To Hell & Back - Stage Reviews of a tribute to Meat Loaf

Hi, I just stumbled on your audio samples and feel like I've tripped over a pot of gold! This is the best stuff I've heard since the original Bat Out of Hell! That's a pretty hefty compliment and, boy, you earned it! It really sound like something that could've (and *should've*) come out in 1979 or 1980 as a true Bat sequel. Is it available in CD format or will it be? If so, how do I order?

Thanks much and best of luck!

Bob McManus

P.S. Do you ever tour in the states?

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Berwick Upon Tweed Review July 09

Hi Dean and Maz,

I would just like to thank you both again for a wonderful performance on Saturday evening. We have been getting lots of positive feedback from the guests . Also the staff on duty enjoyed it immensly as well.

I am looking forward to finding a date in the diary for next year sometime to bring you back to Marshall Meadows .

In the meantime I will recommend you to all my colleagues in the other Classic Lodge Hotels and would urge anyone looking to book an act to look no further than yourselves. From the act , rightthe way through to your professionalism on and off stage and the way you both engaged with the staff, it was truly an honour to host you .

See you again in the future.

Best wishes

Ian Catterall, General Manager

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Karla Devito review!

Remember Karla Devito? She is the Raven haired beauty who is performing on all the early 1970s Meat Loaf videos . Well she sent me a lovely message via you tube , she has also said she will be leaving a comment on out Sutton Village Hall video part1 Anyway here's what she had to say

Dear Dean, You sing great and the likeness to Meat vocally and physically at his best is uncanny !!!! I wish you incredible luck with all of this . I would love to give you a great quote of some kind , I will leave a comment at your site .

All the best Karla Devito

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Nick and Naomi's Party

Good afternoon Dean and Maz

It was so good to meet you and get to know you a bit following our party at Meadowlea Farm.

We will definately be putting our stamp on your guestbook in the near future. Our home computer has crashed and I am accessing my emails via my computer at work. So bear with us and we will do that as soon as possible.

Everyone is talking about the night and confirming how brilliant you were.

Nick and I wanted to say several things to you.

If you are passing us in the future and you want to park up you are always welcome.

If you are doing a show in our area which we would be able to come to (not a private party obviously) but if it was a public show please let us know because we would love to come and support you again and I am sure we could get a crowd together !!!

We hope you Scottish events are enjoyable, we can understand how exhausted you must get having an insight to what goes on.

The yard and barns are now cleared up and we are returning to normal !!! Will be in touch soon with our guestbook entry. Best regards, Naomi and Nick.

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Malton golf club review

Hi there to you both,

Can I just say what a fantastic evening's entertainment you provided us with on Saturday- the feedback has been tremendous (including the comment from one particularly hard to please member that is the best night here he has ever had!) Dave Midgley is basking in a warm glow from all the praises at having booked you.

Many thanks to both of you - we look forward to our copy of the video (all the discs you left with us were snaffled before I got in this morning - even one by the Captain who said last week that Meatloaf was not his cup of tea.)

I believe our next year's Captain's wife has suggested getting you back next year - she was there but he (like me) was unfortunately otherwise engaged ( er not together I hasten to add) so we missed it, all being well I will be back in touch with you and sort something out. I am sure somebody will give you a game the day after..

Once again, many thanks.

Kind Regards, Linda

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STOCKPORT ROCKS!

Here is an email we received from another satisfied venue!

Big thanks to all the people on the night who really got behind the show, we will be adding video footage of the night real soon

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:58 PM
Subject: Heaton Mersey Con Club

Hi Dean & Maz

Absolutely bloody fabulous!!!

Went in to the club today and everyone was talking about your act. They are all saying you are the best we have had.

Please also thank Maz. I know she worked real hard last night to keep the crowd occupied in the warm up.

I will email you in the week when the videos are uplinked

Outstanding

Paul Partridge

"The Bat Strikes Back" gets a great review in Classic Rock Magazine!!

