More than 20 years - How it all began... and why it is ending now

Sarge · 08 Jul 2010, 19:52

I'm writing this being aware of that this post is in danger of being moved or deleted. I hope the admins / mods will allow me to express my thoughts in this area of the forum.

It is hard to say this but I have decided to take a break from Meat Loaf and the MLUKFC. Maybe this is even going to be my last day as a Meat Loaf fan, after more than 20 years...

I think most of you know why I've made this decision so I will not explain my motivation in detail as I do not intend to start an argument.

I have the feeling as if something in me has died today. Something that had been struggling to survive for some time but finally had to surrender.

This is a description of what being a fan has meant to me over the years:

Imagine the 1980s, a weird little country, a teenage girl sitting in front of a crappy black & white TV. Suddenly a chubby, sweaty, long-haired guy in a frilly shirt and with an incredible voice shows up on the screen and sings an absolutely stunning song. From that moment on the girl knew that she wanted a Meat Loaf record. Too bad, she lived in that weird little country where it was hard to get cool music. Years later the weird little country became part of a larger, equally weird country. But now there were record stores! The girl hadn't forgotten how much she was impressed by the fat man with the great voice.

Needless to say, that girl was me. I became a vinyl junkie and was happy whenever I managed to find another rare Meat Loaf item. Damn, that WTTN artwork just looks gorgeous in large format! Meat Loaf records - I believe I've never collected something else that eagerly.

I discovered the music of a crazy genius named Jim Steinman via Meat and I began to think that naked musclemen on motorbikes and giant bats were pretty cool. (Hey, I was a teenager!)

I have been to many rock concerts over the years but my first Meat Loaf show was the best of them all. Neither the Stones, Macca, Bruce, Neil Young, Ray Charles, etc. have ever impressed and moved me as much as Meat did on that that night. When attending further concerts, I was always surprised by how much effort he put into the performances.
You can see several shows in a row and they are all different. You never get the feeling as if it is the same routine every night. Paradise, for example - one of his oldest songs, it has been performed live countless times over three decades, yet he always comes up with new ideas to make it sound fresh and make the audience laugh. You never have the feeling as if he's gotten tired of it. That is real art, in my opinion.

I later discovered that he also was a very talented actor. Fight Club is one of the best movies ever made and I absolutely dig his performance in Pelts. I have seen almost all of his movies so far. I've even watched a few pretty bad movies just because Meat appeared in them. He has saved some of them from being boring and made them watchable, even if he had just a minor role. For a movie maniac like me it is especially embarassing to admit that I even bought the Bloodrayne DVD.

*looking for a place to hide the thing

*

Seeing him on TV shows usually puts a big fat smile in my face because because of his wit.

Okay, there have been songs that aren't my cup of tea, there have been shows at which he was in bad shape... and there was Uwe Boll

- it didn't bother me much. You can't please all the people all the time.

I did not defect in 2007 when even long-time die-hard fans tried to convince me that Meat was past his prime, that he had allegedly lost his voice and that it wouldn't make sense to spend money on concert tickets anymore. I just thought that that was not right. I couldn't turn my back on one of my favorite artists just because he was struggling with problems at that time. When I heard about what had happened in Newcastle, I was very sad and thought that he did not deserve to end his career like that - but somehow I could not believe that he would give up. Less than a year later he returned with some fantastic concerts. That's what I have always admired about him: His ability to overcome obstacles. He gets knocked down - he gets up again. I remember how much I enjoyed the Case De Carne shows, they were wonderful.

I really love HCTB (with a few exceptions, as you know

) and until yesterday I desperately longed for hearing those songs live. I was very happy about the positive concert reviews and almost jealous of the people who have tickets for the U.S. tour.

At the moment I don't know if I will ever go to a Meat Loaf concert again. It's breaking my heart but there are circumstances I am no longer willing to cope with and that spoil something that used to be good.

Meat, in case you're reading this, I'd like to thank you for everything I've mentioned above. You are truly an awesome entertainer, there has been a lot of fun, I've met many great people and made some really good friends because of you. I'm grateful for that. I love you, man, but you're making it really damn tough for me. I wish you all the best for the tour and I hope it will be a huge success.

