Meat Loaf: A Tribute To The Singer

American singer and actor Meat Loaf has sadly passed away on 20^th January aged 74. The news was announced via his official Facebook page in a message penned by his family. The sombre announcement read:

“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.”

Meat Loaf: His life and work

Born in 1947 as Michael Lee Aday, Meat Loaf was best known for his wide-ranging singing voice and big, theatrical live performances. Allegedly given the nickname due to being born as a very red coloured baby, and being referred to as ‘meat’, while playing football at school and bulking up his weight, the name evolved to ‘Meatloaf’.

His first band, ‘Meat Loaf Soul’, earned the singer the offer of three recording contracts – none of which he decided to accept. Playing blues and soul at the end of the 1960s, the band changed their name several times while based in Los Angeles as members of the band came and went. The band achieved some notoriety during their incarnation known as ‘Floating Circus’, opening for The Who, The Fugs, The Stooges, MC5, Grateful Dead, and the Grease Band. Their regional success led them to release a single, Once Upon a Time, backed with Hello. Then Meat Loaf joined the Los Angeles production of the musical Hair. He later stated that the biggest life struggle he had to overcome was not being taken seriously in the music industry, comparing his treatment to that of a “circus clown”.

Through the 1970s, Meat Loaf enjoyed continued success, recording with Motown Records, and releasing much material, touring, and performing on Broadway and off-Broadway.

Pretty amazingly, while looking for a record deal they were rejected by the companies they approached because the music did not fit in with recognised music genres of the time. It wasn’t until finding Cleveland International Records took on the singer and in 1977, five years after first starting Bat Out of Hell, the album was finally released. Bat Out of Hell has sold an estimated 43 million copies globally, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

The singer’s stratospheric rise in the music world continued throughout the end of the 1970s and into the 1980s, and by the time the self-titled album came out, Meat Loaf enjoyed 19 weeks on the UK Singles Chart with the song Dead Ringer for Love featuring Cher on vocals.

In the 1990s, fan-favourites Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell was released, an album that sold over 15 million copies and featured the much-loved track I’d Do Anything for Love (But I won’t Do That) which topped the charts in 28 countries and won him the ‘Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo’ in 1994.

Meat Loaf continued to work tirelessly into the 21^st Century despite slowing down a little in recent years due to some health restrictions that meant he could not perform shows over 1 hour and 45 minutes in duration. With his background in musical theatre, Meat Loaf also enjoyed success on the big screen, playing roles in a number of feature films that included The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Wayne’s World, Spice World, Black Dog, Fight Club, and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, as well as performing in a number of varied television roles that ranged from medical dramas to South Park.

Tributes

Messages of condolences have flooded in since the news was announced, with social media filled with well-wishing sympathy notes from peers and fans alike.

Cher recalled her fondness duetting together, sharing a heartfelt message on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/cher/status/1484450605229768709

Bonnie Tyler also expressed her sympathies on the media platform, praising both the late singer’s talent and character:

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

— Bonnie Tyler (@BonnieTOfficial) January 21, 2022

Adam Lambert, the lead singer of Queen expressed his sadness, saying:

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 #Meatloaf pic.twitter.com/9twdJcOeP1

— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) January 21, 2022

While fellow Queen bandmate Brian May took to Instagram to say he was “completely gutted”.

Alice Cooper wrote a very moving and detailed thread on Twitter telling stories of their friendship and many work collaborations over the years that read:

“Meat Loaf was one of the greatest voices in Rock N Roll, and he was certainly one of my closest friends in the business. He was really so much fun, truly fun to be around. He just felt like a best friend to everyone no matter how long it had been since you last saw him.

We worked together many times over the years and he was always a force. He was a real theatrical character like I was so our shows went really well together.

I remember when you would see his show, he would treat the audience almost like a Pentecostal Preacher and he was so powerful on stage. Working with Meat Loaf was one of the main reasons I wanted to do the movie Roadie in the first place.

I wanted to watch him show off his acting chops. He plays the ultimate roadie on this quest to be the best in the world. But that’s what he did in life too – he always wanted to be the best at what he was doing…

And I think he succeeded. There was nobody, and I mean nobody like Meat Loaf. His shoes can never be filled.”

Also by Michelle Sciarrotta: