Neverland Express
The Neverland Express is the name for American singer Meat Loaf's live band. The name is most likely taken from Meat Loaf's collaborator Jim Steinman's affinity for Peter Pan.
Neverland Express | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Genres | Rock Wagnerian rock |
| Associated acts | Jim Steinman |
| Members | Meat Loaf |
Band lineups
1977–78 (Bat Out Of Hell)
- Bob Kulick: lead guitars
- Bruce Kulick: guitars
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals[1]
- Jim Steinman: piano, vocals
- Paul Glanz: keyboards, vocals[2]
- Joe Stefko: drums[3]
- Karla DeVito: female lead vocals
- Rory Dodd: vocals
Note: Paul Jacobs made his debut during this tour after Jim Steinman departed due to exhaustion.
1981–82
Dead Ringer
- Davey Johnstone: lead guitars
- Mark Doyle: guitars[4]
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Paul Jacobs: piano, vocals
- George Meyer: keyboards, vocals[5]
- Terry Williams: drums
- Pamela Moore: female lead vocals[6]
- Ted Neeley: vocals
- Eric Troyer: vocals
European Tour
- Mark Doyle: lead guitars
- Steve Hunter: guitars
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Paul Jacobs: piano, vocals
- George Meyer: keyboards, vocals
- Terry Williams: drums
- Pamela Moore: female lead vocals
- Ted Neeley: vocals
- Eric Troyer: vocals
Note: George Borowski was the guitar tech during the '81/'82 period, but often played with the band onstage, especially during encores.[7] By the end of the tour, he had become the opening act.
1983 (Midnight At The Lost And Found)
- Bob Kulick: lead guitars
- Mark Doyle: guitars
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Paul Jacobs: piano, vocals
- Wells Kelly: drums
- Kati Mac: female lead vocals
1984–85 (Bad Attitude)
- Bob Kulick: lead guitars
- Paul Jacobs: guitars, piano, vocals
- John Golden: bass, vocals
- Brian Chatton: keyboards, vocals
- Andy Wells: drums
- Kati Mac: female lead vocals
- Doreen Chanter: vocals
1986–88
20/20 World Tour [Blind Before I Stop] (1986-87)
- Bob Kulick: lead guitars
- Alan Merrill: guitars, vocals
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Frank Doyle: keyboards
- Chuck Burgi: drums
- Amy Goff: female lead vocals
- Elaine Goff: vocals
Note: Paul Jacobs is credited for piano on the 1987 Live at Wembley album, but it is unknown whether this was an ongoing or temporary position (see the following entry for more on this).
Lost Boys and Golden Girls / Bat Out Of Hell 10th Anniversary Tour (1988)
- Bob Kulick: lead guitars
- Alan Merrill: guitars, vocals
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Domenic Cicchetti: keyboards
- Chuck Burgi: drums
- Amy Goff: female lead vocals
- Elaine Goff: vocals
Note: At one point in the 1988 tour, Stevie Lange filled in for one of the Goff sisters.[8]
1989–1992 (Pubs and Clubs Era)
Various band members passed through during this time period, and no firm info is known on exactly when people started and ended their employment. However, it is known that Pat Thrall and Dave Gellis both filled the lead guitar position at various points during this period, that Martin Gerschwitz (from February–July 1989) and Mark Alexander both handled the keyboard position, that Cindy Thrall was apparently a background vocalist in 1990, that Patti Russo joined around 1992, and that the core of the last certainly-known lineup (Steve Buslowe, Chuck Burgi, and Amy and Elaine Goff) were still intact, until John Miceli replaced Burgi in 1991.
Adding to the confusion, the liner notes for Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, after the standard credits for session musicians and amongst Meat Loaf's management team and other miscellaneous thank you's, list the following people as part of "The Band". (Note that the instruments or positions they have been known to fill in the past are listed; it is not known whether they actually filled said positions in the same band at any time.)
"The Band"
- guitars: Pat Thrall, Dave Gellis
- bass: Steve Buslowe
- piano: Paul Jacobs
- keyboards: Mark Alexander, "Dominic Chichetti" (sic)
- drums: Chuck Burgi, John Miceli
- vocals: Amy Goff, Elaine Goff, "Patricia Rousseau" (sic)
1993–97
Everything Louder Tour [Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell] (1993-94)
- Pat Thrall: lead guitars, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals (summer of 1994 only)
Born to Rock Tour [Welcome To The Neighborhood] (1995-96)
- Pat Thrall: lead guitars, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals
German Festival Tour (1997)
- Pat Thrall: lead guitars, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Steve Buslowe: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
1998–2000 (The Very Best of... Tour/Storytellers Tour)
- Damon La Scot: lead guitars
- Ray Andersen: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Tom Brislin: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals
2001 (The Night of the Proms)
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals
2002 (Just Havin' Fun for the Summer / Holidays Tour)
- Damon La Scot: lead guitars
- John Golden: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals
2003–04 (Couldn't Have Said It Better)
Early Promo Concerts (Germany and Amsterdam)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- John Golden: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Pearl Aday: vocals (in Germany only)
- Sara Douglas: vocals (in Amsterdam only)
2003-04
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Renee Cologne: vocals
Note: Carolyn "C.C." Coletti–Jablonski replaced Renee Cologne in October 2003.
2005–06 (Hair of the Dog Tour)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Carolyn "C.C." Coletti–Jablonski: vocals
2007 (The Bases Are Loaded/Seize The Night/Three Bats Tour [Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose])
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Aspen Miller: female lead vocals
- Carolyn "C.C." Coletti–Jablonski: vocals
Note: Following the abrupt end of this tour in October 2007, Meat Loaf announced on BBC–TV that Patti Russo would be returning to her role as female lead vocalist in 2008.
2008 (Casa de Carne Tour)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Kasim Sulton: bass, vocals
- Mark Alexander: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Carolyn "C.C." Coletti–Jablonski: vocals
2010–(July) 2013
Hang Cool Tour [Hang Cool Teddy Bear] (June–December 2010)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Danny Miranda: bass, vocals
- Justin Avery: piano, vocals[9]
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
- Carolyn "C.C." Coletti–Jablonski: vocals
Note: Carolyn "C.C." Coletti-Jablonski departed the band following the conclusion of the U.S. tour in September, and was not a part of the European leg from October to its close.
Hell In A Handbasket
Guilty Pleasure Tour (October 2011)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Danny Miranda: bass, vocals
- Justin Avery: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- Ginny Luke: violin, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
Mad, Mad World/Last At Bat Tour (2012-13)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Danny Miranda: bass, vocals
- Justin Avery: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Patti Russo: female lead vocals
(September–November) 2013 / 2014 (Rocktellz & Cocktails)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Danny Miranda: bass, vocals
- Tish Diaz: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Lyssa Lynne: vocals
- Stacy Michelle: vocals
Note: Justin Avery returned for the final three performances following an extended bereavement leave. Cian Coey replaced Lyssa Lynne in the 2014 season.
2015–16 (in concert)
- Paul Crook: lead guitars
- Randy Flowers: guitars, vocals
- Danny Miranda: bass, vocals
- Justin Avery: piano, vocals
- Dave Luther: saxophones, keyboards, vocals
- John Miceli: drums
- Cian Coey: vocals
Note: Tom Brislin appeared as pianist on the 2016 tour while Justin Avery was on paternity leave.