He was 74 years old. His best-known album, “Bat or of Hell”, went on to sell over 43 million copies.
American artist Meat Loaf died on Thursday at the age of 74. The announcement was made on the Facebook page of the author of the song “Bat out of Hell”.
“We know how much he has meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all the love and support as we go through this painful time of losing such an inspiring artist and such a beautiful man.”
The cause of death was not given, but the singer has had several health problems over the years.
Meat Loaf, the stage name of Marvin Lee Aday, has also had success on the small and big screen. He appeared in the movie “Fight Club”, in 1999, and in the musical comedy “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, in 1975. He also had cameos in “Glee” and “South Park”.
“Bat Out of a Hell”, a collaboration with songwriter Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren, came out in 1977 and became one of the best-selling albums in history, with worldwide sales of over 40 million copies.
His biggest musical success after “Bat Out of Hell” was “Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell”, a 1993 reunion with Steinman that sold over 15 million copies and the Grammy-winning single “I”d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”.
Meat Loaf has been married to Deborah Gillespie since 2007 and they have two daughters, Pearl and Amanda Aday.
Childhood
Marvin Lee Aday did not have a placid childhood. He practically grew up with his mother since his father developed alcoholism that kept him absent for many seasons. The musician’s life collapsed when his mother died while he was still very young. It was when he decided to move from Texas to Los Angeles and test his skills for music and acting. Although he formed a band that opened for Van Morrison’s Them, his first commercial contact was when he recorded a duet album in 1971 with Shaun Stoney Murphy. He had some success, but the record company, the imperious Motown, decided to do without him.
It was when he decided to try acting in musicals. He had a peculiar presence and a perfect voice for musical theater. First with Hair and in 1973 he joined the cast of the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This allowed him to participate in the 1975 film of the same title, where he played a wild and unhappy delivery man who sings the song Hot Patootie. The film, directed by Jim Sharman, has become over the years one of the most popular movie musicals.
At the same time, the musician and actor was preparing Bat Out of Hell with Steinman. It was an ambitious seven-song opus based in part on the Peter Pan myth. On the album, there was hard rock, ballads, and light rock and roll. And a lot of prominence of Loaf’s excessive voice. It was rejected by many record companies until it was decided to release one in part thanks to the intermediation of musician Todd Rundgren, who would also be in charge of production and guitars. The album was struck down by a sector of critics, who considered it almost like a copy of Bruce Springsteen in a Broadway musical. It did not matter: the album became a bestseller.
Loaf became one of the highest-paid singers in the business. But the problems started at the top. The musician fell out with his main collaborator, Jim Steinman, and they broke up. It took up to four years for it to reappear on the record (Dead Ringer, 1981), too long for a time when the stars published at least one work a year. The eighties were a decline in sales and prestige for him. The path was clear: team up with Steinman again. The two get to work on a sequel to their 1977 smash hit. Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell is released.in 1993. The miracle occurs: Meat Loaf returns to the best-seller lists and even this time the critics are full of praise. In 2006 he published the third and final part of his trilogy, Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose, this time with a more discreet triumph.
Although he released material from time to time, he was surely aware that he would never find material for a new massive success. Loaf focused on the performances, always with the necessary dramatic and rock charge. In the two thousand, he suffered some fainting spells on stage, the last one in 2016. Parkinson’s was diagnosed.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
