Hit singer of “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” died Thursday, Jan. 20, at the age of 74.
The news was posted by his family on his official Facebook page.
The post read, “Our hearts are broken to announce that the comparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight 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. We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.”
No cause of death was given.
Meat Loaf, real name Michael Lee Aday, born September 27, 1947, was best known for his album “Bat Out Of Hell.” The album has the distinction of being one of the best-selling records in history. The album spawned a trilogy of releases that includes “Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell,” and “Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose.”
According to records, “More than four decades after its release, the first album still sells an estimated 200,000 copies annually and has stayed on the charts for over nine years.”
Meat Loaf had injected a theatrical feel to his brand of rock and roll and had a flair for the dramatic. His 1993 hit, “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” was a 12-minute epic on his “Bat Out Of Hell II” album. The cinematic music video for the track featured Meat Loaf in heavy make-up that echoed “Beauty And The Beast” and “Hunchback Of Notre Dame.” Other hits include “Paradise By The Dashboard Light,” and “Bat Out Of Hell, among others. He has 12 albums to his credit that began in 1977 until his last album release in 2016. Within those active years, he has mounted 30 world tours.
Meat Loaf is also an actor whose films include “Fight Club” (1999) and the 1975 movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” as well as being part of the musical “Hair.” Meatloaf has an extensive acting credits in more than 50 films, among them playing Jack Black’s father in “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny,” appearing in “Black Dog” with Patrick Swayze, and cameos in “Wayne’s World” and “Spice Girls,” to name a few.
Meat Loaf is closely associated with composer Jim Steinman, who is credited as the writer for Meat Loaf’s hit “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).”