Another afternoon deliriously unemployed, the t.v. is set to VH1 with the sound off when I glance over at it. Oh, rapture, Meatloaf: To Hell and Back is on! All of the drama in this bio-pic centers around Meat's relationship with genius songwriter Jim Steinman who wrote all of the paint-peelers on the bazillion-seller Bat Out of Hell and it's follow-up Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell.
Alright, so what if the guy who portrayed Steinman circa '93 was made up to look like Bob from Twin Peaks and is currently playing the part of Mick Ronson in a Bowie cover band called Space Oddity?
It's all about Steinman, who embraces his reputation as "The Lord of Excess". Looking back, I think he has served as a bigger role model for Goths than Robert Smith and Peter Murphy combined. All of the sinister grandeur, all of the dark majesty! I mean "Bat Out of Hell", heelllooo? What about that Bonnie Tyler video for Total Eclipse of The Heart, a Steinman number, where all those English schoolboys had their eyes whited out? Can you pale bloodless gals say "Emily Bronte"? Steinman can, consider the recently aired MTV musical version of Wuthering Heights.
What's that Unholy Trinity on the left? Turn around, bright eyes, it's Steinman flanking Manson-haunted director Roman Polanski with Bonnie Tyler. Clearly, she was holding out for two dark heroes! They are celebrating another defining Goth moment in all their careers at the opening night of the Steinman-penned international cult musical hit, Tanz der Vampire . Steinman, like the ominous forces that control our fate, remains triumphant! Here's a teutonic version of Paradise by the Dashboard Light (mp3-cuts off at end!)
Ah, don't forget Steinman's collaborations with the Sisters of Mercy on "This Corrosion" and another song or two. :)
Posted by: Kev | March 08, 2005 at 10:43 AM
A year since the post this is commenting to, but it is relevant.
Introducing heretofore unknown facts about Jim Steinman, and proving them too.
This website, http://lilysincere.infopace.net
Called: Rocky Horror: Lily Sincere, Stripping Illusion
and subtitled: Analyzing Rocky Horror: Who Wrote It?
Why does this have to do with Jim Steinman? It is all about him.
The answer is: he did.
The website explains and shows all that is needed to know about this long hidden detail, but I am not surprised. When Bat Out Of Hell first came out, I assumed that it was a follow-up to Rocky Horror. Too bad, that two different names were used in writing between the Rocky Horror story and the songs for Meatloaf back then. And what ensued was a terrible confusion when someone who looks like Jim, stepped up to the plate, as if he wrote it! So, it is interesting and surprising reading, considering the twists that had to get past to bring it out.
A Google Discussion Group is connected with the site also.
None of the fans yet think of Jim Steinman as Richard O'Brien, but it is true that in the legitimate claim of the credit, the two names are one and the same man. The other guy is Richard Smith who took on the name Richard O'Brien. It is amazing to see how much he resembles the character Riff Raff and the youthful Jim. Also on the site, a rare (two exist of this one in the world) photo from Jim's childhood.
Posted by: Lily Sincere | March 08, 2006 at 04:52 AM
http://s1.bitefight.fr/c.php?uid=18530 it s prety good
Posted by: alucard | March 27, 2006 at 03:53 AM