Rare Meat Loaf

CELINA - Like countless others, the man behind Groamy's CD's and Tapes in Lima took to social media to share his memories of rockstar Meat Loaf after learning of his passing on Thursday.

Gene "Groamy" Frueh met Meat Loaf after a show at The Carousel Ballroom south of Celina on U.S. 127 sometime in 1986-1987 when the performer was touring behind the album "Blind Before I Stop."

The two would meet again a few years later outside Newport Music Hall in Columbus, right before Meat Loaf's single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" blew up on the airwaves and MTV, when Groamy made good on a promise.

"I don't know if we were friends," Groamy said. "I met him twice, got hugs and that sort of thing, but I don't know if we were friends."

Groamy shared his encounters with Meat Loaf online and provided additional details.

In the mid-80s Groamy was working at Mind Dust Records, which was also a ticket outlet, he said. Being a Meat Loaf superfan, Groamy arranged to attend the show at The Carousel Ballroom, now called The Overdrive.

The Overdrive in those days was known for booking classic rock acts that were still well liked but no longer at the arena-filling peak of their careers, Groamy said, including bands such as Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult.

"When he played down at The Carousel he was still popular and it sold out and it was a packed house but he wasn't as big, popularity-wise, as he once was," he said.

After watching Meat Loaf and his band rock out from just a few seats away from the stage, Groamy, who knew the venue owner at the time, made his way back to Meat Loaf's dressing room. That is to say, Groamy and his stack of about 25 Meat Loaf records.

"I'm a fan so I had … probably 25 (records)," Groamy said. "(Meat Loaf) had an album before 'Bat Out of Hell' called 'Stoney and Meat Loaf.' It did nothing. So I had that. I had 'Bat Out of Hell.' And at the time they would release a lot of 12-inch singles to send to radio for promotion. I was a fan. I wanted to get all their stuff."

Groamy said just as he was about to knock on the door, Meat Loaf came out, leaving both men somewhat rattled. Meat Loaf asked the stranger what he needed. Groamy, who was lugging a heap of vinyl, asked the big man for an autograph.

"He kind of looked down and he's like, 'Oh, I don't know if I really have time,'" Groamy said.

"I said, 'Man, that was amazing. I'm a huge fan. Just one (autograph). Can I get just one?'" Groamy continued.

Meat Loaf proceeded to invite Groamy into the dressing room and sat down in a chair. Groamy laid the records next to Meat Loaf, not knowing which album to ask the artist to sign.

Groamy recalled that Meat Loaf's interest was piqued upon seeing the sheer volume of records that Groamy had brought with him. Groamy pulled out the "Stoney and Meat Loaf" album. Groamy said Meat Loaf jokingly threw up his hands and told Groamy to put it away.

Then, Groamy pulled out a Meat Loaf live record. It happened to be a bootleg copy, the only version Groamy could get his hands on. He had hoped Meat Loaf wouldn't inspect the actual vinyl and realize that it was not the authorized release.

"He signed it 'Meat Loaf' and I thought, 'That was the one I was worried about,''' Groamy said while laughing. "He was like, 'What else you got in there?' So I took all the records out of my bag and I sat them on his lap. I was like, 'Here, this is what I've got. I'm a fan, dude.'"

Meat Loaf appeared impressed, Groamy said.

As the rockstar was thumbing through the records, a 12-inch single of his song "Surf's Up" caught his attention. Meat Loaf owned the 7-inch version but not the 12-inch, Groamy said.

Groamy promised to track down the 12-inch along with another record that Meat Loaf did not have.

A regular presence at record shows, Groamy would keep an eye out for the rare singles.

"Sure, that was on my list of stuff that I was looking for. Did I drop everything and go out the next day looking for it? No. But whenever I was around records did I look for it? Hell yeah. Absolutely," he said.

Groamy did indeed snag the records. Rather than attempt to mail them to Meat Loaf's management, Groamy held unto them with the hopes of someday delivering them personally to Meat Loaf.

That day came when Meat Loaf played Newport Music Hall in Columbus in 1993. This was right before the singer would enjoy an explosive second wind with the mammoth success of "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell," which made him a household name to a new generation of music fans.

"That's what I tell everybody: If you have a chance to see a band in a small venue, go, for so many reasons, not just because it's a more intimate setting but if you have any interest in meeting that band, go hang out behind the building," Groamy said, pointing out he met acts such as Pearl Jam, Korn and Joan Jett this way.

An hour before showtime, Groamy was planted outside the back of the club. An employee rolled his eyes when Groamy said he had some records to deliver to Meat Loaf. Groamy then saw Meat Loaf's bass player near the door, called out his name and relayed the message.

The message got delivered. As Groamy was chatting with other fans gathered outside, a big metal door burst open, clanging against the iron stair case like a gong.

The man certainly knew how to make an entrance, Groamy said. Meat Loaf looked down the stairs, called Groamy out by name and shouted, "You remembered my records!"

Meat Loaf, chuckling to himself, came down the stairs, warmly greeted Groamy, accepted the records and briefly engaged him in conversation. He even offered to pay for the records. Groamy said there was no need.

"I'm sure he didn't have a lot of time but he took the time with the fans. I know a lot of artists will do that but it's just so cool when you see that. He seemed so genuine," Groamy said.

Groamy said he has met with many musicians over the years but noted his encounters with Meat Loaf have left an indelible mark. This was a man Groamy had followed ever since being mesmerized at age 13 by the outrageous, Phil Rizzuto-narrated video of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."

"I don't know if we were friends but I know he was awesome. I know he was just an awesome human being," Groamy said. "He was an awesome person because he took the time with me. He took the time with the fans in Columbus and I've heard that about him in a lot of cases."