Recently I was lucky enough to get myself tickets to the Meat Loaf concert in Christchurch, New Zealand.

This was the first (and last) Meat Loaf concert I’ve been able to attend, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, I have all of Meat’s studio and live performance albums – that gave me some idea at least, but what I and the audience got, you couldn’t capture on an album.

As I was shuffling amongst the masses trying to get to my place in the seating arrangements, Kasim Sultan, one of Meat Loaf’s guitarists, was introduced for some solo songs, as a warm up to the main concert itself.  He wasn’t received very well by the audience.  Being a die hard Meat Loaf fan, I knew who Kasim Sultan was, but I could understand if the audience had no clue who he was.

Kasim announced to the audience that Meat Loaf would be out soon, and that this was the last concert in a year and a half long tour and the other band members had something special lined up for tonight.  Then he proceeded to play some songs from his own solo album.

Midway through one of Kasim’s songs, John Miceli and another band member came on stage dressed up as spooks and prodded Kasim, and each other with pitchforks! Kasim dared them to do it again naked, but they didn't show.

As promised, the rest of the Neverland Express took up their positions behind their instruments, and Meat Loaf strode up onto the stage as the band started a lead in for ‘Life Is A Lemon’.  From the first verse, Meat Loaf delivered all the power and intensity crowds have come to expect from the rock and roll veteran.  In the third verse, Patti Russo (Meat Loaf’s lead female vocals) and a second female band member took up either side of Meat Loaf, singing as an Angel and a Devil respectively resting on his shoulders.

After ‘Life Is A Lemon’, Meat Loaf and the band launched into a rendition of ‘Mercury Blues’.  By this stage it was easy to see, that if this was going to be Meat Loaf’s last concert…he wanted it to be his best!

‘Mercury Blues’ was followed by ‘Testify’, ‘Lawyers, Guns And Money’ and ‘Dead Ringer For Love’ and ‘All Revved Up With No Place To Go’

‘Dead Ringer For Love’ provoked an awesome response from the audience.  The scene for the song is set in a bar, and as the band was leading in, the cameras zoomed in on Meat Loaf sitting at the table, chatting up Patti Russo, then he skulls down a bottle of the local brew, Canterbury Draught (Our beer, made here!).  The entire crowd, from the field to the stands cheered at the top of their lungs.

At this stage, I heard the familiar voice of Jim Steinman and Ellen Foley, leading in for ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth’.  Immediately after “And will he starve without me?” “Yes”, Meat Loaf calls for a time out, and asks everyone in the audience if he was hearing things, or did she just say, “And will he starve without me?”  He then proceeded to address the audience, saying he had been listening to that speech now for over 25 years, and he still had NO idea what the Hell it meant.  He added, “If you think this speech is weird, you should some of the ones that didn’t make the record.  And think about this for a moment if you will, Will he starve without me? Do I look like someone that has been starving?”  After a hearty laugh from the audience, Meat Loaf and the band proceeded to perform ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth’ adding a nice slow classic to the previous loud rock numbers.

Near the end of the song the audience joined in singing the final verses, while Meat Loaf encouraged everyone to sing louder! It worked, at the end of the song Meat Loaf thanked Christchurch, telling us that we were the best audience to sing along with him in the last ten years he had spent touring.

‘Couldn’t Have Said It Better’ – The title song from Meat Loaf’s recent album came before a short breather for the massive singer and the band.

At this point, the band played lead in for Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, and Meat Loaf took the time to introduce and thank each member of the band, Neverland Express, up on stage and the accompanying Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra hidden behind the Neverland Express itself, after which, Meat beautifully sang an Opera verse, showing he has a true multitude of musical ability.

‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad’ was received as well as ‘You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth’, again slowing the mood of the evening.

The next song on the agenda was “Out Of The Frying Pan”.  One would think after performing the number of songs, with the intensity Meat Loaf had so far, that he wouldn’t be able to keep it up for much longer, that was what I heard from a couple standing behind me in the crowd.  They obviously didn’t know Meat Loaf that well.

The man was at his peak!  He was still performing as if this was the opening number.

The final song was “Paradise By The Dashboard Light”, a certified classic.  The on stage theatrics between Meat Loaf and Patti Russo were exemplary.

At this point, Meat Loaf thanked everyone for all their love and support through the years, and gave his blessings and safe wishes, as people started to leave the stadium.  Anyone that did leave, lost out on a wonderful encore performance of “I’d Do Anything For Love” and “Bat Out Of Hell”

The whole concert, from start to finish in my opinion, is worth twice what I paid for admission, and if given the chance I would gladly relive the entire experience over and over again.

To Meat Loaf, thank you from the bottom of my heart for every piece of music you have ever written or performed, your passion for what you do is priceless, and anyone that has been to one of your concerts can agree with me on this.  I can say with pride that I have seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears and still, I am left in awe.