Stars pay tribute to Meat Loaf following his death at 74

A host of stars paid tribute to Meat Loaf following his death at 74. 

Cher, Bonnie Tyler, 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. 

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.’

Heartache: His one-time collaborator Cher, who joined Meat Loaf on 1981 hit Dead Ringer For Love, led the tributes 

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. 

After working together in the early Eighties, Cher penned: ‘Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did “Dead Ringer”. Am Very Sorry For His Family,Friends,& Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day’.

Bonnie Tyler worked with Meatloaf on a number of projects, including their 1989 compilation album Heaven & Hell.

In her tribute, she wrote: ‘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’ 

Piers meanwhile penned: ‘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.’ 

An honour: Bonnie Tyler worked with Meatloaf on a number of projects, including their 1989 compilation album Heaven & Hell and paid tribute to the star on Friday

Touching: Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan joined Cher in 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

Shock: Piers meanwhile penned: ‘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’

Regaling: 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’

Way back when: Meat Loaf and Cher pose with Des Lynam (centre) after they joined him on The Des Lynam Show on BBC Radio 2 in 1998

Stephen joined in the tributes, sharing a video of the duo appearing together on a sketch on Saturday Live, with the caption: ‘I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf…

‘Had a fun time performing a sketch with him on Saturday Live way back in the last century’. 

Fellow rocker Slash honoured the star – simply writing: ‘RIP’. 

Star Trek actor George Takei wrote: ‘We wanted you, we needed you–and we loved you. Three out of three after all, Meatloaf. You will be missed’, while Jeremy Clarkson simply penned: ‘I liked Meat Loaf’.

Shock: Star Trek actor George Takei wrote: ‘We wanted you, we needed you–and we loved you. Three out of three after all, Meatloaf. You will be missed’, while Jeremy Clarkson simply penned: ‘I liked Meat Loaf’

An inspiration: Film producer Heather Wixson wrote: ‘RIP, Meat Loaf. Thanks for being one of the reasons I fell in love with ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in the first place. #RIPMeatLoaf’

Reaching out: American singer-songwriter John Rich added: ‘Meatloaf was a fierce Patriot for America’

Shock: Actor Kevin Sorbo reached out with a tribute writing: ‘My dear friend, Meat Loaf, has passed away. I just heard the sad news this morning. He was my golf buddy and great soundboard for me in our talks from sports to politics. We just talked a few months ago. RIP’

Film producer Heather Wixson wrote: ‘RIP, Meat Loaf. Thanks for being one of the reasons I fell in love with ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in the first place. #RIPMeatLoaf’.

Actor Kevin Sorbo reached out with a tribute writing: ‘My dear friend, Meat Loaf, has passed away. I just heard the sad news this morning. He was my golf buddy and great soundboard for me in our talks from sports to politics. We just talked a few months ago. RIP’.

American singer-songwriter John Rich added: ‘Meatloaf was a fierce Patriot for America. He travelled the world and saw how other countries lived, and understood that only in America would he have had the chances he had to succeed and overcome. He was the epitome of an American dream chaser and a great friend to me.

Tough times: Fellow rocker Slash honoured the star – simply writing: ‘RIP’

Reaching out: The official 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’

The official 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.’ 

Dermot O’Leary said on This Morning: ‘I met him a few years ago when he came into the [Radio 2] studio. By then he – I don’t wanna say frail – but he was not the meatloaf we remember. there was a lovely spark there.

‘You can always judge how those big stars are to everyone – and he had time for everyone. really interesting. He and Jim Steinman were this unbelievable duo for years.’

BBC DJ Jo Whiley added: ‘God I loved Bat Out of Hell. Soundtrack to my youth. Sad news RIP Meatloaf. Extraordinary voice Phenomenonal character’. 

Shock: British journalist Kay Burley wrote: ‘Very sad news that Meatloaf has died. ‘I’d do anything for love’ was a massive hit in 1993, reached Number one in 28 countries and was a firm favourite in our house. He was 74’

Pain: Stand-up comedian Janey Godley wrote: ‘The first album I bought, wee record shop Shettleston rd 1978, I carried it home like a new baby, opened the record player, took off my Donny Osmond LP, placed Meat Loaf on the turntable, dropped the needle & sat back on my single bed to let the HUGE music wave over my soul’

Reaching out: His family announced his passing in a Facebook post shared on Friday morning 

British journalist Kay Burley wrote: ‘Very sad news that Meatloaf has died. ‘I’d do anything for love’ was a massive hit in 1993, reached Number one in 28 countries and was a firm favourite in our house. He was 74.’