This is in fact a nice forum and I've enjoyed being a part of it. I think I will miss Pud's sarcasm, Wario's crazy spelling, absurd polls and nutty videos (just watch out that the cat doesn't take revenge one fine day, LOL), RadioMaster's comments on horror movies, duke knooby, mzsee, AndrewG's knowledge about music, Evil One's analysis of certain recordings, Julie's Bruce-related posts, the enthusiasm of the ladies...

Will I return? I don't know. The Sarge has to leave the battlefield for a while to give the scars a chance to heal.

"Goodbye my friends, it was good to know you, I hope you understand..."

*off to the pub for a Guinness*

**allrevvedup** · 08 Jul 2010, 19:57

Good luck Sarge...whatever you decide just make sure that it's the right one for you.

**Monstro** · 08 Jul 2010, 20:02

Good luck Sarge, really hope we'll see you back here!!!!

And one last smile????????

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

it is especially embarassing to admit that I even bought the Bloodrayne DVD.

I bought the shirt he wore in it, shhhhhhhhhh lol

Sarge · 08 Jul 2010, 20:03

Well, the shirt was nice, and I think he was lucky to have the scene with the girls.

Devil's Son · 08 Jul 2010, 20:08

well first of all: i understand you and we'll keep in touch no matter what. and to quote you: "I love you, man, but you're making it really damn tough for me"
this is one reason why i'm not often here and gave my account away another one is no one tels me what i like or not. no i'm not interested in discussion or argument.
let me say this: i tried to come back but once you're on the road there is no way back. this is what i learned.
meet you further up on the road, sarge

**The Flying Mouse** · 08 Jul 2010, 21:07

Sorry to see you go, but hope you feel a little better after taking some time out and rejoin the community.

Wario · 08 Jul 2010, 21:13

good luck sarge. your sentements teared me up. Rest assured Ill do everything in my power to keep my damn cat in line

hope you come back soon. You are a good foil.

Julie in the rv mirror · 08 Jul 2010, 21:40

I'm sorry to see you go.

Take care, maybe we'll see you soon.

Bubbles · 08 Jul 2010, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

Sorry to see you go, but hope you feel a little better after taking some time out and rejoin the community.

what he said :)

Sarge · 08 Jul 2010, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devil's Son

we'll keep in touch no matter what [...]
let me say this: i tried to come back but once you're on the road there is no way back. this is what i learned.
meet you further up on the road, sarge

Thank you my friend, I know what I owe to you.

Further up on the road, indeed. Check the first lines of the chorus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZQwj5EMj0

@ Mouse, Bubbles: Thanks, folks. Mabey the Guinness will help.

@ Wario: Keep up the work on YT

and give my regards to the cat.

@ Julie: Maybe we'll meet again somewhere else, maybe I'll come back to this place. Let's wait and see.

Sarge · 08 Jul 2010, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

Mabey

Damn, blame that on Wario.

Evil One · 08 Jul 2010, 22:21

You'll be back, once your spelling improves!

Pudding · 08 Jul 2010, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

I think I will miss Pud's sarcasm,

Since when have I ever been sarcastic

Good luck mate, it's sad to see you go.

roomster · 08 Jul 2010, 22:57

I'm sorry to see you leave Sarge

I hope you'll come back sometime in the future.

AndrewG · 08 Jul 2010, 23:11

Sorry to see you go Sarge. Always thought your posts were really interesting to read and extremely well balanced. Definitely one of the best additions to the community in the last few years. Hope you will come back. I took a very short break but decided to come back as there is so much more to the board than a few misses and the occasional disappointment, mostly it is about good friends and a good laugh. Where would be without all these crazy people?!

I totally agree with you about the Casa shows. There was a renewed energy which was great to see. As I've said on many occasions, it was one of the best summer's ever. For me any more was not really necessary but then too much is never enough I guess.

madagascar · 09 Jul 2010, 14:05

Sarge will find her way back the same as AndrewG, I bet.

