Let me sleep on it … the sad death of Meat Loaf, aged 74
Covid probably killed one of the world’s favourite ‘wild man’ stars – I won’t be controlled by masks, he said in recent interview
Meat Loaf is dead. Despite his recent illnesses, he was one who was supposed to go on forever – after all he made so many of our rock’n’roll dreams come true.
He was just 74.
He was big, he was overweight, he sweated like Niagara, mugged, shimmied, stalked and gave some of the best music theatre shows of the Eighties and Nineties.
He was up there in so many ways with Alice and Ozzy – Meat was quite simply a giant of music, a king of rock’n’roll.
The Bat out of Hell singer powerhouse died with his wife Deborah at his side.
His real name is Michael Lee Aday and he sold more than 100 million albums, made films, did celebrity shows, made us laugh and made us cry.
Meat was another of those with a golden voice … and Jesus, did he know how to use it, making some of the biggest rock ballads of the last and this century.
A statement confirming the loss said: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side.
Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.
“His amazing career spanned six decades that saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.
“Bat Out of Hell remains one of the top 10 selling albums of all time.”
The statement said: “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!”
He was best known for his album Bat Out of Hell, which is among the top best-selling albums in US history, selling more than 14 million copies.
Its singles, “Two of Three Ain’t Bad” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, both were certified platinum in 2018 and at the time of release peaked at No. 11 and No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
And in 1993 he won a Grammy Award for his song I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).
When the pandemic first began, Meat Loaf offered supportive messages to his fans. “We all need to come together to fight the outbreak of this deadly virus,” Meat Loaf wrote on social media in March 2020, per The Sun. “So, please know how to protect yourself and others around you.” Meat Loaf’s attitude seemed to change over the course of the pandemic, though, as he voiced his frustrations in an interview with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2021. “I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics,” Meat Loaf said of COVID-19 shutdowns. He blasted mask use in his interview, saying, “They don’t do anything. They don’t stop you from getting COVID. They’re just a nuisance and make your nose itch and make it so you can’t breathe.” The star even foreshadowed his own tragic death in the interview when speaking about dodging the control of the government. “If I die, I die,” Meat Loaf said, “but I’m not going to be controlled.”