News

Meat Loaf dies at 74

The rock legend passes away

Sad news this morning as family and representatives of Meat Loaf have confirmed his death.

Born Marvin Lee Aday, the American singer and actor sold over 60m albums worldwide during his career and 1977’s Bat Out Of Hell remains one of the biggest selling albums of all time. ‘I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ was the lead single from 1993’s Bat Out Of Hell 2: Back in to Hell and was number one virtually everywhere, spending seven weeks at the top of the UK chart between October and early December 1993.

Rest in Peace Meat Loaf. Leave your thoughts and tributes in the comments.

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56 Comments

56 thoughts on “Meat Loaf dies at 74

  1. One of those contrary situations for me where at school, Meatloaf was the antithesis of everything I believed in at the time; where I went you were either a rocker or a p*ff, their words not mine. Then you grow up and that music is part of your formative years and you look back fondly on it. I’ve got BOOH on vinyl of course a charity shop find I just had to add to my mostly pop collection. I grew to admire his and Jim’s work, enjoyed him in films, was entertained by his TV appearances and live broadcasts. The world seems a slightly less entertaining place without him in it. Rest in peace.

  2. Meat Loaf was a huge part of my childhood growing up. Bat 2 was the first official grown-up album I got when I was only fourteen back in February of’94. I instantly fell in love and quickly got the original bat, blind before I stop, and welcome to the neighborhood on cassette, wearing them all out at one point literally putting them on repeat for weeks if not months on end. Sometime around 2001 or so I finally gave him up, but I still have fond memories of those old cassettes of his. I still remember how it took me a good two years of listening to them until I finally figured out that nearly every single song on bat 1 and 2 was about sex. Good times indeed.

  3. I just remember seeing “Bat out of Hell” in the record store when it came out. When I saw the artist’s name was “Meat Loaf,” I immediately thought “parody album” and never gave it a second thought. Was stunned later to find out it was not a parody after all! That music was never my thing, but I respect the man and artist and am sorry for his family and fans. If it was COVID, well that’s just a shame.

  4. Love him especially for his role in ” The Rocky Horror Picture Show ” as Eddie. Sadly he got killed and then they ate him. Great stuff also with ” Bat Out Of Hell ” and a few other records. R.I.P., Marvin.

  5. First gig I ever be went to aged 10. Although I don’t listen now i was in awe at the time. A memory to savour. A few years later in Germany by the Rhine I saw a long procession of bikers/hells angels(?) on their way to a Meatloaf concert. Another spectacle imprinted on my mind. RIP

  6. As we are talking all things “Bat Out Of Hell” primally of course it is Meatloaf & Steinmans but where would the album be without the anchor in melody of Todd Rundgren’s production? I was very late in life to his work (even though I saw him at Knebworth 79) everyone should hear his “Something / Anything?” album.
    Also a cover so ingrained in the rock psyche it has influenced heavy metal and long haired pop rock ever since. The great comic book artist Richard Corben passed away only two years ago. His work in fantasy and horror comics (check out “Heavy Metal” magazine) was ground breaking. It was both funny & serious, overblown & sexy, his artwork always a bit disturbing and often ludicrous.
    I saw Meatloaf at Wembley Area on the Dead Ringer tour of 82 not normally my thing but I was trying all sorts of things then and was glad I did. Only 12 songs, basically “Bat” and the “Dead Ringer” singles and a Chuck Berry and Stones cover, endless guitar solos, sweat (I swear some hit me) and red silk hankies, it was a bit silly but always full of life and fun.
    An album of its time and completely bonkers.

  7. What a sad loss. So many memories indeed. Bat out of Hell one of the great albums – and I mean great. not a dead moment on the album. Not a filler in sight. Stunning. And while that height was never reached again there was plenty to savour over the years. And for those who had the pleasure to see him live, there was no doubt about his commitment to the performance. I saw him at Wembley Arena late in 2003 when he collapsed on stage. The performance till then was clearly a struggle but what it lacked in fluency it more than gained in emotion as he worked desperately to deliver the performance he wanted. He gave so much to his performances and gave joy to many – he will be remembered with affection and pleasure and what more could anyone ask for as a legacy.

    Mikael (below) – you took the words right out of my mouth – Hot Patootie, bless his soul, he really loved that rock and roll.

    There’s a hell of a rock festival going on in heaven right now and a hell of a set has just been added to the roster.

