'COVID's a drag - blame China': Meat Loaf, 74, said 'we're all suffering' thanks to the pandemic in Cameo video message to fan three weeks before he died from the virus and said he couldn't sing Happy Birthday because he'd had a endoscopy

• Meat Loaf, 74, died on Thursday after falling 'critically ill' with COVID-19, according to TMZ sources
• It's unclear if he was vaccinated - last year, he railed against politicians enforcing restrictions 
• He said: 'I understood stopping life for a while but not for politics. If I die, I die, but I won't be controlled' 
• The singer lived in Nashville with his family; on social media, he criticized Biden but refrained from ever saying if he was vaccinated 
• He'd had an array of previous health issues and was recovering when COVID hit, which he said made his health worse because he had to stay out of the gym 
• Meat Loaf's adult daughter Pearl said on January 7 that some of her family and friends had tested positive
• She said they were all feeling 'OK' because they were vaccinated, but didn't say if her father was among them 
• The singer had extraordinary career over six decades with Bat Out Of Hell trilogy among most popular offerings 
• I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) reached number one in 28 countries and won him a Grammy 

Meat Loaf told a fan three weeks ago that he'd recently had an endoscopy and complained about never-ending lockdowns and restrictions, telling the fan in a Cameo video: 'COVID's a drag, but you can blame China. ' 

The singer, 74, died on Thursday surrounded by his family. TMZ cites sources who say he died after becoming critically ill with COVID-19. 

Two weeks ago, his daughter Pearl posted on Instagram that a number of her 'friends and family' had tested positive. She did not specify whether her father was one of them, but said: 'Thank their respect for science that they’re all vaxxed, otherwise they’d be way worse.' 

It remains unclear whether or not he was vaccinated - he refused to disclose it to fans, and urged them all not to talk politics when coming to his shows - and his family has not revealed if he died at his home in Nashville or in the hospital.

In the paid-for Cameo video, he tried to sing Happy Birthday to a fan called Marty but his voice croaked. 

'I can't really sing too well because I had anesthesia today and I had a pipe shoved down my throat. An endoscopy this morning. Ugh, Marty take care.' 

He then said he hoped the fan would be able to enjoy his birthday with friends and family, saying: 'I hope that you're able to have at least your family celebrate your family with you. COVID is a drag and we're all suffering because of it but you can blame China.

'I love you Marty, and one more thing - keep rocking.' 

In an interview last August, he said he was against politicians trying to force restrictions on people. The singer asked the journalist from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette whether or not they'd like a hug. 

'I’m happy to give you a hug. I hug people in the middle of COVID,' he said. The reporter replied: 'You do? You're not afraid?'  

Meat Loaf, who was severely asthmatic and battled a range of other health issues before the pandemic, said: 'Oh, I’m scared to death! You kidding me? But I'm sorry, I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics. And right now they're stopping because of politics. And on CNN last night, it finally came out that the masks we’re all wearing are useless. But I've known that for six months. 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 reporter said: 'Oh, God. We're being controlled by everybody' to which he replied: 'Yeah, I know. But not me. If I die, I die, but I'm not going to be controlled.'  

Sources told TMZ that he would also rail against vaccine mandates, particularly in Australia.  In May last year, he shared Eric Clapton and Van Morrison's anti-lockdown post Stand and Deliver.  

The pair released the song to raise money for struggling artists and musicians whose careers were stamped out by COVID and in particular, the punitive measures in the UK against the music industry. 

Meat Loaf said of it: 'A song of Great Interest preformed by someone I know named Eric and someone I met named Van. A song of great interest and learning. Listen and Learn. Love you much.' 

The singer, who was born Marvin Lee Aday, died with his wife Deborah at his side - and while no cause or other details were given by his family, he had suffered numerous health scares over the years. Meat Loaf had an extraordinary career over six decades with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy among his most popular musical offerings. 

His hits included the near ten-minute title track from Bat Out Of Hell, Paradise By The Dashboard Light from the same album, and I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) from 1993 album Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell. 

The single I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) reached number one in 28 countries and earned him a Grammy award. The rocker also played the role of Eddie in the 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Among those paying tribute to Meat Loaf today were singer Cher, who said she had 'so much fun' when she worked with him, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber who said the 'vaults of heaven will be ringing with rock'. 

