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Meat Loaf Dead At 74
Paul Natkin/Getty Images – Meat Loaf was known for his theatrical live performances.
Here he’s pictures with Karla DeVito performing at the Park West in Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 17, 1978.
Michael Lee Aday, better known by his stage name Meat Loaf and born as Marvin Lee Aday, passed away Thursday night, Jan. 20, at the age of 74.
Meat Loaf was one of the most prolific artists of all time. He will be remembered by his fans for a career spanning decades, his powerful and wide-ranging voice, theatrical live performances and music videos, and his kind and quiet personality off stage.
His first album, Bat Out Of Hell, was released in 1977 by Cleveland International, the only label that would take it at the time. It became one of the best-selling albums in history, and spawned the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy, the first two of which were produced and composed by Jim Steinman, Aday’s long-time friend and collaborator, who passed in April 2021.
Aday was also a successful actor on stage as well as on TV. He was cast for several Broadway productions, including Hair, and dual roles in The Rocky Horror Show in the early 1970s. He reprised his role as Eddie in the 1975 motion picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Over the course of his career, Aday appeared in more than 60 films.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images – Meat Loaf’s last recorded live performance.
With country artist John Rich at Redneck Riviera Nashville, March 27, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was also on tour a lot, the last time in 2015/2016 for the Meat Loaf “In Concert” tour. A total of 22 shows from those years got reported to Pollstar’s box office, grossing $3,345,174 and selling almost 50,000 tickets.
A statement posted on Meat Loaf’s Facebook page today reads: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends.
“His amazing career spanned 6 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.
“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!”
Tributes from celebrities have started to pouring out on social media: