What really caused Meatloaf’s horror Grand Final performance
Meatloaf’s bizarre Grand Final performance went down in history as one of the most memorable acts of all time — and it turns out his dressing room requests were almost as weird as his MCG gig.
Fiona Byrne
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US rocker Meatloaf had his dressing room draped in black curtains and brought a voodoo-type doll with him for his memorable-for-all-the-wrong-reasons performance at the 2011 Grand Final.
As Paul Kelly was announced as headlining this year’s pre-game entertainment, an industry insider recalled the “weird and wonderful” Meat Loaf experience.
“He had a bat cave there (as his dressing room),” the insider said.
“It had to be all draped in black and he brought what looked like voodoo-type dolls and it was full of incense. He had gout and he had trouble with his voice.
“You did not know whether to call him Mr Meat or Mr Loaf.”
Meat Loaf later said he had been suffering from a haemorrhaging vocal cord.
Other superstar acts however were less dramatic.
“Sting, he flew in (to Australia) on the Saturday morning (of the match in 2016) and was rehearsing with the band in the locker rooms before he went out (to play),” the insider said.
“will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas arrived in Melbourne on the morning of the match too (in 2018). The rest of the Peas did the sound check on the Thursday without him.
“Lionel Richie (2010) could not have been more accommodating. He was the consummate professional and you have to remember he had less than a week’s notice for his performance as he played at the Grand Final replay.
“Tom Jones and Ed Sheeran together (in 2014) were fantastic and Bryan Adams (in 2015) was a delight.
“The Killers (2017) stand out because they agreed to let Jack Riewolt get up and sing. To have a band of that calibre do that is amazing and created an incredibly memorable moment.”
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