When “Bat Out of Hell: The Musical” hits the Fabulous Fox Theatre on April 16, St. Louis audiences will see motorcycles, teenage drama and some of the most theatrical rock songs ever written.
What they may not see is the story behind the Jewish songwriter who created it.
The one-night stop brings the music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf to St. Louis, transforming the 1977 album “Bat Out of Hell” into the kind of rock opera Steinman had imagined from the start.
Who was Jim Steinman?
Steinman, who grew up on Long Island in a Jewish family, built his career on going big. His songs sounded closer to Broadway than traditional rock, full of drama, heartbreak and characters who felt larger than life.
He wrote every song on “Bat Out of Hell.” Getting his name equal billing was another story.
Steinman, who died in 2021 at age 73, rarely spoke publicly about his Jewish identity. But years later he said he was frustrated that his name was not featured more prominently on the album cover. Reports after his death noted he believed executives worried his name sounded “too Jewish,” leaving his songwriting credit in much smaller type than he wanted.
ADVERTISEMENT
When the music proved the point
The album itself settled the question.
After a slow start, “Bat Out of Hell” became one of the best-selling albums ever, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide and turning Steinman into one of rock’s most distinctive creative forces.
In the end, the name they worried about became part of the legend.
Why his name finally mattered
Decades later, the stage production would carry a different billing: “Bat Out of Hell: Featuring Jim Steinman & Meat Loaf’s Greatest Hits” placing his once-questioned name front and center. Promotional material now lists Steinman ahead of Meat Loaf, the singer who made the songs famous. Not a small detail.
Now, as the musical continues its international run and makes a stop in St. Louis, Steinman’s place in that history feels settled. His name sits exactly where he wanted it, attached to the work that defined his career.
Not bad for a songwriter once told his name might be a problem.
Event Info
What: Bat Out of Hell: The Musical
When: April 16, at 7:30 pm
Where: Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd.
Ticket Info: Visit them online.
| RELATED: The Jewish history of The Fabulous Fox and how Mary and Leon Strauss saved it 40 years ago
ADVERTISEMENT
