When Meatloaf played the Féile
He rocked Semple Stadium in 1990
The death Meatloaf evokes memories of that incredible Féile 90 concert in Semple Stadium, Thurles when he rocked the socks off the hurling mecca and launched the venue as a bona fide and very original music destination and festival in Ireland.
It was as brave as hell – bringing the biggest music acts in the globe to a quiet, rural town in the middle of Tipperary was ambitious, bold and extremely successful as they attempted to clear the £1million debt on Semple Stadium which had arisen following major refurbishments ahead of the hosting of the Centenary All-Ireland final in 1984 between Cork and Offaly.
So, here we were, the home of the GAA, about to become the home of the biggest music festivals in the country, bar none, for half a decade. And, Mr Loaf, as he had introduced himself to the late Gay Byrne when he interviewed him, was the main man. He paved the way for the likes of Brian Adams, Madness, The 4 of Us, the Prodigy, Chris de Burgh, The Stunning, Sinead O'Connor, Van Morrisson, Hothouse Flowers, The Saw Doctors, Christy Hennessy and so many more.
Meatloaf, whose main wing man was Jim Steinman with whom he collaborated on so many massive hits, was on stage for just over an hour in Thurles.....but what an hour it was. It was easy to see why he had sold more than 65 million albums worldwide and to see him on stage in Thurles really ws something. He had emerged from his mid eighties slump to take the nineties by storm and he was really at his rock 'n roll, hell raising and energetic best as he stomped around the stage and illuminated the place with his brilliance.
Amazingly, almost 40 years after his first Bat out of Hell album was released, it still sells almost 200,000 copies per annum and with the re-emerging of vinyl and CD's, and following his passing, it is estimated that Meatloaf will continue to rock the globe for many years to come.
He also featured in over fifty movies including the Rocky Horror Show, Wayne's World, Fight Club and plenty more. But, music and performance was his thing and when he went on stage, he came alive. Those who saw him in Thurles will testify to that and will never forget how incredible it was to have this music legend performing on the hallowed turf of Semple Stadium.
Not everyone approved of the staging of Feile in Thurles, but few could argue against the thrill and the ecstacy generated when artists like Meatloaf did their thing.