Hang Cool Teddy Bear

For the past 35 years, the man born Marvin Lee Aday has been a towering monument on the musical landscape. His 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell transformed this former high school football player, nightclub bouncer and stage actor into the American rock 'n' roll icons, Meat Loaf. Hang Cool Teddy Bear (a title taken from a line in the classic Russ Meyer trash movie Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls) is his 11th studio album, and aims to drag the classic Meat Loaf sound kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Produced by new collaborator Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance Paramore, Fleetwood Mac), the album features hand-picked musicians including guitarists Tim Pierce, Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins (who co-wrote two songs for the album), Paul Crook and Randy Flowers, legendary bass players Chris Chaney and Kasim Sulton, keyboardist Jamie Mulhoberac and drummer John Micelli. Hang Cool Teddy Bear also features an array of big-name guests, including Steve Vai (who appears on "Love is Not Real"), former Queen guitarist Brian May (who appears on "Song Of Madness" and "Love Is Not Real"), American Idol presenter Kara DioGuardi (who co-wrote and sings on "If I Can't Have You") and Hollywood star Jack Black, who duets with Meat Loaf on "Like A Rose". But the most surprising guest is Blackadder and House actor Hugh Laurie--a classically-trained pianist who plays on "If I Can't Have You?".