Evil One · 09 Jul 2010, 14:06

Although perhaps not as quickly!

loaferman61 · 10 Jul 2010, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

I'm writing this being aware of that this post is in danger of being moved or deleted. I hope the admins / mods will allow me to express my thoughts in this area of the forum.

It is hard to say this but I have decided to take a break from Meat Loaf and the MLUKFC. Maybe this is even going to be my last day as a Meat Loaf fan, after more than 20 years...

I think most of you know why I've made this decision so I will not explain my motivation in detail as I do not intend to start an argument.

I have the feeling as if something in me has died today. Something that had been struggling to survive for some time but finally had to surrender.

This is a description of what being a fan has meant to me over the years:

Imagine the 1980s, a weird little country, a teenage girl sitting in front of a crappy black & white TV. Suddenly a chubby, sweaty, long-haired guy in a frilly shirt and with an incredible voice shows up on the screen and sings an absolutely stunning song. From that moment on the girl knew that she wanted a Meat Loaf record. Too bad, she lived in that weird little country where it was hard to get cool music. Years later the weird little country became part of a larger, equally weird country. But now there were record stores! The girl hadn't forgotten how much she was impressed by the fat man with the great voice.

Needless to say, that girl was me. I became a vinyl junkie and was happy whenever I managed to find another rare Meat Loaf item. Damn, that WTTN artwork just looks gorgeous in large format! Meat Loaf records - I believe I've never collected something else that eagerly.

I discovered the music of a crazy genius named Jim Steinman via Meat and I began to think that naked musclemen on motorbikes and giant bats were pretty cool. (Hey, I was a teenager!)

I have been to many rock concerts over the years but my first Meat Loaf show was the best of them all. Neither the Stones, Macca, Bruce, Neil Young, Ray Charles, etc. have ever impressed and moved me as much as Meat did on that that night. When attending further concerts, I was always surprised by how much effort he put into the performances.
You can see several shows in a row and they are all different. You never get the feeling as if it is the same routine every night. Paradise, for example - one of his oldest songs, it has been performed live countless times over three decades, yet he always comes up with new ideas to make it sound fresh and make the audience laugh. You never have the feeling as if he's gotten tired of it. That is real art, in my opinion.

I later discovered that he also was a very talented actor. Fight Club is one of the best movies ever made and I absolutely dig his performance in Pelts. I have seen almost all of his movies so far. I've even watched a few pretty bad movies just because Meat appeared in them. He has saved some of them from being boring and made them watchable, even if he had just a minor role. For a movie maniac like me it is especially embarassing to admit that I even bought the Bloodrayne DVD.

*looking for a place to hide the thing

*

Seeing him on TV shows usually puts a big fat smile in my face because because of his wit.

Okay, there have been songs that aren't my cup of tea, there have been shows at which he was in bad shape... and there was Uwe Boll

- it didn't bother me much. You can't please all the people all the time.

I did not defect in 2007 when even long-time die-hard fans tried to convince me that Meat was past his prime, that he had allegedly lost his voice and that it wouldn't make sense to spend money on concert tickets anymore. I just thought that that was not right. I couldn't turn my back on one of my favorite artists just because he was struggling with problems at that time. When I heard about what had happened in Newcastle, I was very sad and thought that he did not deserve to end his career like that - but somehow I could not believe that he would give up. Less than a year later he returned with some fantastic concerts. That's what I have always admired about him: His ability to overcome obstacles. He gets knocked down - he gets up again. I remember how much I enjoyed the Case De Carne shows, they were wonderful.

I really love HCTB (with a few exceptions, as you know

) and until yesterday I desperately longed for hearing those songs live. I was very happy about the positive concert reviews and almost jealous of the people who have tickets for the U.S. tour.

At the moment I don't know if I will ever go to a Meat Loaf concert again. It's breaking my heart but there are circumstances I am no longer willing to cope with and that spoil something that used to be good.

Meat, in case you're reading this, I'd like to thank you for everything I've mentioned above. You are truly an awesome entertainer, there has been a lot of fun, I've met many great people and made some really good friends because of you. I'm grateful for that. I love you, man, but you're making it really damn tough for me. I wish you all the best for the tour and I hope it will be a huge success.

