5 questions with ... Marvin Aday, aka Meat Loaf
By Robert Philpot
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
In the satellite-only series, pop performers face off on a series of knowledge-testing questions, such as on the recent premiere when members of pioneering rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five took on members of the Pussycat Dolls. Some of the questions are easy; some of them are a little tougher, such as the ones involving snippets of music videos with the music removed.
Meat Loaf took 10 minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about the show. The questions have been edited to remove the reporter's occasionally senseless babbling.
1. Could you settle something once and for all -- is the proper way to address you "Mr. Loaf"?
The first time I was ever called "Mr. Loaf" was by The New York Times. I suppose [it's the proper way], if you must. ... It was when I was doing Shakespeare in the Park. I was doing As You Like It, and Clive Barnes, the lead critic for The New York Times, called me Mr. Loaf. It's always been an interesting story.
2. What has surprised you about contestants' level of knowledge -- or lack of it?
[Percussionist] Sheila E. surprised me with her level of knowledge. The American Idol contestants [two trios of former Idol also-rans competed against each other] surprised me with their lack of knowledge. We showed a picture of Dwight D. Eisenhower to an American Idol contestant, and she said it was Bob Dylan.
3. Who do you think would do better if you had a game between rock musicians and music critics?
The music critics, probably -- if they lived through the show. It would depend on who the other team was. If it was Michael Bolton, they probably wouldn't live long.
4. We've talked about adding this to your résumé -- what else would you like to do that you haven't done yet?
Lots of stuff. If I'm not open to new things, not open to do better, then I might as well open a pizza place and try to make the best pizza. We're competitive in that nature, so I'd want the best pizza in town.
5. That'd be a good name for a pizza place -- Meat Loaf's Pizza.
Well, Alice Cooper thinks I should open Meat Loaf's Meatloaf: teriyaki meatloaf, vegan meatloaf, tofu and pork, barbecue, the whole gamut. It's not a bad idea.
"Rock and a Hard Place" airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays exclusively on DirecTV's Channel 101.