In 2016 he was honoured with the Hero Award at the annual Q Awards music ceremony, which he dedicated to everyday heroes and called on people to 'bring love back into this world'. His career spanned more than just music, with the musician also featured in a string of films including 1999's Fight Club and 1992's Wayne's World.

Bat Out Of Hell was also adapted as a stage musical, which premiered in Manchester in 2017 after being written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman and featured some of the star's best loved hits. It is currently on a UK tour.

Meat Loaf had spoken openly about health issues that had plagued him, notably asthma, which caused him to collapse on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 2011, and in 2003 he collapsed at Wembley Arena in London and was admitted to hospital. 

He later held a press conference in Kensington to reassure fans about his health. Then, following an on-stage collapse in Canada in 2016, a statement said it was due to 'severe dehydration'.

Born in Dallas in 1947, Meat Loaf found early success on the stage in the 1970s, performing in the Broadway musicals Hair and The Rocky Horror Show - before he switched focus to rock music around 1972.

Meat Loaf started collaborating with Mr Steinman - who died last April - on a debut album that year which showcased his powerful voice and established his leather-clad, motorcycle-riding rock persona. 

The singer will be best remembered for famously singing in Bat Out Of Hell: 'Like a bat out of hell I'll be gone when the morning comes; When the night is over, like a bat out of hell, I'll be gone, gone, gone.'

He is survived by his wife Deborah Gillespie - who is from Canada and married him in 2007 - and by daughters Pearl Aday, a singer who went on tour with him; and Amanda Aday, an actress from the HBO series Carnivale. 

He had both children with his first wife Leslie Edmonds, whom he met when she was working as a secretary at Bearsville Studios - and they were married from 1978 to 2001. Pearl is married to Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian.

The alleged origins of his stage name range from his weight to a favourite recipe of his mother's – and he renamed himself Michael Lee Aday in 1984 after a Levi's TV advert referred to how 'Poor fat Marvin can't wear Levi's.' 

The singer also went by the name 'Meat Loaf' off stage - and this was even printed on his passport, but he decided to switch it back to Michael after running into trouble in Germany where he was kept in immigration for six hours. 

One of his most famous anecdotes was the claim that he once grabbed Prince Andrew and screamed 'I don't give a s*** who you are' after the two were reportedly involved in a brawl over Sarah Ferguson. He alleged that the Duke of York tried pushing him into a moat while they were filming for the one-off charity event It's a Royal Knockout.

He told the Guardian that at the event in Staffordshire in 1987, he grabbed the royal, who allegedly warned the star about flirting with his then-wife Sarah and told him: 'You can't touch me. I'm royal'. Meat Loaf is reported to have bluntly informed a 'jealous' Andrew: 'I don't give a s*** who you are', before pushing him back.

A statement by Meat Loaf's family posted on the star's Facebook page this morning 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 100million 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 ten selling albums of all time.'

The post added: '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!'

Meat Loaf initially made his name in theatre productions, including a Broadway run of Hair, and spoke in 2012 about his roots as an actor. He said: 'I started as an actor, I am an actor. I started in New York in theatre, almost 10 years before Bat came out.

'While other people were playing out in bars and doing music, I was doing theatre, so that's why Jim (Steinman) and I struggled so much because Jim and I both came from theatre, and they went 'You're not rock people. You're theatre people. Theatre people don't make records'. The public didn't care, but I've gone up against that my entire career.'

His long music career saw him release more than ten albums, with his final studio album, Braver Than We Are, coming out in 2012.

Meat Loaf's hell-raising ride to musical stardom 

Meat Loaf shot to worldwide fame in 1977 with Bat Out Of Hell, which became an international success that reigns as one of the best-selling albums in history.

The American singer, born Michael Lee Aday in Texas in 1947, has died aged 74 with his wife Deborah at his side.

During a career spanning more than six decades, he sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and starred in more than 65 movies.

Meat Loaf initially made his name in theatre productions, including a Broadway run of Hair, and then found his feet in the stage and film versions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, playing Eddie, the ex-delivery man and partial brain donor to Rocky.

