Meat Loaf, the bombastic rock singer and actor whose release Bat Out of Hell is one of the best-selling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. His longtime agent Michael Greene confirmed that he died on on Thursday surrounded by his wife, Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends.
“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,” said a statement on his official Facebook. “From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!”
Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas, in 1947, Meat Loaf’s first band, Meat Loaf Soul, was inspired by a nickname coined by his football coach because of his weight. He began his career opening for acts including Van Morrison, the Who, and Janis Joplin. In the late ’60s, he moved to New York and worked as a theater actor, performing in Shakespeare in the Park and appearing in Hair on Broadway. While auditioning for More Than You Deserve at the Public Theater, he met his longtime collaborator, songwriter Jim Steinman, who died last year.
With Steinman as writer and producer, Meat Loaf would create his crowning musical achievement, the seminal rock-opera album, Bat Out Of Hell. Released in 1977 and featuring hits like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” Bat Out of Hell remains one of the best-selling albums ever, selling at least 14 million units in the U.S. with worldwide sales estimates as high as 30 million to 40 million. He’d go on to create two more Bat Out of Hell albums—Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993) and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2003). The second album produced his most popular song, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” which spent five weeks at No. 1 in the U.S. and earning him the Grammy for best solo rock vocal performance, in 1994.
Meat Loaf also was an accomplished film and television actor. His most memorable role was that of Eddie, a wild and doomed delivery boy, in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In the film, Meat Loaf ripped into the song “Hot Patootie,” showcasing the powerful voice and multioctave range that would eventually turn him into a household name. He also appeared in film and television projects including Fight Club, Roadie, Wayne’s World, Crazy in Alabama, Stage Fright, Spice World, Leap of Faith, and Americathon.
Per Deadline, a cause of death is not being released. The New York Post reported that Meat Loaf was “seriously ill” with COVID days prior to his death. He had reportedly been outspoken about COVID, railing against vaccine mandates and sharing a clip of Eric Clapton and Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown song, “Stand & Deliver,” with the caption, “Listen and Learn.” on his Facebook page. It’s unclear if he was vaccinated.
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