One of the most colourful characters in rock ‘n’ roll history Meat Loaf has filed a lawsuit against his very own tribute act To Hell and Back, claiming $100,000 for cybersquatter and online imposter…ing.
Fronted by UK-based singer Dean Torkington, To Hell and Back have found themselves copping the fury of the Bat Out of Hell hitmaker after Torkington allegedly “commercially exploited the internet top-level domain name MeatLoaf.org to capitalise on the artist’s celebrity”. Furthermore, according to NME, by-law Torkington is also “liable for substantial damages, including statutory damages of up to $100,000 for cybersquatting”.
The fake Meat Loaf spoke to The Daily Mail about the ‘spat out of hell’, stating that “earlier this month I received a copy of the lawsuit posted to my home and emailed. I have every intention of defending this to protect my good name and will not be bullied in this way. I really don’t see what his gripe is or legally where he is coming from, I am not guilty of cybersquatting or passing myself off as him.”
It’s not the first time Meat Loaf, whose real name is actually Michael Aday (did anyone else actually just think his name was Meat Loaf?) has unleashed on Torkington. Back in 2006, Aday took Torkington back stage at one of his gigs and berated him for displaying the Bat Out of Hall artwork on his van. According to Torkington, he even once offered to sell the domain name to Meatloaf for $8,000, only to be handed a return offer of $1,300.
The professional impersonator has decided to hang up the wig, lose the gut and get rid of the motorcycle props, and rekindle his passion as an Elton John impersonator. There’s clearly a lot going on in this dude’s head. “I’ve gone back to doing Elton John tribute acts more now as a result of all this. It’s less hassle than being a Meat Loaf tribute act any day.”
I would probably stop wanting to be someone if they were Meat Loaf as well. Check out To Hell and Back below.