This is in fact a nice forum and I've enjoyed being a part of it. I think I will miss Pud's sarcasm, Wario's crazy spelling, absurd polls and nutty videos (just watch out that the cat doesn't take revenge one fine day, LOL), RadioMaster's comments on horror movies, duke knooby, mzsee, AndrewG's knowledge about music, Evil One's analysis of certain recordings, Julie's Bruce-related posts, the enthusiasm of the ladies...

Will I return? I don't know. The Sarge has to leave the battlefield for a while to give the scars a chance to heal.

"Goodbye my friends, it was good to know you, I hope you understand..."

*off to the pub for a Guinness*

I will probably get in trouble for asking but I still don't see why you are leaving explained. I obviously missed something and am trying to ask a legitimate question. Can someone please explain via PM rather than in this thread? I am not trying to stir controversy.

LisaT · 10 Jul 2010, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by loaferman61

I will probably get in trouble for asking but I still don't see why you are leaving explained. I obviously missed something and am trying to ask a legitimate question. Can someone please explain via PM rather than in this thread? I am not trying to stir controversy.

This goes for me too. I would appreciate a PM about this, as I don't understand why Sarge has left either.

LisaT · 10 Jul 2010, 19:49

Have just read Sarge's posts and reckon I understand now!

Devil's Son · 11 Jul 2010, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

Thank you my friend, I know what I owe to you.

it's ok, that's what friends for.

mszee · 14 Jul 2010, 15:32

I will miss you as well...I've enjoyed your passionate and honest posts over the years...

My only hope is...that most that have said good byes here do come back and I hope this will happen with you.

It's not just ML fan club...it is OUR club...club of people who enjoy socializing with each other and be it not for the internet and this forum wouldn't have ever even heard of each other...

If ain't real -- fake it
If it ain't yours -- take it
If it don't exist -- you make it
And if it ain't broke -- break it! (i.e. take a break and come back!)

Good luck in everything that you do anyway!

Breeze · 02 Aug 2010, 23:33

I don't know the poster so I don't feel I can ask for a pm someone who knows me can you tell me the gist of why he's leaving?

Pudding · 03 Aug 2010, 03:09

Sarge has already left the building, nearly a month ago now, probably best to leave it alone methinks.

Sarge · 10 Aug 2010, 03:09

After drowning my frustration in Irish beer, watching The Art of Negative Thinking about a dozen times, listening to The White Stripes and Billy Joel's Attila album

for too long and suffering from a serious case of Wario madness withdrawal syndrome, I've come to terms with the issue and decided to tentatively return to the forum.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have come back if someone hadn't started a thread titled "Confused".

I've missed you, folks.

