That's quite a complex question.
(either that or I really need a beer
).
I think that Meat and the fans have a mutual beneficial relationship.
First of all, we ourselves chose to follow Meat because his music is so good, so if we are spoiled then we have ourselves to thank for our outstanding good taste
Meat is a dedicated singer, who takes his art seriously, but with nobody to listen it becomes a dead circuit.
Music has to be heard to be brought to life.
Meat has sung many many amazing songs which have touched many people in many ways.
We repay that by buying his albums, his singles, his merchandise, and by going to see him live when we get the chance.
A percentage (not nearly enough of a percentage, i'm sure many will agree) ends up in Meat's pocket which, let's face it, allows the artist to be an artist for a living rather than doing a gig in between shifts in McDonalds.
This works rather well for the artist
Not that it's about the money of course.
If you do your art for the money, then you're a monkey (to paraphrase Stephen King there).
You do it because you need to do it, because it's in you to do it, and that you can't imagine what it would be like to not be doing it.
The luckiest people in the world are those who are able to make a living from their hobbies and passions.These professional hobbies are known as "the arts" to try and hide the shameful fact that we are enjoying our work too much.
One thing all profesional artists have in common, from painters to sculpters, to rock stars to us chaps who are lucky enough to get by playing pubs and clubs, we would all continue to do what we do even if we were no longer paid for it.
So on the whole, perhaps we are a little spoiled because we have such a worthy artist to follow, but I think Meat is also lucky to have such a loyal and diverse fanbase.
As for the quantity of material Meat has brought out in the last decade, it's not really that different from the 80's Which saw Dead Ringer, Bad Attitude, and Blind Before I stop all within 6 years.
Followed the next year with Meat Loaf live.
Many artists have a much higher turnout of albums, many have a lower turnout.
Everyone has their own speed of working, and Meat will bring an album out when it's ready.
That's all anyone can do
*looks back over that post, I should have gone with the beer
*