An Open Letter To Meat...

[MBrevard]

Dear Meat,

I have no idea if you will come by here anymore and read this, but I have a need to talk with you and it seems like an Open Forum such as this one is the place to do it. I hope, when you are well enough, you will change your mind and stop by again, when things are better for you. Or stop by to let us know how you are doing. We are very worried about you at this moment in time, with the news coming out of Germany that you collapsed during the Berlin concert.

Normally, when you could, you would come here, knowing how concerned we would be when you've been ill in the past, and let us know what was what!! I feel great anger for the timing of the past few days' events, but that can't be changed. And I realize that you may feel you have to abide by what you have said and be gone from here forever!!

But one thing I have learned, Meat, in my many years on this earth (and I'm afraid there've been more than I'd like to admit ) is that family means more than mere words. Families have the most unfathomable depth of understanding and forgiving. They have to. Or they would never survive the day-to-day crises which always occur.

And don't for a moment think that we are not a family here!! Yes, there are disagreements. Yes, there are people here whom each of us don't particularly like or respect or fully understand. But that's the way it is in REAL families. I can't speak for anyone else here, but there are people in my family that I can't stand, that I don't want anything to do with. But...if they were hurting or ill, if they were in trouble, I'd still be there--because they ARE family!!

This has not been an easy family to forge. We all come here from such different walks of life, different countries, different languages, different life styles...Can you think of anything more diverse than the people in this forum?!

How could we not be different? For look at who heads this family--a truly unique, one-of-a-kind man who brings us all together here every day.

But that's saying something--that anyone in this world can have such an impact on so many varied peoples to the point where they WANT/NEED to find a place to meet, to be together--to laugh, to cry, to share their life stories and most of all, to share their love for YOU!

It is a rare individual who makes that kind of difference in this world! And you have! You have made this world a better place for millions of us for the past 30+ years by sharing your talents, your creativity, your generous nature, your sense of humor...!

Let's face it. There aren't that many people who can say that. It's quite an accomplishment.

But let me get back to the main subject at hand: this forum, your family, our family!

You've been through an incredibly rough summer!! You started off at a deficit with the surgery and not being able to give yourself enough time to fully recover from it. And there was problem after problem, adding to the pressure and stress you are ALWAYS under when you are touring.

The problem with your voice and the damage it suffered was the final insult. And we can only begin to imagine the fear and anxiety for a singer/actor/perforner who naturally depends on that for his livelihood. Then, being told by your doctors that it may never return to its former glory--how can we ever fully understand what you have been through?!

But you, once again, proved the doomsayers wrong, just as you have always proved your critics wrong. It seems that once you set your mind to something, you somehow manage to achieve it!! It is one of the things we admire about you most!! Your persistance, your determination, your strength and courage to continue on. You inspire each of us in ways you cannot begin to imagine.

And so, during the past several weeks, many of us here have noticed a change in you. And we began to worry. I think that some of us realized that the fear of your voice not being there, and the extra stress and pressure that placed on you was having its effect. And it didn't matter how much we all tried to reassure you that YOU are what is important to us, YOU matter to us MORE than any concert or any tour or any album or any film. YOU MATTER!! NOT your voice, NOT your being perfect for each and every song during a show. YOU, just YOU!!

I can't say that loud enough here. I can't say that BIG enough here to place as much emphasis as I like to, so that, if you are reading this, you will understand how strongly this is felt--not just by me, but most of the folks who come here!!

YOU are the one who is putting pressure on yourself during these concerts. But from what I understand, from what I know, this is the way it has always been for you. When you are touring, even when you are not performing, you are working on the show, inside, constantly fighting to make it better!! We know this and we love you for it!!

And we are all beginning to realize how important it was for you to prove to everyone that your voice IS there!! The doctors and whoever told you otherwise be damned. You worked and fought and brought the voice back.

