Cher, Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan led stars honouring the Bat Out Of Hell singer, real name was Michael Lee Aday, on Friday morning after his family revealed he had passed away with his wife by his side.
Meat Loaf, who was known for hits including Bat Out Of Hell and sold more than 100million albums worldwide and starring in 65 movies, died with his wife Deborah at his side. While no cause or other details were given by his family, he had suffered numerous health scares over the years. He had an extraordinary career over six decades with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy in his most popular offerings.
His one-time collaborator Cher, 75, who joined Meat Loaf on 1981 hit Dead Ringer For Love, spoke of having ‘so much fun’ recording with the star, while Piers, 54, gushed: ‘One of rock music’s all-time great characters.A wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon. Sad news.’
‘RIP Meat Loaf, 74. One of rock music’s all-time great characters whose seminal iconic album Bat Out Of Hell is one of the biggest-selling records in history. A wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon. Sad news.’
Mungo Jerry Twitter account shared: ‘R. I. P. Meatloaf, “Bat Out of Hell” was one of those albums that accompanied me on rotation while driving to the many gigs that I did in the late 70’s early 80’s, the music & production was highly influential in the field of commercial rock music. God Bless r.I.p. buddy’.
Boy George added to the tributes with a humorous tale about the rocker, writing: ‘R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.’
A native of Dallas, Meat Loaf was the son of a school teacher who raised him on her own after divorcing his alcoholic father, a police officer. He was singing and acting in high school Mick Jagger was an early favorite, so was Ethel Merman and attended Lubbock Christian College and what is now the University of North Texas.
Among his more notable childhood memories were seeing John F. Kennedy arrive at Love Field in Dallas on November 22, 1963, then learning the president had been assassinated and driving to Parkland Hospital and watching a bloodied Jackie Kennedy step out of a car.