08 Jul 2010, 19:52	#1
Sarge Mega Loafer Join Date: 08.05.2008 Posts: 3,562	More than 20 years - How it all began... and why it is ending now I'm writing this being aware of that this post is in danger of being moved or deleted. I hope the admins / mods will allow me to express my thoughts in *this* area of the forum. It is hard to say this but I have decided to take a break from Meat Loaf and the MLUKFC. Maybe this is even going to be my last day as a Meat Loaf fan, after more than 20 years... I think most of you know why I've made this decision so I will not explain my motivation in detail as I do not intend to start an argument. I have the feeling as if something in me has died today. Something that had been struggling to survive for some time but finally had to surrender. This is a description of what being a fan has meant to me over the years: Imagine the 1980s, a weird little country, a teenage girl sitting in front of a crappy black & white TV. Suddenly a chubby, sweaty, long-haired guy in a frilly shirt and with an incredible voice shows up on the screen and sings an absolutely stunning song. From that moment on the girl knew that she wanted a Meat Loaf record. Too bad, she lived in that weird little country where it was hard to get cool music. Years later the weird little country became part of a larger, equally weird country. But now there were record stores! The girl hadn't forgotten how much she was impressed by the fat man with the great voice. Needless to say, that girl was me. I became a vinyl junkie and was happy whenever I managed to find another rare Meat Loaf item. Damn, that WTTN artwork just looks gorgeous in large format! Meat Loaf records - I believe I've never collected something else that eagerly. I discovered the music of a crazy genius named Jim Steinman via Meat and I began to think that naked musclemen on motorbikes and giant bats were pretty cool. (Hey, I was a teenager!) I have been to many rock concerts over the years but my first Meat Loaf show was the best of them all. Neither the Stones, Macca, Bruce, Neil Young, Ray Charles, etc. have ever impressed and moved me as much as Meat did on that that night. When attending further concerts, I was always surprised by how much effort he put into the performances. You can see several shows in a row and they are all different. You never get the feeling as if it is the same routine every night. Paradise, for example - one of his oldest songs, it has been performed live countless times over three decades, yet he always comes up with new ideas to make it sound fresh and make the audience laugh. You never have the feeling as if he's gotten tired of it. That is real art, in my opinion. I later discovered that he also was a very talented actor. Fight Club is one of the best movies ever made and I absolutely dig his performance in Pelts. I have seen almost all of his movies so far. I've even watched a few pretty bad movies just because Meat appeared in them. He has saved some of them from being boring and made them watchable, even if he had just a minor role. For a movie maniac like me it is especially embarassing to admit that I even bought the Bloodrayne DVD. looking for a place to hide the thing Seeing him on TV shows usually puts a big fat smile in my face because because of his wit. Okay, there have been songs that aren't my cup of tea, there have been shows at which he was in bad shape... and there was Uwe Boll - it didn't bother me much. You can't please all the people all the time. I did not defect in 2007 when even long-time die-hard fans tried to convince me that Meat was past his prime, that he had allegedly lost his voice and that it wouldn't make sense to spend money on concert tickets anymore. I just thought that that was not right. I couldn't turn my back on one of my favorite artists just because he was struggling with problems at that time. When I heard about what had happened in Newcastle, I was very sad and thought that he did not deserve to end his career like that - but somehow I could not believe that he would give up. Less than a year later he returned with some fantastic concerts. That's what I have always admired about him: His ability to overcome obstacles. He gets knocked down - he gets up again. I remember how much I enjoyed the Case De Carne shows, they were wonderful. I really love HCTB (with a few exceptions, as you know ) and until yesterday I desperately longed for hearing those songs live. I was very happy about the positive concert reviews and almost jealous of the people who have tickets for the U.S. tour. At the moment I don't know if I will ever go to a Meat Loaf concert again. It's breaking my heart but there are circumstances I am no longer willing to cope with and that spoil something that used to be good. Meat, in case you're reading this, I'd like to thank you for everything I've mentioned above. You are truly an awesome entertainer, there has been a lot of fun, I've met many great people and made some really good friends because of you. I'm grateful for that. I love you, man, but you're making it really damn tough for me. I wish you all the best for the tour and I hope it will be a huge success. This is in fact a nice forum and I've enjoyed being a part of it. I think I will miss Pud's sarcasm, Wario's crazy spelling, absurd polls and nutty videos (just watch out that the cat doesn't take revenge one fine day, LOL), RadioMaster's comments on horror movies, duke knooby, mzsee, AndrewG's knowledge about music, Evil One's analysis of certain recordings, Julie's Bruce-related posts, the enthusiasm of the ladies... Will I return? I don't know. The Sarge has to leave the battlefield for a while to give the scars a chance to heal. "Goodbye my friends, it was good to know you, I hope you understand..." off to the pub for a Guinness

08 Jul 2010, 19:57	#2
allrevvedup "Most things that i worry about, never happen anyway" Join Date: 29.11.2003 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,354	Good luck Sarge...whatever you decide just make sure that it's the right one for you.

08 Jul 2010, 20:03	#4
Sarge Mega Loafer Join Date: 08.05.2008 Posts: 3,562	Well, the shirt was nice, and I think he was lucky to have the scene with the girls.