And so, with that understanding, we can see how important the concert at Trier was for you. It had to have been a magical time--not just for the audience, but for YOU, who had worked so hard to get there! To feel as though your voice would do whatever you wanted it to...Oh, Meat! It makes me cry. What joy!!

I was going to come here and talk about how one shouldn't let criticism take things away from you--take the joy, take the accomplishment away.

But you know, in all honesty, I can't say that to you. I would be such a hypocrite, if I did. Because many years ago, I let that same thing happen to me--on a MUCH smaller scale, mind you.

I have been, over the years, a craftsperson. I love taking nothing but raw materials and turning it, with a little luck and a little talent, into something beautiful. And during this particular time, I was into Oil Painting and I loved doing it. I was self-taught, with the help of books and videos and other things. But it made me feel good. It made me feel happy to be doing it. Then, I was convinced by people who cannot see pleasure in something if there is no 'success' in it, to have my work evaluated. I allowed myself to be talked into it, even though I didn't care about success. I only knew that this was something which brought me pleasure. Well, to shorten this story, the person evaluating my work ripped it apart, told me everything that was wrong with it, with no gentleness, let me say. No positives to try to balance things. Just the bad side of it.

And to this day, since that time, I have never painted again! And I have to say that that is a part of me which I absolutely HATE!! I hate that I let this one person take away something which brought me joy, brought me comfort!! I hate that I lost all the praise and the good things I had been told by others. Only the bad, only the one review stayed with me. And at that time in my life, I didn't have the strength or the courage or the determination that you have shown us again and again in your own life, to say "F**k you!! I don't care what you think! I like doing this. I'm doing it!!"

You see, if you had been in my life at that time, perhaps, I would have done things differently. You give us all a new perspective with which to live our lives!!

So, if I were to say to you not to listen to people's negative reactions--only listen to the positive because there are so many more of them, I would be that hypocrite. I sympathize. I empathize with what happened here with you these past few days--no, these past few weeks.

But clearly, something has to be done, Meat. There have always been critics in your life. Always, from the time you were young, with people who did not like the way you looked because you were different. This is nothing new to you.

All artists, all performers have people who like them and appreciate them and those who don't and never will!!

You have to find a way, inside yourself, to deal with this. We all know the fear and stress you have been under. But you've got to release that now--you've proved to your fans, you've proved to yourself that you can do this!! The voice is back!! Let it go! You cannot keep putting yourself through this torture again and again.

And I know that we cannot bear to see you going through this again and again.

This all goes back to family. Meat, you are the father of this family. Yes, the forum goes back before you visited here. It would continue without your presence. But,when any loving family loses a parent, it still goes on, but in a different way. Something is missing. Some of the joy is gone. Some of the pleasure. Some of the laughs and happiness.

Every time you came here and posted or read things, I always looked at it like a present, a gift. Knowing what a busy person you are, the gift of one's time IS as much a present as anything physical that one can hold in one's hand. And so the last year has been very special--full of gifts from the person who means so much to us.

You have had your own heroes in your life, so you must understand what this has all meant to us.

To have you reach a point where you cannot bear to be here anymore, to be here with us because the few negatives which have been written hurt you so much, is painful to us all! No, I don't think that any of us would like to see the worst side of you, as you have described it. So, we can understand your wanting to go BEFORE it surfaced.

If there are people you don't want to hear from anymore, we now have a "Buddy List." Just put those people on "Ignore" and you won't ever see another thing they say!

But to have you leave in this manner, angry, hurt, defensive, frustrated is even more painful.

I believe that within this family, there is a symbiotic relationship. You need us in your life and we certainly need you in ours.

You need to make peace within yourself about what has happened. And I believe with all my heart that you need to come back here and make peace with us and allow us to make peace with you, before any of us can move forward--whether that is to another website or wherever!

We all need closure to this one episode! I know that you felt you were doing that with your farewell message, but what really came across more than anything was the anger and the hurt and the frustration as you were trying to share with us how you felt and why you felt this way.