At the same time, he began Bat Out Of Hell - which featured the eponymous classic Paradise By The Dashboard Light and Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad - with composer Jim Steinman.

Although rejected by every major label, it was released in 1977 to huge international success.

His follow-ups failed to set fans alight until he made a blazing comeback with Bat Out Of Hell's sequel 16 years later in 1993.

Lead single I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) reached number one in 28 countries and earned him a Grammy award.

He followed up with 1995's Welcome To The Neighbourhood, which went platinum in the UK and US, and his third Bat Out Of Hell album, The Monster Is Loose, in 2006.

The Bat Out Of Hell trilogy was also adapted in to a stage musical, which was written by Steinman and featured some of the musician's best-loved hits.

Meat Loaf was plagued by health issues, including asthma, which caused him to collapse on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 2011.

He suffered from a medical condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White, which causes an irregular heartbeat, and underwent surgery in 2003 in London.

Meat Loaf reunited with Steinman for the fourth time for his last studio album Braver Than We Are, which was released in 2016 and reached fourth place in the UK album charts.

Around his music career, he continued to act, most notably as Robert 'Bob' Paulson in David Fincher's Fight Club in 1999 and with a cameo in the Spice Girls' Spice World film.

Meat Loaf has two daughters - TV actress Amanda Aday and adopted daughter Pearl - from his marriage to ex-wife Leslie.

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The singer regularly updated fans with messages on his Facebook page, saying in a post in November last year that he was planning to be back in the studio to record in January this year.

He wrote: 'Yes, only 7 new songs but and a BIG BUT. Live tracks from (oh goodness I'm not that old) the 70's great ones a great band and Jimmy on piano, the 80' so many great live tracks in the 80's great bands, the 90 and again a great band and so many great shows, 2000's (how do you write that) great shows great band. Then Tracks up till I hurt my back (I have now had 4 back surgeries) The back surgeries hurt everything.'

He went on to detail surgeries he has undergone on his back and added that the '4th surgery Feb 2018 has left me in a lot of pain' explaining: 'I now have 13 screws holding on a metal plate or plates in half my back.'

According to reports, he was also planning on launching a reality TV show based on his song I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), with American outlet Deadline saying in March last year that it was to be 'a relationship competition series'. 

He was also a fan of League Two football team Hartlepool United after finding great joy in their nickname 'Monkey Hangers', deriving from a legend that a monkey was executed in the town over fears that it was a French spy. 

Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell the Musical is currently on a UK tour and is expected to go ahead as planned at New Wimbledon Theatre in London tonight. 

Queen's Brian May has remembered Meat Loaf saying he is 'completely gutted' that the singer 'has left us'. 

Alongside a picture of himself and Meat Loaf on Instagram, May wrote: 'Remembering great times. Completely gutted that Meat Loaf has left us. Always full of madness, with the innocent sense of naughtiness of a 5-year old, Meat was forever young.

'I called him Mr Loaf, and he called me when he wanted some wacky guitar playing. We had so much fun so many times, and, just three months younger than me, he felt like a brother. Dear Meat, the world is mourning and will miss your fine and powerful presence for a very long time. RIP. Bri.'

A statement issued today said: 'The company of Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell the Musical here in the UK is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of their great friend and producer, Meat Loaf. He was with us when the show first launched in London at the Coliseum and in Manchester at the Opera House back in 2016 and then came to the show at the Dominion Theatre in London on 25 July 2018. The current UK and Ireland Tour of the musical will perform this evening's show at the New Wimbledon Theatre in Meat's memory.' 

Cast members of Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical said the lyrics of Meat Loaf's songs will be 'incredibly moving' during tonight's performance. Sharon Sexton who plays character Sloane, said: 'I think the music will never be the same again.

'I think there's gonna be a lot of emotion in the building this evening, Meat had a massive fan base in the UK and we are so honoured that we get to now continue his legacy and that we get to sing these incredible songs.

'When you're a performer you might get one song in a show or maybe two songs in a show where you go 'oh yeah, that's that's the one that is the pinnacle, that is the anthem' but every single song (in the musical) is an anthem. And so I think as soon as the music chords starts tonight, it's going to be incredibly moving.'