Many thousands of bands/performers submit New Albums to Classic Rock magazine for reviews every week, imagine our delight to be informed we were going to have our new album reviewed by well known music critic Jon Hotton! We didnt have millions of pounds of recording equipment yet the results and sales have been amazing. Read the following review that can be found in issue 131 May 2009, page 79

Dean Torkington
The Bat Strikes Back

Meat substitute : Quorn to be wild

Meat Loaf himself struggles without Jim Steinman. So imagine how the Meat Loaf impersonator fares.

Advised by Meat Loaf to write some original material [bit rich that Meat ] tribute act Dean Torkington has come up with The Bat Strikes Back, an album conceived in the spirit of the on-off Steinman-Loaf axis.

Torkingtons resources are modest, and yet his devotion has produced an earnest ,rather touching record that has the heart that Meat Loaf without Steinman often lacks.

But Steinman's songs advance like Panzer divisions and they are essentially inimitable without descending to pastiche, so Torkington and his writing partner James Brian Healless are groping for another mans vision. They capture Steinman's tics and tropes well, but cant approach the weird gothic majesty of his best work.

That said, Steinman initially embraced Meat Loaf because the singer embodied exactly the kind of outsider/underdog that he was writing about. There is something about Dean Torkington and this record that he would admire!

To purchase this album please visit our Merchandise section where you can listen to clips and order it via our distributor.

Here are just a few testimonials from venues that have booked, and continue to book, TO HELL AND BACK. Performing 200 shows a year we couldn't put them all up, so here's just a few very satisfied bookers:

Dean- Wow! You really sound like Meat Loaf on a good day , Its great ! Ellen

Lucy Meacock , Granada Television Manchester. May 6th 08

“He looks like Meat Loaf, he sounds like him”

ELLEN FOLEYS A FAN!

Ellen Foley who sang on the world famous duet "Paradise By the Dashboard
Light", emailed me to say

"Dean I've been listening to your stuff. Really terriffic!" etc etc !!

Bob Kulick Meat loafs guitarist for 10 years said:

"Great soundbytes Dean, you sound very much like Meat Loaf. It reminded me of his earlier days"

Rob Evan , Currently performing with Jim Stienmans Dream Engine.

"You sound Amazing, and certainly sing your ass off. Lets hook up when your here in 07"

Steve Brookstein, 2004 X-Factor Winner

"You Guys Rocked It!!!" (see thumbnail)

Paul Newman, manager Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen

"We have lots of tribute acts here at the Ivy, but Dean's tribute to Meat Loaf is the best I have ever seen in all my years as the Manager here. I know for sure that no tribute act has ever received a standing ovation, but Dean didn't just get 1 - he got 2! standing ovations, and thoroughly deserved too. He has an amazing voice and he looked and sounded just like Meat Loaf."

Masqueraders Carnival and Supporters Clubs

On behalf of the Masqueraders Carnival and Supporters Clubs can I say what a pleasure and an honour it was to have you perform at Music on the Moors this year. Everybody was in agreement that your show was the highlight of the event and Mark (Robbie Williams tribute) was gutted that you had a longer intro than him! I have already reassured friends, family and club members that we will have you back to the west country next year some time to perform at one of our indoor events (that's if you want to come back to our part of the world!).

Thanks again for a great performance. Look forward to seeing you both next year sometime.

(from the Guestbook, 25/7/05)

"We book Dean at all 13 of our clubs, he is fantastic! He packs them in time and time again, and Dean and his wife Maz have become really close friends over the years - a lovely couple to work with"
- Alan Murray, C and A leisure

The Oxford

"We are strictly a live music venue, and we have a policy of not using acts with taped backing, however the rule book got thrown out the window when we saw Dean perform at a nearby club. He is the only act that we book using backing tracks, he fills the place and has done for the last 3 years; he is as good as Meat Loaf was in the 70s"
- Mark Fallon

Squires (biggest biker venue in Yorkshire)

