Ladies and gentlemen, I present, for your Tuesday morning pleasure, my Meat Loaf joke which, if I remember rightly, has only ever appeared once before in the CMU Daily. Here we go. Why don't many people ever see Jim Steinman, the man behind Meat Loaf? Because it's hard to see anyone standing behind Meat Loaf. I thank you, I'm here all week. (OK, Caro would like it to be stressed that this joke is not only unfunny, it is also inaccurate given that it is now a very trim looking Meat Loaf who takes to the stage. So, if you can pretend you are reading this edition of the Daily in 1986 just for the purposes of the gag, that would be much appreciated).
But anyway, I'm guessing Meat Loaf wouldn't appreciate me suggesting that Steinman was that important in his musical legacy this morning, given that he is in the process of suing his former songwriting partner over the rights to the name 'Bat Out Of Hell'.
Steinman, of course, wrote much of both the original 1977 'Bat Out Of Hell' album, and the 1993 follow up 'Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell' - and indeed the original album was conceived by Steinman who brought Meat Loaf in to front the project (in fact, rock legend has it, Steinman only brought in Meat Loaf when a throat infection meant he couldn't do the vocals himself). With all that in mind, in 1995 Steinman successfully trademarked 'Bat Out Of Hell'
That trademark was not an initially a problem for Meat Loaf who still enjoyed a stronger public association with the albums. However, Steinman's trademark became an issue as it became clear Meat Loaf intended to release a third 'Bat Out Of Hell' album without his former songwriting partner's involvement. Steinman's trademark is now getting in the way of that album release, and Meat Loaf's lawyers hope to have it overturned on the basis that it is their client, and not Steinman, who had the strongest claim to the 'brand' from the outset. Confirming the lawsuit, filed at the LA Federal Court yesterday, Meat Loaf's attorney, Skip Miller, told reporters: "The law protects the user of the mark and here there is only one user: Meat Loaf. We were forced to file suit to uphold these rights."
However, Steinman has reacted angrily to Meat Loaf's claims to the trademark, telling CNN: "This is ridiculous. The trademark in America is one I own. [Meat Loaf is] doing the [new] 'Bat Out Of Hell' without me and marketing it illegally. To me, it's like Frances Coppola being fired before Godfather III and being replaced by some hack".
Steinman also claims to have offered Meat Loaf a deal that would allow him to use the trademark on the new album in return for an undisclosed sum, but he says that Meat Loaf's people have knocked that offer back. Steinman: "I'd be willing, if he wanted, to let him use it for the record, even though I think it is insulting to the audience. But he's turned down the settlement every time."
Presumably those comments mean Steinman intends to fight Meat Loaf's lawsuit. A schedule for that court case is still to be confirmed.
By the way, does any one else own a copy of Steinman's own album 'Bad For Good'? You should all get a copy - 'Dance In My Pants' remains one of my favourite songs ever.