Meat Loaf (September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), real name was Michael Lee Aday but he was born Marvin Lee Aday, and was an American rock singer and actor with a powerful, wide-ranging voice, famous for his theatrical live shows.
He is on the list of best-selling music artists. His Bat Out of Hell trilogy — Bat Out of Hell (1977), Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993), and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006) — has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. The first album stayed on the charts for over nine years, as of 2016 still sold an estimated 200,000 copies annually, and is on the list of best-selling albums.
After the commercial success of Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and earning a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song “I’d Do Anything for Love”, Meat Loaf nevertheless experienced some difficulty establishing a steady career within the United States. The key to this success was his popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. He received the 1994 Brit Award in the United Kingdom for best-selling album and single. He appeared in the 1997 film Spice World and he ranked 23rd for the number of weeks spent on the UK charts in 2006. He ranks 96th on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”.
.
.
Meat Loaf appeared in over 50 films and television shows, sometimes as himself or as characters resembling his stage persona. His film roles include Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Robert Paulsen in Fight Club (1999). His early stage work included dual roles in the original Broadway cast of The Rocky Horror Show. He also appeared in the musical Hair, both on and Off-Broadway
Meat Loaf was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 27, 1947, the son of Wilma Artie (née Hukel), a school teacher and member of the Vo-di-o-do Girls gospel music quartet, and Orvis Wesley Aday, a former police officer who went into business selling a homemade cough remedy with his wife and a friend under the name of the Griffin Grocery Company.
Meat Loaf stated in an interview that when he was born, he was “bright red and stayed that way for days” and that his father said he looked like “nine pounds of ground chuck”, and convinced hospital staff to put the name “Meat” on his crib. He was later called “M.L.” in reference to his initials, but when his weight increased, his seventh-grade classmates referred to him as “Meat Loaf”, referring to his 5-foot-2-inch (157 cm), 240-pound (110 kg) stature. He also attributed the nickname to an incident where, after he stepped on a football coach’s foot, the coach yelled ‘Get off my foot, you hunk of meatloaf!'”.
His father was an alcoholic who went on drinking binges for days at a time, which started when he was medically discharged from the U.S. Army during World War II after being wounded by fragments from a mortar shell. Meat Loaf often accompanied his mother in driving to the bars in Dallas to look for his father, and often stayed with his grandmother. He attended church and Bible study every Sunday.
When he was 16, on the day of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Meat Loaf had seen the President when he arrived at Dallas Love Field. After hearing about the assassination, he and a friend drove to Parkland Hospital where he saw Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, bloodied, getting out of the car.
In 1965, Meat Loaf graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, having appeared in school stage productions such as Where’s Charley? and The Music Man. Meat Loaf played high school football at the position of defensive tackle. After attending college at Lubbock Christian University, he transferred to North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas).
.
.
In 1967, when Meat Loaf was 19 years old, his mother died from cancer and his father barely missed when trying to stab him with a knife, falsely accusing him of having girls in his bedroom. He used the inheritance he received from his mother’s death to rent an apartment in Dallas and isolated himself for three-and-a-half months until a friend found him. A short time later, he went to the airport and caught the next flight to Los Angeles. He intentionally gained 60 pounds (27 kg) to fail his physical examination for the Vietnam War draft.
Meat Loaf’s influence on the world of music extends far beyond the numbers and charts. He paved the way for a new era of rock music, blurring the lines between genres and creating a sound that was uniquely his own. His operatic rock anthems, characterized by Jim Steinman’s compositions and his own commanding vocals, have inspired countless artists.
Moreover, his theatricality and larger-than-life stage presence influenced a generation of performers who understood the importance of not just singing songs but also delivering a show. The fusion of music and storytelling in his performances has been a source of inspiration for artists in various genres.
Even in the face of health challenges and personal setbacks, Meat Loaf remained devoted to his craft and his fans. His passion for music never waned, and he continued to tour and record new music well into the later years of his life. His enduring popularity is a testament to the lasting impact he had on the music industry and on the countless lives he touched with his music.
Meat Loaf was a musical legend, a powerhouse vocalist, a charismatic performer, and a resilient spirit. His impact on the world of rock music is immeasurable, and his theatrical approach to performance forever changed the way we experience live music.
In the end, Meat Loaf wasn’t just a singer; he was a storyteller, a showman, and an icon. His music will continue to inspire generations to come, reminding us that his legacy is a timeless and cherished part of our cultural tapestry.
Meat Loaf died in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 20, 2022, at the age of 74. No official cause of death was released.
If you liked this article, please share it with your friends and family, and why not check out some other Musicians who died in 2022.
.