    God Bless, Meat/MArvin.

  8. Love him especially for his role in ” Rocky Horror Picture Show ” as Eddie. Poor boy got killed and after then they ate him. Also great stuff with ” Bat Out Of Hell “. R.I.P., Marvin.

  9. So many memories.
    At school, other kids would play Bat Out Of Hell during our breaks.
    Cassettes were such a easy media to carry around.
    RIP Meatloaf, thanks for the smiles you made happen!

  10. What a man, what an entertainer. There was nothing boring about Meat Loaf, even if his music wasn’t your thing. He fought his way to the top through hard graft and his wonderful voice. Like a true entrepreneur he never undersold himself, even when some of the music wasn’t as good as the Bat albums.

    Teaming up with Jim Steinman was the perfect partnership for both of them. Steinman needed his voice and Meat Loaf needed his songs. The sum of their partnership led to a top ten best ever selling LP. Neither would have achieved close to that without each other.

    I saw Meat Loaf live a few times when his voice was hammered. The crowd really didn’t mind all that much because he still put everything into the performance, and it was the greatest karaoke sing along with Meat that you could wish for. It was also a relief that he made it to the end of the shows, as he looked in a terrible state at times. A life lived to the full.

  11. I remember seeing him on a kids TV programme where questions were being put to him. One girl asked “If you were vegetarian would you be called Nut Loaf?” to which he comically growled at her and much laughter was had by all. RIP

  12. RIP Marvin Lee Aday…saw he passed on the news last night & I did not expect it…he was always heavyset so I should not be surprised, also it was from Covid…he was against mask mandates & protocols, so not sure if he was vaxxed or not, but still, what a legacy, what a voice!! Def “Bat Out Of Hell” is one of those records that everyone seems to have & knows by heart…as a teenager in the 80s, “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” was always on playlists/mixtapes at friends’ parties, you would think it was a massive #1 hit, but nope, just scratched the bottom of the US top 40 at #39…hard to believe that album is only 7 songs but what a classic…also many forget, Jim Steinman wrote those songs with Meat supplying the voice, but he did NOT produce the album… RRHOF inductee Todd Rundgren did…my fave 2 songs not on the Bat albums are “Dead Ringer For Love”, his fun duet with Cher…and “Modern Girl”, did see him live once at NYC’s Beacon Theater in the 90s, always a great live performer…and his Eddie was unforgettable with his motorbike…Hot Patootie indeed, bless his soul, he was that rock & roll, gave everything he had into every performance…in a way, Meat & the newly departed Ronnie Spector were male/female equals, amazed they never collaborated…or did they??

      1. Totally agree with you, ScottM1983. None of us know if he was vaccinated, none of us know the extent of his health issues, and none of us know if covid was the primary cause of his death. It’s all speculation, at this point. We should celebrate his contribution to music and our lives without projecting our fears onto what we don’t know.

      2. Not sure I see the problem with it. If someone dies of Cancer, or heart attack or whatever, it is not uncommon to hear the cause of death. Mentioning Covid does not immediately mean condemnation of the individual. Its out there, individuals are dying from it, and individuals are making choices. Regardless if the man opted for vaccines or not, does not really matter. Mentioning Covid does not diminish the man. Pushing back on Larry’s mentioning – which does appear to be the case – either is shaming an individual who dies from from the disease or a political statement. No need whatsoever for either of those positions.

        1. I’m with you on this one !! Larry gave a glowing tribute to the man and mentioned that it was covid that killed him,and is looked at askance by a couple of people,,if meatloaf had got run over by a routemaster and Larry after his tribute mentioned that he got run over by a bus would he still be met with no need whatsoever to mention bus comments??

        2. Massive problem. The poster appears to relishing the fact that someone who opposed mask mandates has died of covid as in it serves him right.
          I come to SDE multiple times a day as a sanctuary of normality from the madness of the world. Looks like the virtue signallers get everywhere unfortunately.

          1. Don’t think he’s “relishing” anything. I didn’t notice the reference to Covid and really don’t want to go down that route, but Larry is a great contributor to SDE so happy to give the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just move on shall we, and not get into a big discussion!!

          2. Larry is the guy who has traveled to NYC to see meatloaf in concert so obviously a massive fan!! And I would think probably more upset about the great man’s death than most people who have posted on this issue!!