08 Jul 2010, 20:08	#5
Devil's Son always behind you Join Date: 09.05.2006 Posts: 1,342	well first of all: i understand you and we'll keep in touch no matter what. and to quote you: "I love you, man, but you're making it really damn tough for me" this is one reason why i'm not often here and gave my account away another one is no one tels me what i like or not. no i'm not interested in discussion or argument. let me say this: i tried to come back but once you're on the road there is no way back. this is what i learned. meet you further up on the road, sarge

08 Jul 2010, 21:07	#6
The Flying Mouse Armed ba$tard and Jo's other half. Join Date: 06.08.2002 Location: In the middle of nowhere near the end of the line. Posts: 16,104	Sorry to see you go, but hope you feel a little better after taking some time out and rejoin the community.

08 Jul 2010, 21:13	#7
Wario Monstro helps me spell things... Join Date: 05.01.2007 Location: Masculine, Pennsylvania Posts: 9,105	good luck sarge. your sentements teared me up. Rest assured Ill do everything in my power to keep my damn cat in line hope you come back soon. You are a good foil.

08 Jul 2010, 21:40	#8
Julie in the rv mirror Spirit in the Night Join Date: 23.07.2008 Location: On the edge of town (in the Darkness...) Posts: 1,559	I'm sorry to see you go. Take care, maybe we'll see you soon.

08 Jul 2010, 22:21	#12
Evil One Mega Loafer Join Date: 15.01.2007 Posts: 5,192	You'll be back, once your spelling improves!

08 Jul 2010, 22:57	#14
roomster Super Loafer Join Date: 11.03.2009 Location: Norway Posts: 536	I'm sorry to see you leave Sarge I hope you'll come back sometime in the future.

08 Jul 2010, 23:11	#15
AndrewG I hope your salmon sucks! Join Date: 18.01.2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 7,077	Sorry to see you go Sarge. Always thought your posts were really interesting to read and extremely well balanced. Definitely one of the best additions to the community in the last few years. Hope you will come back. I took a very short break but decided to come back as there is so much more to the board than a few misses and the occasional disappointment, mostly it is about good friends and a good laugh. Where would be without all these crazy people?! I totally agree with you about the Casa shows. There was a renewed energy which was great to see. As I've said on many occasions, it was one of the best summer's ever. For me any more was not really necessary but then too much is never enough I guess.

09 Jul 2010, 14:05	#16
madagascar Super Loafer Join Date: 13.12.2005 Location: Germany Posts: 377	Sarge will find her way back the same as AndrewG, I bet.

09 Jul 2010, 14:06	#17
Evil One Mega Loafer Join Date: 15.01.2007 Posts: 5,192	Although perhaps not as quickly!

10 Jul 2010, 19:49	#20
LisaT Super Loafer Join Date: 10.02.2006 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 662	Have just read Sarge's posts and reckon I understand now!

14 Jul 2010, 15:32	#22
mszee Mega Loafer Join Date: 28.03.2006 Location: And you think you're down under??? Posts: 26,252	I will miss you as well...I've enjoyed your passionate and honest posts over the years... My only hope is...that most that have said good byes here do come back and I hope this will happen with you. It's not just ML fan club...it is OUR club...club of people who enjoy socializing with each other and be it not for the internet and this forum wouldn't have ever even heard of each other... If ain't real -- fake it If it ain't yours -- take it If it don't exist -- you make it And if it ain't broke -- break it! (i.e. take a break and come back!) Good luck in everything that you do anyway!

02 Aug 2010, 23:33	#23
Breeze Miss Inclined Join Date: 24.07.2010 Location: Posts: 448	I don't know the poster so I don't feel I can ask for a pm someone who knows me can you tell me the gist of why he's leaving?

03 Aug 2010, 03:09	#24
Pudding I'm A Prize Fight Lover... Join Date: 22.10.2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,532	Sarge has already left the building, nearly a month ago now, probably best to leave it alone methinks.

10 Aug 2010, 03:09	#25
Sarge Mega Loafer Join Date: 08.05.2008 Posts: 3,562	After drowning my frustration in Irish beer, watching The Art of Negative Thinking about a dozen times, listening to The White Stripes and Billy Joel's Attila album for too long and suffering from a serious case of Wario madness withdrawal syndrome, I've come to terms with the issue and decided to tentatively return to the forum. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have come back if someone hadn't started a thread titled "Confused". I've missed you, folks.