin Hawkins and Steve Vai.

"It's 100 per cent Meat Loaf with help from a lot of my friends who allowed me to be me."

- © Fairfax NZ News