        3. I was very surprised to hear about his passing, heart it in the news. I was glad that he was given quite a good coverage, happily without references about reasons for his passing. It was only making the mistake of reading about him in a “higher-than-thou” popular music forum that I read apparently he was against certain measures to contain the spread of the virus, and to be honest, I think it’s ok to mention it but nobody has a right to say if anyone deserves to die because of it. This is the first time I hear about a celebrity (in this case not just a celebrity) being against wearing masks so I don’t know what to make of it, being against vaccination is a whole other topic and I think people have a right to make a decision.

          Thank you for some wonderful music Meat Loaf and RIP.

  13. My uncle Jon introduced me to Meat Loaf in 1977, and I always purchased his new album, even during the lean times.

    What folks tend to forget is that Meat was basically out of the music industry when he and Jim Steinman reunited to create Bat Out Of Hell II. Those lean times set him up for the biggest comeback in music history, as the album sold 15 million copies worldwide.

  14. While Bat out of hell is great, for me, he will always be Eddie, an ex delivery boy, in the magnificent Rocky Horror.
    Hot patootie, bless his soul
    He really loved that rock’n’roll

    Reunited with Jim, there is some comfort in that.

  15. I’m in my 50’s and once a week I go for a run, hook up the ipods and turn on the ‘run playlist’. So even after so many years, from school days to today, I still get to hear Bat out Of Hell at least one a week. To me it’s still brilliant and I never get tired of hearing it.
    I’d bet that my kids, you kids, and everyone else’s kids won’t be playing ANY song they first heard at school every week some 40+ years later.
    Even my wife was really sad, and on music we very rarely agree.
    Rest in peace, and thank you for everything.

  16. Rest In Peace Meatloaf, Sad news today of his passing. Bat Out of Hell is a classic album and track, which back in the day was akin to Rumours everywhere you went people were playing it. Such a talented individual with incredible power vocally. Although I only bought three of his albums at the time all involving him and Jim they will go down as one of the great rock collaborations.

  17. I think filed next to Brothers In Arms, pretty much everyone had Bat Out Of Hell. How many millions sold? How long on the charts? THAT’S how you leave a legacy. And I still hear its influence now. Creeper – total Steinman/ML disciples.

  18. My first vinyl album purchase (with my own money) was Deadringer in hmv Birmingham in 1982 – many years ago – always had a soft spot for that maligned follow up – such a shame him and Jim kept falling out . Rest in peace Meat – one of the greats

  19. Very sad day indeed, bought ‘Bat’ for my 21st birthday in ’78. Played it all afternoon, just could not get it out of my mind and still can’t to this day. Recently repurchased new vinyl copy as my original was a bit worse for wear.
    Will always remember that summer of ’78 when Meat Loaf was the soundtrack to that special year, my first real girlfriend and she, like the album never forgotten. I still have the record but not her, alas.
    Meat Loaf always had the good songs, like mini cinematic stories in music, I don’t think there is a Meat Loaf album I do not have in some form or another. He was one of the greats and I thank him for everything he did and may he finally Rest In Peace at the foot of his burning bike.

  20. First of all, rest in peace! my condolances to his family.
    Then please compile the complete MeatLoaf and Jim Steinmain recordings into a super deluxe edition with the Bat out of hell(s), Deadringer and Braver than we are and adding the rarities and singles. Best regards Hans

  21. Really sad news. To be honest, I always had a bit of a problem with his theatrical style of singing, but I got into it over the years and always understood that the music had something special. What really surprised me was his acting ability, especially in Fight Club, a movie I still admire.

  22. Last month there was an item about Jim Steinman, who passed away last year, in the program “Top 2000 a Go-Go” on Dutch TV. They mentioned that Meat Loaf’s health was not very good. In last year’s “Top 2000” of all time were six songs from “Bat Out Of Hell”. Bat Out Of Hell is one of my all time favorite albums. Bat Out Of Hell II – Back Into Hell is also a very good album.

    Rest in Peace Meat Loaf …

    1. Ha! There were only 7 tracks on that album, I wonder which one got left out. I wouldn’t have wanted to be the one in charge of selecting the reject.
      RIP Meat Loaf. Thanks for all the great music and performances.

