Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell singer dies at 74

James

World Star
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Runs
50,619
Post of the Week
2
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60080934

Meat Loaf, the singer whose Bat Out Of Hell album is one of the best-selling of all time, has died at the age of 74.

The news was confirmed on the star's Facebook page by his family.

"Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side," a message read.

The Bat Out of Hell star sold 100 million albums worldwide and appeared in movies like Fight Club, the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne's World.

"Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours," his family continued.

"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," his family added.

"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!"

The Dallas-born singer, born Marvin Lee Aday but also known as Michael, was best known for his Bat Out Of Hell trilogy, which sold millions of albums worldwide.

He released a string of other albums in the late 1970s and 1980s, most notably notably Dead Ringer and Midnight at the Lost and Found.

Cher, who duetted with him on the 1981 track Dead Ringer for Love, recalled having "had so much fun" with the singer on the track.

In the 90s, his hit I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) was the UK's best-selling single of 1993 and earned him a Grammy Award.

On screen, he played Eddie in 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was bouncer Tiny in 1992's Wayne's World, and appeared opposite Brad Pitt as bodybuilder Robert Paulsen in 1999's Fight Club.

Bat Out Of Hell - which remains one of the top 10 best-selling albums of all-time, alongside LPs by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the Eagles - was also adapted as a stage musical, written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman.

In a 2010 interview with the BBC, Meat Loaf spoke about his distinctive and dramatic vocal style, which ranged over three octaves.

" had an offer to study opera and make a lot of money but it wasn't for me - I'm too rebellious, too crazy," he said.

"I made the right choices. I have no regrets. [It] might have saved some of my voice, you know - doing 200 rock shows a year will take it out of you."

Tributes have been paid from the world of entertainment, with broadcaster Stephen Fry tweeting a reference to the lyrics from Paradise by the Dashboard Light, a song from Bat Out of Hell. "I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf," he wrote.

"Had a fun time performing a sketch with him on Saturday Live way back in the last century."

Broadcaster Piers Morgan described him as "one of rock music's all-time great characters" and "a wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon".

Meat Loaf had his battles with illness and injuries over the years.

In 1978, he broke his leg jumping off a stage in Ottawa, Canada, finishing his tour performing in a wheelchair.

He also fainted on stage while performing in Pittsburgh in 2011 and then collapsed on stage during a concert in Canada in 2016.

Three years later, the star broke his collar bone falling off an interview stage at a convention in Texas.

When Jim Steinman died last year Meat Loaf paid tribute, posting: "Coming here soon, my brother Jimmy."
 
Interesting character, great singer, a pretty good actor too. RIP and condolences to his family.
 
How could anybody not love Meat Loaf?

It had been reported earlier in the day that he was in ICU in Nashville with Covid, poor guy.
 
Incidentally, the sales of “Bat Out Of Hell” remain crazy.

11 times Platinum in the UK in spite of peaking at Number 9.

14 times Platinum in the USA in spite of peaking at Number 14.

In history the only comparable albums are Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

And, let me point out, even his own record company hated it. His luck changed when he performed the title track on BBC2’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” in the UK, and literally belted his way into music history. He ended up making it in his own country because he had already conquered the UK and Canada.
 
Oops, I should also have added Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” as one of only three other peer studio albums in history.
 
Never a fan of his music, which I found bombastic and overblown. When I did my A-levels that album was on the charts for about two years, it was unparalleled.

But I liked his acting, especially in Fight Club where he was revelatory.
 
Last edited:
I read that too. He didn't wear a mask or take the vaccine because he didn't want to be "controlled".

I believe that his health had been failing him for some years.
 
"I would do anything for love" was a good track. His appearance seemed to be a very dark one for some reason. There were rumours that he was a Satanist.
 
"I would do anything for love" was a good track. His appearance seemed to be a very dark one for some reason. There were rumours that he was a Satanist.