"Dean has played Squires on 7 occasions, 2 being New Years Eve! He is without doubt the best Meat Loaf tribute we have seen and we have seen them all! He becomes Meat Loaf, he looks and sounds just like him - the best in the bizz!"
Harry, Sue, and Jason

Hardy Hall

"We book tributes once a month, Dean is the best tribute we have ever booked. The stage set is fantastic and Dean and Maz are amazing, they always do more time than other acts because the crowd always shout for more and they always do 3 encores which is amazing. They are the only act to play the Hardy Hall and get a standing ovation, a real class act"

Steve, manager of the Hardy Hall

Dean's most treasured testimonial of them all:- he is THE ONLY Meat Loaf tribute to be invited backstage (on 2 occasions!) by Meat Loaf himself !!!

Here's what a few well known associates of Meat Loaf think of our show...

"He has the red scarf" - Meat Loaf
"Great act man!" - Jim Steinman
"Your mp3s are great!" - Kasim Sultan, bass
"Awesome soundbytes!" - Bruce Kulick, former guitarist for Meat Loaf. He went on to play with Kiss
"Keep rocking!" - Alan Merrill, former lead guitarist
"Brilliant! , thanks for the CD" - Kati Mac, former female lead vocalist
"Dean, you must come and play at my club" - Terry Williams, former drummer, went on to join Dire Straits
"Great soundbytes Dean, I would come and see the show if you're ever in Ohio" - Steve Poppovich, head of Cleveland International Records Ohio --- The record company that backed and promoted Bat Out Of Hell the album.

From the Guestbook, 25/7/05...

Thanks again for a great performance. Look forward to seeing you both next year sometime - Mike

What the public thought...

Here's another of the hundreds of great reviews that can be found on our guestbook, go take a look! (Guestbook)

I see a lot of acts all around the world due to my job. I also had a press pass to see Meatloaf at Birmingham last month and met the man himself backstage - although it was great to see him live the show just didn't pull it for me. He didn't seem to have that same energy he is so famous for. It's always great fun to see a tribute act as they seem to put so much more effort into the show. I recently saw the Freddie Mercury tribute act at the Red Lion and at the time I thought it was the best I'd ever seen. Until last night. From the moment the show started to the final encore, the entire place was buzzing with electricity. The act was setup with the same enthusiasm as if it had been the Wembley Arena. The Bat out of Hell scenery, the chopper bike, the awesome sound system, the lights and smoke effects all set the stage for what was sure to be a great night - and Dean certainly didn't disappoint. Not only did he look the spitting image of Meat from the mid 70's school (you just have to love that shirt and shades), but he sounded so amazing like him. What I loved about the act was Dean's energy. He made each song his own - ad libbing and changing the rhythm and style of each tune whilst keeping it "real" for the Meatloaf fans. This was one act that I'd pay to see time and time again. We host many corporate functions with the usual drab style of entertainment - Dean can be sure to have a booking from us in the near future. A very unexpected night out - one which I hope to be repeated again. Soon.

paul@neogames.co.uk

A MEATY SHOW

Legendary rocker Meat Loaf had a packed house at the Warwick Arms in Loughborough shouting for more last Wednesday, as he played a memorable gig at the venue.
Okay, so it wasn't the real American star himself; but with Dean Torkington and his tribute act To Hell And Back you would never have guessed! He was so good that by the end I'd almost forgotten it was a tribute I was watching.

To Hell And Back is reckoned to be the best Meat Loaf tribute act around and on this showing it was not hard to see why, He was simply brilliant. He looked and sounded so much like Meat Loaf he really did become him on the Warwick Arms stage and everyone loved it.

He started off with the massive hit "I'd Do Anything For Love [But I Wont Do That]" and then went through a brilliant set that finished with "Bat Out Of Hell". The crowd didn't want him to go off and kept calling for more, but he'd given us a fantastic show; I feel certain I wouldn't have enjoyed myself any more if I'd paid £36 to watch the real thing at the NEC and this gig was for free.

