I started the day with a phonecall to Ahoy to check if the concert was still on. It was, so I started to look for a hotel. This was easier then expected, and before noon everything was arranged.
After checking in at the hotel, I immediately left for Ahoy, where I arrived at about 18.15. There was already a line of about 100 meters waiting people, but the atmosphere was good. Until it started to rain. I don't know if it had anything to do with the rain, but very soon after it started, the doors opened, and we could get in, and the waiting began. I found a place quite close to the front, about 10 meters from the stage, so I also had a chance to catch a plectrum (but that didn't happen, unfortunately. But I do have to say that I have one from the '96 concert in Brussels :-).
Suddenly some spotlights were adjusted at the screen on stage, and the crowd started to move forward. We had to wait another 15 minutes before Picture House came on. When they started to play, a much heard comment was "Oh no, a lullaby", and indeed, it sounded like one in the beginning. But it turned out to be more interesting. Someone in front of me said "They sound like the Backstreet Boys, but then rougher. And they sound better". I liked their music, although in the beginning the lyrics were very hard to understand due to not too good settings. They also got the crowd really good going (with clapping and singing). It was a shame there was a break of about 15 minutes between their part and the thunderstorm. It would have been more fun if they had to stop because of the thunderstorm.
In my opinion, the storm could have been cut out entirely, I found it disappointing as it was hardly recognizable as a thunderstorm. Between the thunder there was very audible drumming, so the bangs just sounded like a hit on the basedrum (which it probably was). Another strange thing was the smokemachine above the stage. For at least the first x rows there was no noticable effect from this machine. The mood in the audience was going down, and I think it was noticed. Meat got on stage before 21.00. And then the fun started.
The tracklist will be known by now, so I won't describe all the songs. The bangs in "life is a lemon" were as loud as I remembered (and louder than the thunderstorm), but didn't blow any speakers (like they did in the '96 concert). I have to admit that I was curious about the acoustic part, but that was solved very handy. They started with a song, and next Meat Loaf announced "this song is always requested, so we're just gonna play it." 1999 was requested (at least, that is what Meat Loaf said) and Pearl was gonna sing to us because "it's her birthday tomorrow" (The Mercedes Benz song). Another song worth mentioning is "Hot summer night". In the text sequence, Patti asks "Will he starve without me", on which Meat Loaf answered; "No. I never missed a meal and you know it, and I don't intend to start now." This was followed by a word game, in which Meat Loaf pretended not to know the text, and Patti seemed out of balance. It was plain fun.
The show was ended with Bat out of hell, and it was great. After this song, Meat Loaf came back, and told us that we were a great audience. And because of that, they were gonna sing an extra song. This turned out to be Johnny B. Goode from Chuck Berry. The crowd went really wild with this song, but this was the last song. After this one, the lights turned on, and 10.000 people were going for their coats. I can't say much more about the show than you missed something if you didn't go (or for the Americans, keep on hoping!).
After spending all my money on souvenirs, I headed for the artist entrance. There were less than 20 people waiting. This time we didn't have to wait as long as in '96 when it was about 3.00 in the morning before Meat Loaf came out. But (unfortunately) the musicians didn't have as much time as then either. They had to leave quickly, because they had to go to London for a recording (Top of the Pops). I got the autographs of John Micelli, Patti and Meat Loaf. I could have had more, but I was stupid enough/polite enough to lend my pen to others who didn't have one. And because of the quick departing of the bus, I missed the others. I know I should be happy with the ones I did get, but somehow I have a strange feeling about it. Even though I got a picture of Patti and me and Meat and me (btw, all three also signed my Bat 2 bomberjack. Patti's comment: "This is a good quality jacket", and Meat's "Let me see that, where did you get it"). After all I was in bed at about 0.30, and therefore got a good night rest in spite of the expectations. That's about all I've to tell you how I experienced the concert. The final conclusion: I wanna go again!! Unfortunately my purse doesn't support me enough, but what the heck, there will be another tour someday…
I think that my overwhelming memory of this concert will be the audience who really got going right from the start! It's no wonder that Meat Loaf dragged the band back to do an encore of Johnny Be Good (Tom really excelled himself on the piano in this!). Obviously they had rehearsed it at some stage but I don't think that the band expected to play it as halfway through Meat Loaf made Ray swop from keyboards to guitar.
Kasim was wearing his usual long black leather coat, black trousers and his long loose rich green shirt that he wore in Ireland (strong colors really suit him so well).
Once again the curtain didn't fall during Paradise and John came in too early on the drums at one stage but, especially after seeing the show several times, these made the concert! I think that this was my favorite concert of the tour so far.
Photos of Rotterdam concert page
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