But in leaving the way you did, you gave us no opportunity to share our feelings, our pain, our sadness, our willingness to try to understand you, your world, your life better. You came, you released, you left.

And where there was you here, there is now a gaping hole.

None of us know exactly what happened to you, with you, in Berlin last night. But we are worried and frightened for you.

Please read this, not just with your eyes and brain, but with your heart. Please come back and let us talk with you again. Not yell, not argue, just talk.

If nothing else, at least let us know how you are!! You scared us to death yesterday!! Your family is extremely worried!!!

Please, Meat, as soon as you are well enough and strong enough, come and make peace. Let us do the same. Then, whatever lies in the future of this family will be okay!!


******
Thank you to all who read this lengthy, but heartfelt message. Please feel free to add your comments to this open letter. But I would ask one favor of you: Please, let's not fight HERE. Let's keep this friendly, remembering that we are family. No, we don't have to agree on everything. I have always said that I don't expect anyone to agree with the things I say or do. And that's fine. These are just my thoughts.

I know that there has been much anger and fighting and sadness here these past few days. But that was to be expected. It's part of the grieving process. Some of you don't feel there has been a loss here, but to many of us, there has been a tremendous loss!! There are four steps to grieving--first, disbelief, second, anger, third, sadness, and fourth, acceptance. We have seen quite a bit of the first three and I'm sure it's not over yet. It takes time and we all have to do it in our own way.

Thanks again to all who have taken the time to read this. And I hope and pray that Meat, you will be among them and we will hear from you again!!

I know you must get tired of reading my signature, but every single time I write "with love to you all," I mean it with all my heart! I always have--from the first time I came here. I knew this was to be my Meaty family and in reality, I am closer to some of you than to some of the members of my own.

So, let's all try, in the next few days, to be a little gentle with each other. Allow everyone to have their say on this matter, without fighting with them, or arguing because you disagree. Just say what you feel and let it go.

Thank you, friends!!

Sending love to each and every one of you!!
MB
xxx

[aussielovesmeat]

Thank you MB for putting into words what I feel in my heart.
I've never been really proficient in putting my feelings down, and what you wrote to Meat really touched me.
I hope he is ok, and somehow he gets to read what you have written.

Kaye

[meatmymainman]

I agree wit you, Kaye! Thank you MBrevard for saying these things. I have not been able to get onlin for 2 weeks or more and I was shocked to come her and see all that happened.

Meat, come back to us. We love U. Get well soon and come back!

[dottie]

Hi MBrevard, Just a line to say that your postings concerning Meat Loaf are heartfelt, we all wish we had the ability to express ourselves with pen and paper in the manner which you do.

God speed Meats journey through the road of health. May his God watch over him and take good care to bring him back to us.

[Bigmomma]

MB, you really have got a way with words i think you have said
what is in all our hearts, and i think should anyone want to start
a fight at this time it would show them in there true colours and
we should all deal with the situation should it arise.
please meat listen to the fans that love you and care for you meat on
this one ,good luck and god speed,
kezzina

[Louise]

well said MB with your (many!) words

Louise x

[Terri]

Thank you MB for putting into words, so very well, how I (and I'm sure, everyone else) feel.
Meat, we just hope & pray that you get to read this.

[LP]

Great post, very well put. I sincerely hope Meat reads it.

Luke

[Jayd]

Well said MB, what you put is what I think most of us feel and we all thankyou, let's hope Meat does read it and once again joins this family. :)

[ROSIE]

Well said


Rosie

[Cpl Mickey]

Could't agree more

[MichaelHarrison]

WOW that was really long and it gave me a headache..But I couldn't agree more !!!!

MH

[shadow1000001]

Thank you MB for being able to put into words what alot of us have been feeling. You said it eloquently and it was rather short



Maria

[Renegade Angel]

Well said MB - If Meat is to ever read only one post since he departed I hope it's yours and I really hope that he will respond.