Rob Fowler, who plays character Falco, said: 'I feel that tonight will be more special because the words are going to mean so much more.'

Music producer Pete Waterman was among the first to pay tribute to Meat Loaf today, saying Mr Steinman's death just nine months ago would have affected him. 

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'It's like when your partner does go, it takes a part of you away. I don't think you can ever work out what that effectively does to you personally. So, I think that must have had some impact.

'But he was an amazing character. I once sat on a plane with him to New York and he took a box, like a cold trunk full of beef burgers. It was amazing, what that boy could eat, I'll tell you – he could eat.

'Meat Loaf was Meat Loaf. His size was part of the whole legend. It was his voice – you know, you knew what you got with Meat Loaf. It was 100 per cent of everything.'

Singer Cher said she had 'so much fun' with Meat Loaf when she worked with him on his 1981 album Dead Ringer. In a tribute posted to Twitter, she added: 'Am Very Sorry For His Family, Friends, & Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day.'

Bonnie Tyler wrote in a tweet: 'I am shocked & saddened by the sudden death of Meat Loaf. He was, as you might imagine, a larger than life character with a voice & stage presence to match & is one of those rare people who truly was a one off talent and personality. Rest In Peace'.

English musician Boy George also tweeted a tribute to Meat Loaf. He wrote: 'R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.'

And Andrew Lloyd Webber has said the 'vaults of heaven will be ringing with rock' following the death of Meat Loaf. The composer and theatre impresario said: 'The vaults of heaven will be ringing with rock. RIP Meatloaf. Give my best to Jim (Steinman).' 

Stephen Fry was also among the first to pay tribute online, saying in a tweet: 'I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf. Had a fun time performing a sketch with him on Saturday Live way back in the last century.' 

The club with the monkey mascot: Why Meat Loaf loved Hartlepool United

Hartlepool have paid tribute to arguably their most famous supporter following the death of rock star Meat Loaf.

The singer adopted the League Two club after being asked to appear on Sky Sports' Soccer AM in 2003.

A club spokesman said: 'Everyone at the club is saddened to hear of the passing of international superstar Meat Loaf. Meat Loaf's story of how he became a Hartlepool supporter when he appeared on Soccer AM was heart-warming and we are glad to have been the team to which he dedicated his passion for football. He was probably our most famous fan and we send all our love and thoughts to his family and friends at this sad time.'

Meat Loaf, who was born Marvin Lee Aday but was also known as Michael, explained his recruitment to the north-east club's fanbase in an interview with talkSport Magazine, revealing he had been attracted by the legend that a monkey washed up on the town's shores from a shipwreck during the Napoleonic Wars was hanged as a French spy.

He said: 'I was going on Soccer AM and they said, 'Do you have a team that you support, Manchester United, Liverpool?', and I was going, 'That's boring!'. It's just like a celebrity to go on and go, 'Oh, I'm a Liverpool fan, I support whoever', the teams who have always been at the top. So I started looking and I went to the second division, no, no, and I got down to the third division and I said, 'There's a cool name, Hartlepool, in the third division'.

'I found out that the city back a long time ago, the claim was that a monkey washed ashore and the whole city thought it was a Frenchman and they hung him, and I said, 'That's perfect'. Then what I did was I started researching all the players from Hartlepool, so when I got on Soccer AM, I knew all the players, I knew the last game, I knew who were the big scorers, I knew who the coach was. I got on the phone with the Hartlepool coach (at the time, Mike Newell) and told him, 'Hang in there, you're going to move up, I guarantee you'. Since then, I have signed up to the web, left my email address and I get Hartlepool updates.'

It may have been an unlikely alliance, but it was one to which the rock star committed to the point where speculation, fuelled by his UK publicist, suggested he was looking to buy a home in the town and later, the neighbouring village of Wolviston.

Hartlepool's mascot is a monkey who goes by the name of H'Angus in honour of the legend.

Meat Loaf is not the only internationally famous musician to follow Pool - Iron Maiden guitarist Janick Gers is a Hartlepool native who has often been seen on the terraces at what is now the Suit Direct Stadium.

