Meat Loaf Star of ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘Bat Out of Hell’ Singer, Dead at 74

Rock n’ Roll Legend and Actor Meat Loaf has passed away at 74. The rocker behind the iconic rock trilogy “Bat Out of Hell” albums was known for his booming voice and incredible theatrical stage presence, which served him well as an actor. Fans also remember him for his memorable appearances in films such as “Fight Club” The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” among many other projects.

The singer passed away Thursday night with his loving wife Deborah and his two daughters Amanda and Pearl by his side. Meat Loaf’s agent Micael Greene later confirmed his passing in a statement to Hollywood Reporter.

The larger-than-life persona also achieved great success on television as well as Broadway. Meat Loaf soon became a global superstar after his debut 1977 solo album “Bat Out of Hell,” which sold more than 14 million copies just in the U.S. and became one of the best-selling albums of all time.

He would record two more albums in the series, which featured great, signature power ballads composed and written by the late Jim Steinman. Those albums would also sell millions of copies worldwide.

Meat Loaf was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 27, 1947, as Marvin Lee Aday. The singer was the son of a former police officer named Orvis Aday and school teacher Wilma Aday. His father was the one who first gave him the nickname “meat,” the singer shared in a 2016 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

He joked how he was “born bright red” and had the appearance of “nine and a half pounds of ground chuck.” However, his childhood was disruptive because of his dad’s alcoholism, so he spent a lot of time living with his grandmother.

After leaving Texas in 1967, a young Meat Loaf traveled to Los Angeles, California, to pursue his music career. He started his first band called “Meat Loaf Soul,” but the band underwent several name changes, which included “Popcorn Blizzard” and “Floating Circus.” They toured with major acts like “The Grateful Dead” and “The Who.”

However, his group only managed fringe success. Meat Loaf recalled working odd jobs, which led to a chance encounter to audition for a stage production of “Hair.”

In the early 1970s, the singer would meet writer Jim Steinman and star in the writer’s Vietnam War musical titled “More Than You Deserve.” The two men began a very long and successful artistic collaboration. Steinman composed and wrote the music as Meat Loaf sang, adding his unique stage presence and charisma as a frontman.

The two began work on an ambitious operatic rock album called “Bat Out of Hell” in 1972. However, the finished result wasn’t released until 1977. But, it was well worth the wait as the album became a massive worldwide hit, selling well over 40 million copies. The album also produced hit singles such as “Bat Out of Hell,” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” which soon made Meat Loaf a household name.

However, the success of “Bat out of Hell” would soon lead to strife between the two men over the years as they battled over credit and royalties.

Thankfully, Meat Loaf and Steinman reconciled a few years later, well before the songwriter passed away in April 2021. The two went on to work on the 1981 album “Dead Ringer” and the 1984 album “Bad Attitude,” However, both didn’t do as well as “Bat Out of Hell.”

Then in 1993, the duo worked on “Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell,’ an album that featured the massively successful hit single “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).” The music video for the song was directed by Michael Bay, who would become one of the most prominent action directors in Hollywood. The album soon went multiplatinum and led up to the third and final album in the trilogy released in 2006 titled “Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose.”

The final collaborations between Meat Loaf and Steinman include the 2016 album “Braver Than We Are” followed by “Bat Out of Hell: The Musical,” which is 2017, made its debut in London’s West End and played Off-Broadway throughout 2019.

He was already a well-established Broadway talent, well before his music career caught fire. Meat Loaf would branch out into movies in the 1970s. He played the iconic role of Eddie, the motorcycle-riding biker in the 1973 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

He’d previously played that character and Dr. Everett Scott in the stage musical version. In the movie, Eddie sings a song called “Hot Patootie — Bless My Soul” before he meets his demise.

A younger audience might remember his scene-stealing performance as Robert “Bob” Paulson in the 1999 hit film “Fight Club.” The character was a former steroid-abusing professional wrestler who developed gynecomastia. Just hours before the singer’s death, “Robert Paulson” started trending on social media as many fans of the film paid tribute to Meat Loaf by posting videos and stills along with the valedictory quote from the movie; related to his memorable character: “His name was Robert Paulson.”

At this time, the cause of death is unknown. However, the singer has suffered from medical issues in recent years. In 2003 he had to undergo heart surgery and later collapsed during a 2011 concert in Pittsburg. He again collapsed on stage in 2016 during a performance in Edmonton, Canada.

Meat Loaf is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their daughters Amanda and Pearl.

You can watch a news report about this story in the video below.

You can watch a video paying tribute to this unforgettable entertainer below.

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