It was also a gig that was as much for real Meat Loaf fans as much as music lovers, a fact that became clear when he performed some songs that only true Meat Loaf fans who had bought all his albums [as opposed to the three that everyone knows] would know. I think I sang every word on the night, and I reckon this is the most fun I could have had without having a drink.

To Hell And Back are back at the pub in January 04; I for one will be there.

Taken from "LOUGHBOROUGH ECHO" July 18th 2003 - Sarina Martin

"After the interval, we heard the awesome voice of tribute artist Dean Torkington. He not only had the look and the physique of Meatloaf but also boast's the most powerful rocker's voice I have heard among Meatloaf impersonators. Torkington's wife Maz is also a vocal force to be reckoned with, accurately reproducing the sound of great Meatloaf duet partners including Bonnie Tyler and Lorraine Crosby".

Taken from "THE STAGE" December 16, 1999 - Mark Richie

Dean dons a long, velvet jacket, lace cuffs and wig to sing 'Bat Out of Hell'. It's brilliant, just like Meatloaf..."

Taken from "SUNDAY OBSERVER LIFE MAGAZINE" February 7, 1999 - J. Raynor

What a night it was!! Yes folks I admit to being a MeatLoaf fan! Luckily for me I had the chance to call in at a rally run by the Virago, Star Owners Club a couple of weeks ago. The entertainment laid on for Sunday Evening was the amazing tribute show "To Hell n' Back" and was it good you ask? You bloody well bet it was! This guy really knows his stuff, I'd never heard anything like it, and I loved it.

Dean and his wife Maz have been doing the show since 1998 (Maz is guitarist & backing vocals) and really know how to set the scene, a big gothic backdrop, lights, fantastic custom made studio quality backing tracks and their own state of the art 5000 watt JBL PA system means they produce a show to rival many full bands. The showstopping hits just kept coming, superbly performed, that voice just perfect! Yes folks you can tell I enjoyed it eh?

The evening saw them they had teamed up with Cher (Yvonne Haylen - as seen on Stars in Their Eyes_ the two acts compliment each other perfectly. Cher was excellent but it was "MeatLoaf" that did it for me!

I'll let the pictures tell the story and just leave you with the info you need to contact Dean 01772 494527 or 07941 197913 or check out www.meatloaf.org ..... Go see him, book him for your rally / rock night, you won't regret it!

Taken from "100% BIKER MAGAZINE" September 2001 - Pat Ringwood EDITOR

A Devoted Fan:

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from Dean Torkington (a Meatloaf Tribute Artist) who also happens to be a member of the MLUKFC. He told me that after one of his gigs a fan came up to him and said how much she had enjoyed his performance and that as a thank you she would like to give him a "BOOH II Back into Hell" red satin tour jacket!
That was Alison Cookson who is now also a member of the MLUKFC. Curiosity got the better as always, so we asked Alison if she could tell us more about the jacket, and this was her reply:

At the time my brother was a rep for Virgin Records, he used to promote Meatloaf music in the UK. Meatloaf gave my brother and all the other reps one of these jackets. There are only about twenty of them. It has been in my wardrobe for years. I have only worn it once as I was worried about getting it pinched or damaged. My brother also gets gold/platinum discs for the sales of any CDs he promotes, he gave me a platinum disc for Bat Out of Hell II , for sales of over one million albums in twelve weeks in the UK. My brother sends me free tickets to see him and he is now head buyer for the Virgin Record label.

We met Dean and his wife at a gig they did in Audenshaw, Manchester on the 10th June we were at a party held for my sister-in-law who had been made redundant. We thought Dean and his wife were excellent, having seen Meatloaf several times Dean was the best double I have ever seen, better than any who have been on Stars In Their Eyes, and a lot of other people thought so too - Alison Cookson

Dean told me was very excited when he saw the jacket and couldn't wait to try it on. He thought it was going to be an XL and thought he might squeeze his XXXL frame into it. Sadly, it wasn't to be, however it fits his wife Maz perfectly. Poor Dean, she rubbed salt in the wound by parading up and down in it saying how nice it looked on her!