[Vickip]

Thank you for your message MB. I know it came right from your heart.

I've debated about whether or not I should post this message on the forum, but right now I feel like I need to. Sadly I don't think Meat will ever get the chance to read it .. and yet in my heart I hope he does.

Dear Meat,

My nerves are shot right now, due to everything we've been through at the store, or due to exhaustion ... who knows. Perhaps I was being oversensitive, but when I saw your final message on the forum, I cried. And I've been upset about it ever since. Not so much because of you leaving the forum ... but because of the way you were forced to leave,
for his your own piece of mind. You were very hurt emotionally, and I was very hurt for you.

To be perfectly honest, I don't want you to come back .... at least not right now. Yes, I'm concerned about you, and yes I miss catching up with you ... I would be lying if I said otherwise ... but, in my mind, you owe no one an explanation or apology for what you've said or done.

Thank you for Couldn't Have Said It Better, thank you for two memorable nights last September, but most importantly thank you for being there for me when I needed it the most. Not just Meat Loaf the "character on stage" ... but Meat Loaf Aday ... the man behind that character.

You've helped me get through a very rough time in my life lately, and now I just wish I could be there to help you when you need it.
I know I'm not a personal friend ... to you I'm just a fan and another face in the crowd. And that's fine. But right now I just want to give you a big hug, a pat on the back, and tell you that everything's going to be OK.

As much as I'm looking forward to seeing your new website, I'll miss
catching up with you on the UK forum. I don't blame you for leaving ....
I'm truly sorry that you had to keep coming on defending yourself ...

The bottom line is you have to do what's best for you ... and no matter what your final decision is, I will always love and support you. My biggest wish is that you move on to the UK, have all the Meet and Greets with your loving and supporting fans as planned, and enjoy the best shows of your life. Then take a break to regroup ... go to New Zealand and Australia .... meet with more loving and supporting fans, and enjoy even bigger and better shows (if that's possible). Then take another really long break ..... time alone or a long extended vacation perhaps ..... go back to Europe in the Spring and Summer for more great shows, and come back to the US completely refreshed, ready to relaunch the CD properly, and complete the final leg of the world tour in grand style during the fall.

Yes, that's my biggest wish for you Meat, and hopefully it will come true. Only time will tell. But most importantly Meat, I just want you to have fun, and remember that there are a lot of loving, caring fans who will always be there no matter what :)

Take care of yourself, and hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to you again sometime in the future.

Love,
Vicki

[CarylB]

Meat, you brought yourself to this forum. You did not come here for critical analysis but to share something of yourself, and most of us have felt privileged that you did. A true family understands, cares for, respects and protects the feelings of its members out of love; unconditional love, which means you don't need to perform to earn it, but receive it because of who and what you are, part of that family. You came to us here as family, and brought your inner child with all its honest openness and eager innocent excitement as well as its creativity. You shared your hopes and your fears with honesty and trust. That you have said "Keep this to yourselves .." shows that you felt there was trust in this family community. I too am sorry you decided to leave, but I understand why, and why you reacted in the way you did, particularly as in the last couple of weeks everything was going so well with the shows., and you were feeling the magic which is clearly as important to you as it is to us given your total commitment to give the very best.

When you set foot on stage there is true magic. You weave it, you are transported by it, and we are entranced by it. When you go on stage next .. and do what only you can do in the way only you do it .. look at that audience .. feel the love and excitement .. THAT's real .. and that says more than a few criticisms .. and somewhere I know you know that, and can hold it tight. And there are many thousands of us in the UK waiting to reinforce that.

Thank you so much for the special gift of sharing yourself with us for the time you did. Like many I wish I could put my arms round you and hug the hurt away, but hopefully the words here from so many who love you will reach out and do this. You will be sorely missed, but I wouldn't seek to persuade you to return just now. When trust is bruised it takes time to recover, more time even than hurt feelings.

