Interview by Kris Peters For more than three decades, the name Chocolate Starfish has been synonymous with Australian rock music, with singer Adam Thompson one of the most engaging and enigmatic frontmen to ever grace the stage in this country. Despite the success of Chocolate Starfish and the constant touring that comes with it, Thompson has also found time to branch into other areas of the artistic world, most notably the Chocolate Starfish Bat Out Of Hell Show, where, obviously, the band performs the classic Meatloaf hits from that album and beyond. While not exactly a new project for Thompson, it is one that is close to his heart, and he has embraced the role as if it were his own - and God help anyone who tries to say it's not… This year Bat Out Of Hell - Return will see Chocolate Starfish traversing the country once more, but this time there's going to be strings attached. Literally. The electrifying show that continues to thrill audiences everywhere will be augmented by the stirring swells of a six-piece string section, escalating the rich production to mesmerizing heights. Featuring the classic album in its entirety, Bat Out of Hell - The Return promises everything audiences have come to know and love about a Starfish show – it’s an entertainment experience not to be missed. As a prelude to the main event, the band will be supported by a specially curated trio performing Chocolate Starfish favourites, starring Kate Daley and her dazzling vocals, Peter Mitchell on saxophone and Les Gyori on violin. The star of the show, Adam Thompson, sat down with HEAVY to talk about Bat Out of Hell - The Return and more. "We had a lot of success a couple of years ago with the Bat Out Of Hell show, and we just thought, look, if we're going to do it again, let's take it to another level," he began. "About a year and a half ago I did a George Michael show at the Myer Music Bowl with David Campbell and a few others, and it was with an orchestra and I just loved it. I said to the boys, why don't we up the ante and see if we can use a string section because it's so made for those sorts of shows. I know Meatloaf back in the day did several of them, and that album is just made for strings. "It's an eight-piece string section," he continued, "and the dynamics of the performance will change because previously we only had synth for something like For Crying Out Loud or Heaven Can Wait. For some of those slower songs you'll have that lush tone that the string section brings. So just to feel that groan of the cello on (sings) 'now the chilly Californian wind, is blowing down our bodies again…' oh man, it's just going to be goosebumps, right?" In the full interview, Adam spoke more about the Bat Out of Hell show along with works by Jim Steinman, enhanced by the inclusion of a string section. Adam shared his excitement about the tour, reflecting on the success of previous orchestral performances and the necessary mental and physical preparation for the run of shows, which will travel from Melbourne to Perth. He emphasized the importance of pacing and structure in performances, particularly with the addition of string players, while maintaining his unique style. The conversation also highlighted the growing audience for Chocolate Starfish, especially among families, and the positive ticket sales, with some shows nearly sold out. We discussed fans reactions to Adam's personality shining through during his Meatloaf performance, the importance of sprinkling his own DNA through the show, and more.
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