Chat out of Hell

As we cruise towards the end of series five, we’ve time to visit more of Jim’s dodgy musical past, but then cleanse our palate with a very modern dodgy cover of an absolute classic. And while we’re there, let’s ask some questions like:

- Is Emma more of a Bert or an Ernie?
- Is Jim Steinman more of a 70s Kermit the Frog or the rubbish modern one?
- What did Bob Mortimer think of Mr Blobby?

PLUS some more Blobby classics from ...

Chat out of Hell moves as close as it's ever been to boy band territory this episode as we check in with Jim Steinman's collab with Andrew Lloyd Webber, which somehow led to a single from Boyzone. Meanwhile Meat Loaf rocks the heck out to a track from the never-seen Batman: The Musical and we all wonder if it was a good idea. But while we do, we answer the big questions, questions like:

- What did teenage Emma th...

We call back in to see what Diane Warren's been up to this episode, as we listen to the third of her Meat songs in Cry Over Me, before Sammy Hagar barges in with the hard-rockin' Amnesty is Granted. But during all that, we get to answer the big questions:

- How good a video can you make in four hours?

- What was the deal with Bat out of Hell III?

- Is A Very Merry Muppet Christmas any good?

PLUS some expos...

Continuing the theme of doing themes, this episode we take a look at two rockin' songs about heroes. And somehow made it through the whole thing without once talking about Cadbury's Heroes. Well done us. But we did discuss the big questions, questions like:

- What on earth was going on at Marvel comics in the late 80s?

- What's gone wrong with nerds lately?

- Is it wise to dance on the edge of the Grand Canyon...

Five alive! But not the delicious soft drink of the 1980s. We're back for the first proper episode of series five with an exploration of Meat Loaf's sad origins. And really, they are sad. Poor bloke. But we still managed to find some fun in there, as we also get answers to the big questions. Questions like:

- Is there anything Michael Bay can't wedge an explosion into?

- Is there any song Jim Steinman can't wedge ...

It's nearly time for new Chat out of Hell, but first there's a summer blockbuster film club!

And what a blockbuster it is, as we watch 13 episodes of the SyFy original series Ghost Wars. Don't say we never do anything for you.

Chat out of Hell returns for series 5 on Monday 25th of August, where we'll dive into Meat Loaf's early days with Objects in the Rear View Mirror from Bat out of Hell II and T...

Chat out of Hell earns its explicit tag this week and it's all Meat Loaf's fault. It's two songs from the cheeky boys of silly rock as we start with Meat guesting on a Tenacious D song then straight into a Justin Hawkins-penned number about his schlong. You know, his nob. His junk. His bits. His wang pipe. His donger. His one-eyed trouser snake. His pump-action yoghurt gun. His lizard. His peen. His Henry Hoover&apos...

Grab your boards and hit the waves, dudes. Surf's Up! Jim Steinman's sportiest song slash rude joke meets Meat Loaf's MANLIEST number in this episode. We're stuck in the 80s again, so there's big shoulders and pastel coloured suits aplenty. BUT:

- How MANLY can one song be?

- Was Meat Loaf in on the joke?

- Why does masculinity smell just like Lynx Africa?

PLUS all the usual nonsense, discussion of ra...

There's a spate of inadequate male lovers in this episode. Is Meat Loaf's friend a bad boyfriend? Are Air Supply just a bit too full of themselves? We stay firmly in the early 80s this time with a not-hit from Dead Ringer and an arrogant Best of from Air Supply. BUT:

- Is "white soul ballad" a compliment?
- What's Emma's bath technique?
- How sympathetic is Meat Loaf to his band's drug habi...

Where did Meat Loaf's career begin? Not here, but it's quite close. Time for another break from Jim Steinman's zany antics as we dive into Meat Loaf's Motown past and his angry... well, not future. More recent past.

This episode we dive into Meat's first recorded album and then some shouty angry MAN ROCK from one of his later ones. And on the way, we'll answer some of the questions like:

- What does a Je...

I don't know anything about you baby, but Chat out of Hell is everything you're dreaming of. Assuming you dream of adequate podcast analysis of the works of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman.

This episode we take a break from Jim Steinman's byzantine theatre career and go back to the absolute rockers from the mouth of Meat Loaf. Dead Ringer for Love and Runnin' for the Red Light vie for your affections this time, and on...

Chat out of Hell is back to go where other podcasts won't - in this case, to Jim Steinman's very first musical creation.

This episode we dive into the Dream Engine - produced at Amherst College in 1969, burning a trail through rock and roll history for the rest of time. Our interepid duo dive deep into this murky sea, providing the answers to questions like:

- What sort of socially aware theatre would a bunch of naive teens...

Series four of Chat out of Hell is just around the corner, but first, it's FILM CLUB PART III!

Our films this time are a real dichotomy - Meat Loaf plays both himself and his own obsessive fan in Dead Ringer, then he plays a sex-mad creature of the night in Bloodrayne.  Or possibly I've said that the wrong way around.

These are, and I can't stress this enough, dreadful films. You should not under any circumstances watc...

Better late than never, it's Chat out of Hell!

This episode Emma really opens up, generously unburdening herself in the name of amusement with a classic Meat Loaf Memory. Meanwhile Sam continues to fail to find any sincerity in himself, as his attempts at some Steinman-esque lyrics proves. Our questions this week:

- Who invented the keyboard body strap?

- Who goes around picturing women to get them in the crea...

We open every episode of Chat out of Hell by asking "what is this" and it's never been more apt. Two baffling track choices hit the table today as we interrogate some of the shortest and least interesting songs in the Loaf / Steinman catalogue. We do learn a few things on the way, though. Things like:

- What do Jim Steinman and Giuseppe Verdi have in common?

- How long is 45 seconds? Is it 66 seconds?

- What&a...

Big hair, big complaints and big feelings, it's Chat out of Hell!

This episode Emma brings our favourite car karaoke hit Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back for our intrepid pair to interpret, while Sam's Bonnie Tyler obsession continues in full swing as he tries to convince Emma that Loving You's a Dirty Job is a much neglected classic. This week's questions lack subtlety, just like these two song...

New year, the same Chat out of Hell.

It's the turn of our lovely listeners to suggest songs this week to give our brains a good old rest. So with trepidation Sam reports on The Sisters of Mercy's More and Emma goes away to listen to Los Angeloser and then get it stuck in her head forever.

This week's big questions are the biggest:

- Did Meat Loaf inspire an episode of the Simpsons?