Rock royalty to unleash Bat Out of Hell in full

NINETIES Aussie rock luminaries Chocolate Starfish are returning to Bendigo to once again reprise Meatloaf’s Bat Out of Hell album in its entirety, this time with a six-piece string section.

Released in October 1977, Bat Out of Hell sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, with hits including You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.

Irrepressible Chocolate Starfish frontman Adam Thompson said he first discovered the album at the age of 14.

“It’s fairly common knowledge that my mum passed away a few months before that,” he said.

“I put the needle on (the record) and it was everything I wanted to express.

“The rock and roll anthem Bat Out of Hell was all revved up and then the emotional ones like Heaven Can Wait, I’m listening to those lyrics thinking that’s what I want to say. “It was so cathartic.”

Thompson said the upcoming Bendigo performance will pay tribute to the album without delivering a like-for-like take.

“This very much is a show,” he said. “There are tribute bands out there (who) try to dress up like the artist and pretend they’re the artist.

“This is not that, we’re definitely Chocolate Starfish and whatever we do we still look and perform like (ourselves).

“We play these songs (in a way) that the original artist and songwriter would hopefully respect.

“We put our own integrity into the songs but are still very true to the passion of what the album was all about.”

Chocolate Starfish: Bat Out of Hell – The Return (with Strings Attached) takes place at Ulumbarra Theatre on Saturday 9 August. Tickets are available on GoTix.