My love to you and your precious, creative, loving and vulnerable inner child. May your magic be at your fingertips, may your star shine brightly and never falter, and may you have as much fun and pleasure as you give to us, singing what you damn well please. You are the magician, you decide what spells to weave. I am just happy to have my heart and soul taken to a far, far better place for the time you are on stage.

Caryl xo

[Vickip]

Very beautiful.
Thank you Caryl :)

Vicki

[MBrevard]

Beautifully said, everyone!

Thank you first off, for your kind words. But more than that, a big thank you to everyone who has added to this thread so far.

You're right, Kezzina. This is not a thread for fighting or arguments. It's a place where each of us can have our say, voice our opinions, say what we want or need to, to Meat. And then, allow everyone else that exact same freedom!!

Here's hoping in the next day or two, that more folks will come along and add to this Open Letter to Meat!! And we can continue to hope that when he's feeling better and when he wishes to, Meat will come by and see what everyone has had to say to him!!

Thanks again, dear friends!!

Much love to you all,
MB
xxx

[Wezzie]

Thank You MB for one of the most honest post I've read. I believe you put into words the true feelings that we as fans and family feel.
Your post was long BUT one I believe no one could stop reading, even if they wanted to. So again I thank you MB.
Wezzie

[Sue K]

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that have hurt you
And you'd stay

Cher

tink...biiiiig hug ...XO

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by tink

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that have hurt you
And you'd stay

Cher

tink...biiiiig hug ...XO

Absolutely wonderful tink .... thank you.
Vicki xo

[sherrie87]

MB said:

<to Meat>Every time you came here and posted or read things, I always looked at it like a present, a gift. Knowing what a busy person you are, the gift of one's time IS as much a present as anything physical that one can hold in one's hand. And so the last year has been very special--full of gifts from the person who means so much to us.

Thanks for the beautifully written post MB, it really expressed what a lot of us feel about Meat. I also saw every single posting from Meat as a tremendous gift to us, and I was always thrilled to get up in the morning and see a post from him there. It literally colored my day, most of the time for the better. I'll still enjoy coming here, to talk about Meat and to visit the many friends that I have made here. It will be a great place to be, just perhaps without the occasional "gift" of a comment from ML.

On a much more silly note, when MB said:

Meat, you are the father of this family

I had such a mental picture of Meat with a big smile saying "who's your Daddy?" :P Maybe this is not a familiar phrase outside of America, but it's a sort of bravado-like phrase in the states; indicating that the speaker has accomplished something impressive. I don't know why, but that amused me in what has been otherwise been a day without much mirth!

Sherrie

[Sue K]

I ain't lookin' to compete with you,
Beat or cheat or mistreat you,
Simplify you, classify you,
Deny, defy or crucify you.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you,
Frighten you or uptighten you,
Drag you down or drain you down,
Chain you down or bring you down.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

I ain't lookin' to block you up
Shock or knock or lock you up,
Analyze you, categorize you,
Finalize you or advertise you.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

I don't want to straight-face you,
Race or chase you, track or trace you,
Or disgrace you or displace you,
Or define you or confine you.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

I don't want to meet your kin,
Make you spin or do you in,
Or select you or dissect you,
Or inspect you or reject you.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

I don't want to fake you out,
Take or shake or forsake you out,
I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me,
See like me or be like me.
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

Bob Dylan

tink...who is content just being a fan...but couldn't resist posting this Dylan piece...XO

[CarylB]

And that's all the big old bear did want tink .. thanks :)

[MBrevard]

Loved the songs, Tink! The one by Cher caught me by surprise. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!!

Hey, Sherrie, as you said, I referred to Meat as the father of this forum. But what I didn't say was, with all the housekeeping and straightening up and disciplining the 'kids' etc.---that R. was the mother!!!

Sorry, R. Are you going to ban me now??

Maybe I'd better just go sit in the corner for a 'time out'!!

Love to all,
MB
xxx