The club, of which Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling is president, currently sits in 17th place in the fourth tier in its first season back in the Football League following a four-year exile.

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And BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley paid tribute, describing his voice as 'extraordinary'. She tweeted: 'God I loved Bat Out Of Hell. Soundtrack to my youth. Sad news RIP Meatloaf. Extraordinary voice. Phenomenal character.'

English singer Nik Kershaw tweeted: 'Proper sad to hear this. I got to hang out with him for a while in Australia. Larger than life character and true force of nature obviously. But also a sweet, funny and gentle man. Rest easy fella.'

Singer Adam Lambert, who found fame on American Idol and has since performed with rock band Queen, shared a photo of himself with Meat Loaf.

He said: 'A gentle hearted powerhouse rockstar forever and ever. You were so kind. Your music will always be iconic. I'm sure you're singing concerts in the great beyond. Rest In Peace sir. #MeatLoafRIP'

Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May also paid tribute to Meat Loaf, writing on Twitter: 'Meatloaf has passed. I'm so lucky I got to know, sing and laugh with such a wildly talented, charismatic, big hearted, supportive, high spirited and wonderful man. I'll really miss you pal. #RIPMeatLoaf. My love to Deborah, his daughters and right hand man @PaulCrookMusic.'

Actor Kevin Sorbo has also paid tribute to his 'dear friend' Meat Loaf. Sorbo, who starred in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, wrote on Twitter: 'I just heard the sad news this morning. He was my golf buddy and great soundboard for me in our talks from sports to politics. We just talked a few months ago. RIP.'

Star Trek star George Takei tweeted: 'We wanted you, we needed you-and we loved you. Three out of three after all, Meatloaf. You will be missed.'

Producer Amy Bruni has also recalled fond memories with Meat Loaf. Bruni, who is also a paranormal investigator for the TV series Ghost Hunters, said she was glad he got to film with the programme one final time since he was a fan of the show.

She posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Meat Loaf watching a screen during filming and captioned it: 'Sad to hear about the passing of #Meatloaf. I have so many fun memories of him, from racing go karts, to him singing for us privately in the car. 

'His energy was infectious and he was just a truly lovely person with a huge heart. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. I'm glad he got to film with #Ghosthunters one final time because he had such wild enthusiasm for what we do.'

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin said her heart is 'broken into a million pieces' at the death. Matlin, who won an Oscar for her role in the 1986 film Children Of A Lesser God, shared a photo with the Bat Out Of Hell singer on Twitter.

She wrote: 'He was passionate. A softie. Kind. And talented as hell. And he was my friend. My heart is broken into a million pieces. RIP my friend, Meat Loaf.'

Bat Out Of Hell, his mega-selling collaboration with songwriter Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren, came out in 1977 and made him one of the most recognisable performers in rock. 

Fans fell hard for the roaring vocals of the long-haired singer and for the comic non-romance of the title track, You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad and Paradise By The Dashboard Light, an operatic cautionary tale about going all the way.

Paradise was a duet with Ellen Foley that featured play by play from New York Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto, who alleged - to much scepticism - that he was unaware of any alternate meanings to reaching third base and heading for home. 

After a slow start and mixed reviews, Bat Out Of Hell became one of the top-selling albums in history, with worldwide sales of more than 40 million copies. 

Full family statement about Meat Loaf's death 

'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 ten 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!'

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Meat Loaf wasn't a consistent hit maker, especially after falling out for years with Mr Steinman. 

But he maintained close ties with his fans through his manic live shows, social media and his many television, radio and film appearances, including Fight Club and cameos on Glee and South Park. 

His biggest musical success after Bat Out Of Hell was Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, a 1993 reunion with Mr Steinman that sold more than 15 million copies and featured the Grammy-winning single I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).

Mr Steinman died in April last year. Meat Loaf's other albums included Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose, Hell In A Handbasket and Braver Than We Are. 

A native of Dallas, Meat Loaf was the son of a school teacher who raised him on her own after divorcing his alcoholic father, a police officer. 

He was singing and acting in high school - Mick Jagger was an early favorite, so was Ethel Merman - and attended Lubbock Christian College and what is now the University of North Texas. 

