Rocker Meat Loaf died January 20, 2022 at the age of 74. While an official cause of death was not released, Meat Loaf has had a number of health issues in recent years. There have also been some reports that he may have died as a result of the Covid virus.
The award winning rocker only won one Grammy Award, but it was the one time he was nominated for the award. His album “Bat Out of Hell” has sold over 50 million copies around the world – 14 of them in the United States. The RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America – has certified the album with a Diamond Award for selling at least 10 million copies in the U.S. Oddly enough when the album first came out and Meat Loaf began to tour in support of the album, he had to open for Cheap Trick.
His most successful album, it also went on to become a Broadway show.
The followup album “Bat Out of Hell II: Back in Hell” went on to sell 15 million copies around the world with five million of those in the U.S. The RIAA certified the album five times platinum.
He was born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27, 1947 in Dallas, Texas to a police officer alcoholic father and a school teacher mother. The couple divorced and was raised by his mother until her death when he was still a teen. He began performing while still in high school where he cited Mick Jagger and Ethel Merman as his favourites. It is at this time that a young Marvin took the name Meat Loaf. After college at what is now North Texas University, he headed for Los Angeles where he formed his first band while splitting time between music and the stage.
He also spent a little time on the Broadway stage appearing in “Hair”, “The Rocky Horror Show” where he originated the role of Eddie, and “Rockabye Hamlet”.
He is credited with appearing in over 100 productions as an actor including numerous music videos, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “The Equalizer”, “Wayne’s World”,
“Tales from the Crypt”, “Nash Bridges”, “South Park”, “Fight Club”, “The Outer Limits”, “House”, “Monk”, “Glee”, “Elementary”, and “Ghost Wars”.
His music has appeared in over 60 productions including “Saturday Night Live”, “Dead Ringer”, “Miami Vice”, “Leap of Faith”, “King of the Hill’, “That ’70’s Show”, “Cold Case”, numerous competition reality shows, and concerts.
Predeceased by songwriting partner Jim Steinmen, Meat Loaf is survived by his wife Deborah and children Pearl and Amanda.
Meat Loaf discography:
“Live at Father’s Place”
“Dead Ringer”
“Bat Out of Hell”
“Midnight at the Lost and Found”
“Bad Attitude”
“Blind Before I Stop”
“Live at Wembley”
“Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell”
“Welcome to the Neighborhood”
“Live”
“Live Around the World”
“Couldn’t Have Said it Better”
“Bat Out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony”
“Bat Out of Hell: III The Monster is Loose”
“3 Bats Live”
“Hang Cool Teddy Bear”
Hell in a Handbasket”
“Braver Than We Are”
feature photo credit: Meatloaf Q&A at Galaxycon Raleigh 2019 15.jpg