Vale: Meat Loaf
Singer Meat Loaf has died just weeks before he was due to visit Australia to make a TV pilot.
- Published by David Knox
- on
Singer / actor Meat Loaf, best known for his iconic Bat Out of Hell album, has died aged 74, just weeks before he was due to visit Australia to make a TV pilot.
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday), he got his nickname when his dad said he looked as red as meat at birth, before a high school football coach added the “loaf”.
“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,” family posted on Facebook.
“Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.
“We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man.”
“We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time. From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!”
No immediate cause of death was released by his family or representatives.
Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell trilogy, written by Jim Steinman, sold millions of albums worldwide with hits including “Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”
He released a string of other albums in the late 1970s and 1980s, and duetted with Cher on the 1981 track Dead Ringer for Love. His hit I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) was a best-selling single in 1993.
Auditions had already opened for a pilot of I’d Do Anything For Love as a dating show for a US network. It is to be produced in Australia by ITV Studios, expected to film in March.
He also appeared as an actor in films including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fight Club, Wayne’s World, Spiceworld: The Movie, Face to Face and Urban Decay.
In Television he acted in House, The Outer Limits, Tales from the Crypt, Ghost Wars, Elementary, Fairly Legal, Strike Force, The Equalizer, Monk, Glee, Ghost Wars and as himself in Spicks & Specks, The Celebrity Apprentice, Hey Hey it’s Saturday, Don’t Forget the Lyrics and yes that AFL Grand Final in 2011.
Source: BBC
8 Responses
It’s likely that Rage would be doing a Meatloaf back catalog tribute special very soon. No word as yet but it’s usually a given with a musician of his stature and eminence.
Probably next Friday night you would imagine.
They’ve announced Triple J’s Hottest 100 for Friday, so possibly Saturday night. They could do it Friday or in another timeslot. It would be dependent on how many Meat Loaf videos they have in the back catalog. I don’t know for sure and will have to wait for notification from Rage’s social media and website. There’s also the pressure of not eating into the coveted annual Rage retro month which used to be in January but is now in February.
I just remembered the “Spicks and Specks” episode he was on (the tweet from Adam Hills triggered memories of this moment) and he (Meat Loaf) embraced everyone on the show. That bit with Jimeoin was one of the best moments on the show, ever.
I was a teenager in the 1970s so that is my era. Sad to say another one has gone. “Bat Out Of Hell” was (and still is) one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. May he Rest In Peace. Thanks for the memories, Meatloaf.
I am of a certain vintage where Meatloaf was big in my prime music years, so it sad when this generation starts to fade, because it means I won’t be far behind.
Nevertheless, as they said on the radio this morning. You often put the Bat Out of Hell cassette in the car and tore off down the road blaring it out for all to hear and singing along at the top of your voice. The joy!
For those of you who liked him, I highly recommend the documentary on SBS Classic albums (sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1960571971686/classic-albums-meat-loaf-bat-out-of-hell), that deconstructs that famous album. It has to be said that it was a perfect marriage between Meatloaf the performer and Jim Steinman the creative musical genius. It also made the point that this was essentially an operatic album made in a punk / post punk era that didn’t fit the norm of that time, which made it more remarkable in its success.
Vale Mr Loaf
I was shocked & devastated when I heard this on the news last night. He was my absolute favourite singer. I was looking forward to that show he was going to do. I met him a few times. He was a funny, generous & gracious man. He will be missed.
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