Among his more notable childhood memories were seeing John F. Kennedy arrive at Love Field in Dallas on November 22, 1963, then learning the president had been assassinated and driving to Parkland Hospital and watching a bloodied Jackie Kennedy step out of a car.

He was still a teenager when his mother died and when he acquired the nickname Meat Loaf, the alleged origins of which range from his weight to a favourite  recipe of his mother's. 

He left for Los Angeles after college and was soon fronting the band Meat Loaf Soul. 

For years, he alternated between music and the stage, recording briefly for Motown, opening for such acts as the Who and the Grateful Dead and appearing in the Broadway production of Hair.  

By the mid-1970s, he was playing the lobotomized biker Eddie in the theatre and film versions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, had served as an understudy for his friend John Belushi for the stage production of National Lampoon and had begun working with Steinman on Bat Out of Hell.

Meat Loaf 'grabbed Prince Andrew and said 'I don't give a s**t who you are'' after the Duke 'tried to push the singer into a moat' when he thought Fergie was flirting with him on It's a Royal Knockout in 1987 

The late American singer Meat Loaf claimed he once grabbed Prince Andrew and screamed 'I don't give a s*** who you are' after the two were reportedly involved in a brawl over Sarah Ferguson.

The Bat Out Of Hell star said the Duke of York tried pushing him into a moat while they were filming for the one-off charity event It's a Royal Knockout in Staffordshire in 1987.

He told the Guardian he grabbed the royal, who allegedly warned the singer about flirting with his then-wife Sarah Ferguson and told him: 'You can't touch me. I'm royal'. 

Meat Loaf is reported to have bluntly informed a 'jealous' Prince Andrew: 'I don't give a s*** who you are', before pushing him back.

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The dense, pounding production was openly influenced by Wagner, Phil Spector and Bruce Springsteen, whose bandmates Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg played on the record. Mr Rundgren initially thought of the album as a parody of Springsteen's grandiose style. 

Mr Steinman had known Meat Loaf since the singer appeared in his 1973 musical More Than You Deserve and some of the songs on Bat Out of Hell, including All Revved Up With No Place to Go, were initially written for a planned stage show based on the story of Peter Pan. 

Bat Out of Hell took more than two years to find a taker as numerous record executives turned it down, including RCA's Clive Davis, who disparaged Steinman's songs and acknowledged that he had misjudged the singer: 'The songs were coming over as very theatrical, and Meat Loaf, despite a powerful voice, just didn't look like a star,' Davis wrote in his memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life.

With the help of another Springsteen sideman, Steve Van Zandt, Bat Out of Hell was acquired by Cleveland International, a subsidiary of Epic Records. 

The album made little impact until months after its release, when a concert video of the title track was aired on the BBC TV music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test.

In the US, his connection to Rocky Horror helped when he convinced producer Lou Adler to use a video for Paradise By the Dashboard Light as a trailer for the cult movie. 

But Meat Loaf was so little known at first that he began his Bat Out of Hell tour in Chicago as the opening act for Cheap Track, then one of the world's hottest groups.

'I remember pulling up at the theatre and it says, `TONIGHT: CHEAP TRICK, WITH MEAT LOAF.' And I said to myself, `These people think we're serving dinner,'' Meat Loaf explained in 2013 on the radio show 'In the Studio.'

'And we walk out on stage and these people were such Cheap Trick fans they booed us from the start. They were getting up and giving us the finger. The first six rows stood up and screamed. ... When we finished, most of the boos had stopped and we were almost getting applause.' 

 

Tortured soul's hell-raising ride to stardom from drugs and Rocky Horror to Spiceworld: Singer was nicknamed Meat Loaf after being bullied at school over his weight and nearly killed by his father who came at him with a butcher's knife when his mother died

By Danyal Hussain For MailOnline

Famed for his powerful voice and theatrical live shows, Meat Loaf personified the phrase 'larger than life', winning the hearts of millions with his energy and spirit. 

Hard-living and hard-rocking, he sold more than 100 million albums over a career that spanned six decades, including the 1977 smash hit Bat Out Of Hell, which is one of the best-selling of all time, alongside records from the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. 

Away from his music, he was known for cult roles in Rocky Horror, both on stage and in film, as well as Fight Club and Spiceworld. 