    1. From his 1978 appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test, performing Bat Out of Hell and an unforgettable rendering of Paradise By The Dashboard Light, I knew there was something special about Meatloaf. One of my friends got a copy of the album, and it was passed round and duly “taped” by us all and played to death (we were all 14 or 15 years old from working class families. We couldn’t afford to buy records on our pocket money.) We discussed the rumoured follow-up album with some excitement. It was going to pick up where the first one left off. Then we waited. And waited. Nothing. Eventually I moved on to the next “big thing” (in those days there was one every couple of weeks) and Meatloaf was forgotten about. But I did buy my own copy of Bat Out Of Hell when I could afford it. And it’s still occasionally given a spin. Unfortunately, when he did get round to making a second album 3 years later (Dead Ringer – he had had vocal cord problems after the tour to support BOOH and it was touch and go whether he would sing again, apparently) I had moved on. But I’ll always have Bat Out Of Hell. RIP Meat.
  23. Saw him live a couple of times back in the 80s. Great gigs. a huge voice when it was firing and some amazing music, especially the collaborations with Steinman. Bat Out Of Hell is one of those albums that belongs in everybody’s record collection.

  24. It is a minor anecdote, but my mind drifts fondly back to 1978, in the Army, walking past some guys’ room and hearing “On a hot summer night would you offer…” “Will he…” “I bet you say that to all the…” – ? What is that? Sounds like something from the Goon Show LPs we were playing to death. Then – BOOM!
    Within a week there wasn’t a copy of Bat to be found in a record shop [remember those] in Winchester, probably Hampshire, and all you could hear around the barracks was this, from morning to way into the night [supplanting A Day At The Races, as I recall]. I also remember buying the single and thinking ‘What the…! Where’s the rest of it!’ Boy, that 7″ had a brutal edit.

    I have always thought of this as one of the two ‘Why is there no Super Deluxe of that?’ mystery’s, alongside Captain Fantastic. But today, my thoughts will be of youth, vigour, friends, and that marvellous voice and those great songs soundtracking it.

  25. 1977 was the year I bought my first albums at the age of 13. The Jam In the City. Never mind the bollocks by the Sex Pistols and Bat out of hell by Meatloaf. 3 brilliant albums that I still have and play. However today it will be Bat out of hell. A fantastic album that’s stood the test of time. You don’t have to be a maga fan to totally appreciate a brilliant piece of music history with some outstanding tracks.

  26. As an 11-year old I had Bat Out Of Hell on cassette in 1978 and played it everyday! Very good album with songs like Bat and Heaven Can Wait. Bought the second Bat in 1993 and again got a great feeling from it (I’ll Do Anything For Love, Out Of The Frying Pan, Life Is A Lemon, Objects etc.). Later in 1995: Welcome To The Neighbourhood with songs like Left In The Dark (which was even better than Jim’s version), Martha, Not A Dry Eye In The House etc. In 1998 (Is Nothing Sacred) and Bat 3 from 2006 (great duet with Raven) which had it’s moments. Great memories! Marvin rest in peace…

  27. Very sad to hear of this great man’s death, for me he played a brilliant but brief part in Wayne’s World and whilst I wasn’t a huge fan of his music, I think the only physical product I have of his is a cassette single/EP (remember them?) of the Bat Out Of Hell single, he was an immensely talented singer and no-one could mistake the power of his voice when he was singing. A man who despite his fame was very down to earth and for the joy his records brought to people I think he’ll always be remembered very fondly.

  28. Such sad news. Bat out of Hell was the first 7″ single, I bought with my hard earned pocket money. Loved him and his work with the sadly also departed Jim Steinman. Keep on rocking RIP Meat and Jim.

  29. I don’t own anything by Meat Loaf but I’ve always respected him as an entertainer. He always came across as authentic and genuine in interview – something very rare in this day and age.

  30. Such sad news. Bat Out of Hell was one of the first albums I ever owned and still one of my favourite albums ever. I was a child of the 70’s and teenager of the 80’s. Never had much money back then and any albums I owned were very precious and played to death. Still know every word of it and play it regularly. He sings every song as if his life depended on it.

    Doubly sad coming so soon after the death of Jim Steinman but their great work will stand as a testament to them.

    RIP Marvin Lee Aday and thank you for making my teenage years that much better.

  31. Such a shame to hear this news today, I will be playing my 3 fav tracks as I start work: Midnight At The Lost & Found, Dead Ringer For Love, Paradise By The Dashboard Light – with the Bat Out Of Hell album following in its entirety later on! It was good to see how he improved his lifestyle in later years, but sadly it is still too young at 74 to lose him now. RIP and thanks for the great music!

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