Interview with Paul Crook of Meat Loaf's The Neverland Express

We had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Crook of Meat Loaf's official band, The Neverland Express over Zoom video!Paul Crook — Meat Loaf's longtime producer, music director, and guitarist — recently released, Paradise Found: Bat Out of Hell Reignited, a new LP helmed by Meat Loaf's official band, The Neverland Express — featuring alumni Justin Avery, (keyboard, vocals), Tom Brislin (orchestration), Steve Buslowe (bass), Paul Crook (guitar), Randy Flowers (guitar), David Luther (saxophone), Lyssa Lynne (“Stop Right There!”), John Miceli (drums) — plus American Idol Season 13 winner Caleb Johnson providing lead vocals. Today, the album is finally out through Deko Entertainment and Crook’s label, Crooked Media, LLC.Paradise Found reimagines the sound, passion, and fury of the original Bat Out of Hell, the 1977 release by Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman, which remains in the top five best-selling albums of all time. It includes all seven songs performed in their original order. The song arrangements have developed over decades of touring and now the listener can hear these re-envisioned versions.As Crook states on the album: "The music is timeless, and we play it virtually note for note. The wall of sound that fans experience when seeing us live is captured in this recording. Meat Loaf fans will be pleased. We’re hoping this release introduces Meat and Jim to a whole new fan base.""This album has been a labor of love for us," continues Crook. "Meat Loaf’s passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of millions around the world. We are committed to keeping the legacy alive by celebrating this incredible music. I felt there was no better way to honor our boss and Jim than to release our tribute to Bat Out of Hell on this special 45th anniversary."The LP's first single “All Revved Up With No Place To Go” dropped this past October, almost 45 years to the date of the official release of the original Bat Out of Hell album. Later, Deko + Crooked presented the record's next single, "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad," alongside a behind-the-scenes making-of