Famously, he also claimed he once grabbed Prince Andrew and screamed 'I don't give a s*** who you are' after the two were reportedly involved in a brawl over Sarah Ferguson.

The Bat Out Of Hell star said the Duke of York tried pushing him into a moat while they were filming for the one-off charity event It's a Royal Knockout in Staffordshire in 1987. He told the Guardian he grabbed the royal, who allegedly warned the singer about flirting with his then-wife.  

It's among the more memorable tales of the American's colourful life, alongside previous claims that he once gave serial killer Charles Manson a lift and that his car was used by the American secret service during JFK's assassination in 1963.    

He was born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27, 1947 in Dallas, Texas - the son of an alcoholic police officer and a school teacher who sang in a girls' gospel quartet.

The early years in Texas were rough, particularly with his father. He once revealed in an interview: 'I've forgiven my father for trying to kill me with a butcher's knife.'

He also faced bullying at school, with his nickname Meat Loaf a jab at his weight. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School and was dubbed Meat Loaf after treading on the foot of his football coach. 

All this was followed by the devastating loss of his mother to cancer while he was still a teenager. He told Classic Rock magazine that he grabbed her body at the funeral, screaming: 'You can't have her!' 

It was his mother that instilled a love of performing in Meat Loaf and upon her death he quit high school football and left Dallas and his father, to take the first steps on the road to eventual superstardom. 

He formed the band Meat Loaf Soul in Los Angeles, with his trademark voice bringing them a string of offers for recording contracts and seeing them open for the likes of the Who and the Grateful Dead. 

But he soon quit the band to join the musical Hair. It was in theatre that he first made his name and he went on to star in the stage and film versions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

The allure of music proved irresistible, however, and he quit the stage to focus on his career full-time.   

Not long after he was on his way to New York, where he teamed up with musician and playwright Jim Steinman who provided the wild, theatrical backing music to accompany Meat Loaf's bellowing voice.

It took years to convince music industry professionals and the duo were rejected by every major record label until they scored a meeting with legendary producer Todd Rundgren, who found their extended motorcycle rock operas hilarious.

He teamed them with musicians from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, and 'Bat Out of Hell' was finally born in 1977, going on to sell 43 million copies worldwide.

However, the musician was ill-prepared for his sudden superstardom and the demands of overnight celebrity and continuous touring soon took a toll. 

He suffered a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled breakdown shortly after his album's release and was supported by his wife, Leslie Edmunds, who he married in 1978. 

He undertook a gruelling year-long global tour and thrilled audiences with his chaotic performances. However, one appearance in Toronto saw him fall off the stage, leaving him a wheelchair for a month. 

'There were fights, mutinies, drugs and over-indulgence at every stop,' wrote Louder Sound of the first major tour.

'Meat pushed himself so hard physically every night that he required oxygen to revive him.'

There were broken bones, piles of cocaine and nervous breakdowns - and that was only the first album.

'He's a tortured guy,' Karla Devito, his backing singer, told Louder Sound in 2016. 'There's no doubt about that.' 

His follow-ups failed to set fans alight. To make matters worse, his overwhelming success created tension between him and Jim Steinman, who felt he received insufficient credit for his role. 

Steinman, considered a genius within the music industry, began working with other artists and Meat Loaf's career began to fade, with Epic not renewing his contract.

However, the two rekindled their relationship and Meat Loaf made a blazing comeback with Bat Out Of Hell's sequel in 1993. 

Widely-regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in rock history, Meat Loaf went on another world tour, his passion undimmed. 

At one concert in London, he told the crowd to 'never ever ever stop rocking'.  

Lead single I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) reached number one in 28 countries and earned him a Grammy award.  

 

Meat Loaf dead at 74: Rocker told MailOnline about his 'constant pain', ill-health, being a 'fat motherf****r' and gave expletive-filled stance on Greta Thunberg in rare chat two years before his passing

By Rebecca Davison for MailOnline

In typically wild style, Meat Loaf spoke to MailOnline about his health woes, his sex symbol status, his shock views on Greta Thunberg and his love for his wife two years before his death at 74. 