Music boss Pete Waterman spoke about Meat Loaf during an appearance on Good Morning Britain shortly after the news erupted, saying: ‘Meat Loaf was an amazing character….

‘I once sat on a plane with him to NW. He had a trunk of burgers. That boy could eat! What he could pack away! His size was part of the whole legend. His voice. You knew what you got with Meat Loaf’.

Stand-up comedian Janey Godley wrote: ‘The first album I bought, wee record shop Shettleston rd 1978, I carried it home like a new baby, opened the record player, took off my Donny Osmond LP, placed Meat Loaf on the turntable, dropped the needle & sat back on my single bed to let the HUGE music wave over my soul’.

American singer Meat Loaf sold more than 100million albums worldwide and starred in 65 movies. He is pictured in 1993

Meat Loaf had spoken openly about health issues that had plagued him, notably asthma, which caused him to collapse on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 2011, and in 2003 he collapsed at Wembley Arena in London and was admitted to hospital. He later held a press conference in Kensington to reassure fans about his health. Then, following an on-stage collapse in Canada in 2016, a statement said it was due to ‘severe dehydration’.

Born in Dallas in 1947, Meat Loaf found early success on the stage in the 1970s, performing in the Broadway musicals Hair and The Rocky Horror Show – before he switched focus to rock music around 1972.

Meat Loaf started collaborating with Jim Steinman – who died last April – on a debut album that year which showcased his powerful voice and established his leather-clad, motorcycle-riding rock persona.

And the singer will be best remembered for famously singing in Bat Out Of Hell: ‘Like a bat out of hell I’ll be gone when the morning comes; When the night is over, like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone, gone, gone.’

A statement by Meat Loaf’s family posted on the star’s Facebook page this morning said: ‘Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side. Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.

‘His amazing career spanned six decades that saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World. Bat Out of Hell remains one of the top ten selling albums of all time.’

The post added: ‘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. From his heart to your souls… don’t ever stop rocking!’

Meat Loaf initially made his name in theatre productions, including a Broadway run of Hair, and spoke in 2012 about his roots as an actor.

He said: ‘I started as an actor, I am an actor. I started in New York in theatre, almost 10 years before Bat came out. While other people were playing out in bars and doing music, I was doing theatre, so that’s why Jim (Steinman) and I struggled so much because Jim and I both came from theatre, and they went ‘You’re not rock people. You’re theatre people. Theatre people don’t make records’. The public didn’t care, but I’ve gone up against that my entire career.’

His long music career saw him release more than ten albums, with his final studio album, Braver Than We Are, coming out in 2012. 

Meat Loaf in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975 

Bat Out Of Hell, his mega-selling collaboration with songwriter Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren, came out in 1977 and made him one of the most recognisable performers in rock. 

Fans fell hard for the roaring vocals of the long-haired singer and for the comic non-romance of the title track, You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad and Paradise By The Dashboard Light, an operatic cautionary tale about going all the way.

Paradise was a duet with Ellen Foley that featured play by play from New York Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto, who alleged – to much skepticism – that he was unaware of any alternate meanings to reaching third base and heading for home.

Meat Loaf with his wife Deborah at a hotel in Kensington, West London, in 2003. He passed away with her by his side

After a slow start and mixed reviews, Bat Out Of Hell became one of the top-selling albums in history, with worldwide sales of more than 40 million copies. 

Meat Loaf wasn’t a consistent hit maker, especially after falling out for years with Mr Steinman. 

But he maintained close ties with his fans through his manic live shows, social media and his many television, radio and film appearances, including Fight Club and cameos on Glee and South Park. 

His biggest musical success after Bat Out Of Hell was Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, a 1993 reunion with Mr Steinman that sold more than 15 million copies and featured the Grammy-winning single I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).

Mr Steinman died in April last year. Meat Loaf’s other albums included Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose, Hell In A Handbasket and Braver Than We Are.

Meat Loaf speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong in September 2006

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.