He was a guest on an episode of Ghost Hunters around 8-10 years ago
Was interesting show. He said he always had an interest in the paranormal but didn't come across as a satanist, if anything quiet the opposite.
 
Still fourth in best selling album of all time
Position Artist Album Released Claimed sales (millions)
1 Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 70
2 AC/DC Back in Black 1980 50
3 Whitney Houston / various artists The Bodyguard 1992 45
4 Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell 1977 44
5 Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) 1976 44
6 Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon 1973 44
7 Eagles Hotel California 1976 42
8 Bee Gees / Various artists Saturday Night Fever 1977 40
9 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1977 40
10 Shania Twain Come On Over 1997 40
11 Various artists Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture 1978 38
12 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV 1971 37
13 Michael Jackson Bad 1987 35
14 Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 33
15 Michael Jackson Dangerous 1991 32
16 Celine Dion Falling into You 1996 32
17 The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 32
18 Various artists Dirty Dancing 1987 32
19 Adele 21 2011 31
20 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love 1997 31
21 Metallica Metallica 1991 31
22 The Beatles 1 2000 31
23 The Beatles Abbey Road 1969 31
24 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits 1992 30
25 Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984 30
26 Madonna The Immaculate Collection 1990 30
27 Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 30
28 James Horner Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture 1997 30
29 Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 1985 30
30 Nirvana Nevermind 1991 30
31 Santana Supernatural 1999 30
32 Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction 1987 30
33 Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1973 30
34 Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1986 28
35 Mariah Carey Music Box 1993 28
36 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000 27
37 Eminem The Eminem Show 2002 27
38 Norah Jones Come Away with Me 2002 27
39 Eric Clapton Unplugged 1992 26
40 Britney Spears ...Baby One More Time 1999 25
41 Bob Marley & The Wailers Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers 1984 25
42 Carole King Tapestry 1971 25
43 Phil Collins No Jacket Required 1985 25
44 Queen Greatest Hits 1981 25
45 Madonna True Blue 1986 25
46 Simon & Garfunkel Bridge over Troubled Water 1970 25
47 U2 The Joshua Tree 1987 25
48 Prince and The Revolution Purple Rain 1984 25
49 George Michael Faith 1987 25
50 Elton John Greatest Hits 1974 24
51 Backstreet Boys Backstreet's Back / Backstreet Boys 1997 24
52 Backstreet Boys Millennium 1999 24
53 Spice Girls Spice 1996 23
54 Ace of Base Happy Nation/The Sign 1993 23
55 Celine Dion All the Way... A Decade of Song 1999 22
56 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985 22
57 Fugees The Score 1996 22
58 Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 22
59 Michael Jackson HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I 1995 22
60 Adele 25 2015 22
61 Madonna Like a Virgin 1984 21
62 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 21
63 Bon Jovi Cross Road 1994 21
64 Michael Jackson Off the Wall 1979 20
65 Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998 20
66 Boston Boston 1976 20
67 Britney Spears Oops!... I Did It Again 2000 20
68 Celine Dion The Colour of My Love 1993 20
69 Def Leppard Hysteria 1987 20
70 Elvis Presley Elvis' Christmas Album 1957 2520
71 Green Day Dookie 1994 20
72 Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down 1983 20
73 Mariah Carey Daydream 1995 20
74 Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here 1975 20
75 Shania Twain The Woman in Me 1995 20
76 Supertramp Breakfast in America 1979 20
77 Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman 1988 20
78 Various artists Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture 1983 20
79 Whitney Houston Whitney 1987 20
80 The Who Tommy 1969 20
81 Andrea Bocelli Romanza 1997 20
 
He was a guest on an episode of Ghost Hunters around 8-10 years ago
Was interesting show. He said he always had an interest in the paranormal but didn't come across as a satanist, if anything quiet the opposite.

"Bat out of hell"?:qdkcheeky
 
Guy was a legendary singer

in the last year he was pushing anti-vaccine messages. in 2022 covid got him
 
Back
Top