In a candid chat with Showbusiness Editor Rebecca Davison, the Bat Out Of Hell rocker, real name Michael Lee Aday, laid bare his romantic successes, his climate change gripes - and even dished out weight loss advice to a tickled Rebecca, who recalls his hilarious rhetoric. 

Despite an outburst (meant to be out of ear-shot) at the start of his interview because he was so focused on filming (a Frankie And Benny's advert), he was soon charm personified while speaking at a London recording studio - in their second meeting. They first met at an album launch years before. 

In his characteristically open and honest conversation, the star, affectionately called Meat, spoke about three-ways, losing 70lbs and why he thinks believed there was no such thing as climate change, claiming activist Greta Thunberg, then-16, has been brainwashed - before branding the teen a word too explicit to publish. 

Rebecca recalls how the 'friendly and eccentric' star, who was a self-confessed fan of the MailOnline, relayed the explosive views that gave him his rock star status as much as his discography.  

His family announced his death on Friday morning, reportedly from Covid, however over the years he has shed light on his various health woes - including telling MailOnline about his constant pain from a spine operation following a fall, which rendered him even unable to sit still for even short periods of time.

He had previously spoken of his reluctance to take pain medication which would make him seem 'drunk.'  

At the beginning of the interview two years previously, he said: 'You'll have to excuse me. I'm a little spaced out because I'm in character, but I'll do what I can'. 

Rebecca asked: 'Are you not playing yourself in this advert'? 

To which he replied: 'I am, but I am playing myself, playing myself,' with a look so serious, it was impossible to tell if he was being straight or pulling her leg. 

Inching uncomfortably in his seat during the chat, he explained that he's still in constant pain if he sits still for too long, saying: 'I feel a lot better than I did. I had the last surgery in 2016 and the first in 2015... 

'With the first one, the screw came out and so they put in these basket type things... three of them. Within four weeks, two of those baskets had come out. My wife told me that I was in so much pain but I couldn't really remember it. That's how bad it was.' 

When asked by Rebecca about any weight loss tips, (who wouldn't want to know, right?) he shed light on being vegetarian for 11 years - leading to him dropping from 265lbs to what he weighed at the time of the interview - 195lbs. 

The unlikely health guru said: 'I will tell you how to lose weight. Look at the fat and the sugar content. Don't worry about the calories. Don't eat anything over 5g of fat and 3g of sugar. I once did a low carb diet and lost 70lbs but I put it all back on.' 

In the announcement of his death, family revealed his wife Deborah Gillespie was by his side. He made his love for Deborah, his second wife who he married in 2007, very clear - despite his past as a Lothario. 

The star told Rebecca about how he had never had a problem getting beautiful women and called out this generation of men for not being romantic (like his famous song lyrics) and only thinking about getting laid, saying that wasn't his style. 

Many of his songs do talk about his love-making prowess, and he said: 'Most of my songs are... well, true... 

'They are story songs and I am really good at stories... I am a sex god, dear. I can't use bad language but people would ask me, 'How can a fat M-F like you go out with all these good looking girls?'

'I said, 'because I am not going out thinking about what you are thinking about'...

'These days men don't open the doors, they don't do anything right. Truthfully, all they go out for is to get laid.  I've never done that. It's not my first option; never has been - and that's why I've gone out with all these good looking women.'

Even at school, Meat Loaf, had a 'threeway', making out with two friends, Cindy and Judy. He said: 'Oh yeah, that was the first double I had. We were making out in the parking lot in my mother's car...

'My mother taught English and I happened to be in her class. Any kid whose mother is a teacher, and you wind up in their class, try to get out of it. If you were bad, you had to sit in the hall for five minutes...

'I was out in the hall all the time, but I didn't even do anything. She would say, 'I know, but you've got to come to a higher standard than everyone else. I didn't even know what the hell she was talking about.' 

Meat, who famously worked with President Trump on The Apprentice back in 2010, said he believes there is no such thing as climate change before launching his tirade against Greta. 

As well as his expletive aimed towards the activist, he went on: 'I feel for that Greta. She has been brainwashed into thinking that there is climate change and there isn't. She hasn't done anything wrong but she's been forced into thinking that what she is saying is true.'