Meat Loaf | |
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.JPG) Meat Loaf in 1971 | |
| Born | Marvin Lee Aday (1947-09-27)September 27, 1947 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2022(2022-01-20) (aged 74) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Other names | Michael Lee Aday |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1962–2022 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1968–2022 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
Musical artist | |
Michael Lee Aday (bornMarvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), better known by his stage nameMeat Loaf, was an American singer and actor. He was known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. HisBat Out of Hell album trilogy—Bat Out of Hell (1977),Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993), andBat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006)—has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of thebest-selling music artists of all time.[1] The first album stayed on the charts for over nine years and is one of thebest-selling albums in history, still selling an estimated 200,000 copies annually as of 2016[update].[2][3]
Despite the commercial success ofBat Out of Hell andBat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and earning aGrammy 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.[4][5][6][7] However, his career still saw success due to his popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. He received the 1994Brit Award in the United Kingdom for best-selling album and single, and was ranked 23rd for the number of weeks spent on the UK charts in 2006. He ranks 96th onVH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".[2]
Meat Loaf also acted in over 50 films and television shows, sometimes as himself or as characters resembling his stage persona. His notable film roles include Eddie inThe Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), the bus driver inSpice World (1997), and Robert Paulson inFight Club (1999). His early stage work included dual roles in the originalBroadway cast ofThe Rocky Horror Show; he also appeared in the musicalHair, both on andOff-Broadway.
Marvin Lee Aday was born inDallas,Texas, on September 27, 1947,[8][9] the son of Wilma Artie (née Hukel), a schoolteacher and member of the Vo-di-o-do Girlsgospel 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.[10] He 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.[11] 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!"[12]
Meat Loaf's father would binge-drink alcohol for days at a time, a habit he started when he was medically discharged from theU.S. Army duringWorld War II after being wounded by fragments from amortar 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.[10] He attended church andBible study every Sunday.[13]
He was 16 years old on November 22, 1963, the day of theassassination of John F. Kennedy. That morning, Meat Loaf had seen the President when he arrived atDallas Love Field. Later, after hearing of Kennedy's death, he and a friend drove toParkland Hospital where he witnessedJacqueline Kennedy Onassis, covered in her husband's blood, getting out of the car that brought her to the hospital.[14]
In 1965, Meat Loaf graduated fromThomas Jefferson High School, having appeared in school stage productions such asWhere's Charley? andThe Music Man. He played high school football as adefensive tackle.[15][16] After attending college atLubbock Christian College, he transferred to North Texas State University (now theUniversity of North Texas).
In 1967, when Meat Loaf was 19 years old, his mother died of cancer, and his father lunged at him with a knife after falsely accusing the teen of having girls in his bedroom.[17] Meat Loaf used the money his mother left him to rent an apartment in Dallas, where he isolated for three and a half months, at which time a friend found him.[18] Soon after, he went to the airport and caught the next flight to Los Angeles.[19]
Meat Loaf intentionally gained 60 pounds (27 kg) to fail hisphysical examination for theVietnam War draft. Despite this strategy, he still received his notice to appear before his local draft board, but chose to ignore it.[8]
In Los Angeles, Meat Loaf formed his first band, Meat Loaf Soul.[19] The band received several recording contracts.[20] Meat Loaf Soul's first gig was inHuntington Beach, California in 1968 at the Cave, opening forVan Morrison's bandThem andQuestion Mark and the Mysterians.[21] Meat Loaf later described his early days in the music industry as being treated like a "circus clown."[22]
The band underwent several changes of lead guitarists, changing the name of the band each time, to names including Popcorn Blizzard and Floating Circus. As Floating Circus, they opened forthe Who,the Fugs,the Stooges,MC5, theGrateful Dead, andthe Grease Band. Their regional success led them to release a single, "Once Upon a Time", backed with "Hello". Meat Loaf then joined the Los Angeles production of the musicalHair.[23]
With the publicity generated fromHair, Meat Loaf accepted an invitation byMotown, in Detroit. In addition to appearing as "Mother" and "Ulysses S. Grant" at Detroit's Vest Pocket Theatre, he recorded the vocals with fellowHair performerShaun "Stoney" Murphy on an album of songs written and selected by the Motown production team. The album, titledStoney & Meatloaf (with Meatloaf spelled as one word), was released in September 1971 and included the single "What You See Is What You Get"; it reached number 36 on theBest Selling Soul Singles chart and number 71 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart. Meat Loaf and Stoney toured withJake Wade and the Soul Searchers, opening forRichie Havens,the Who,the Stooges,Bob Seger,Alice Cooper, andRare Earth. Meat Loaf left Motown soon after the label replaced his and Stoney's vocals from the one song he liked, "Who Is the Leader of the People?" with new vocals byEdwin Starr.[24] He moved toFreeland, Michigan, for a year and was the opening act at theGrande Ballroom 80 times.[25]
In December 1972, Meat Loaf was in the originaloff-Broadway production ofRainbow at theOrpheum Theatre in New York.[26] After the tour, Meat Loaf rejoined the cast ofHair, this time at aBroadway theater. After he hired an agent, he auditioned for thePublic Theater's production ofMore Than You Deserve. During the audition, Meat Loaf metJim Steinman. He sang a Stoney and Meat Loaf favorite of his, "(I'd Love to Be) As Heavy as Jesus", and subsequently got the part of Rabbit, a maniac that blows up his fellow soldiers so they can "go home."Ron Silver andFred Gwynne were also in the show. In the summer between the show's workshop production (April 1973) and full production (November 1973 – January 1974), Meat Loaf appeared in aShakespeare in the Park production ofAs You Like It withRaul Julia andMary Beth Hurt.[27]
In late 1973, Meat Loaf was cast in the original L.A. Roxy cast ofThe Rocky Horror Show, playing the parts of both Eddie and Dr. Scott.[28] The success of the musical led to the filming ofThe Rocky Horror Picture Show in which Meat Loaf played only Eddie whileJonathan Adams was cast as Dr. Scott, a decision Meat Loaf said made the movie not as good as the musical.[29]
About the same time, Meat Loaf and Steinman started work onBat Out of Hell. Meat Loaf convincedEpic Records to shoot music videos for four songs, "Bat Out of Hell", "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth", and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" and convincedLou Adler, the producer ofRocky Horror, to run the "Paradise" video as a trailer to the movie. During his recording of the soundtrack forRocky Horror, Meat Loaf recorded two more songs: "Stand by Me" (aBen E. King cover), and "Clap Your Hands." They remained unreleased for a decade, until 1984, when they appeared as B-sides to the "Nowhere Fast" single.[30]
In 1976, Meat Loaf recorded lead vocals forTed Nugent's albumFree-for-All when regular Nugent lead vocalistDerek St. Holmes temporarily quit the band. Meat Loaf sang lead on five of the album's nine tracks. That same year, Meat Loaf appeared in his final theatrical show in New York City, the short-lived Broadway production ofGower Champion's rock musicalRockabye Hamlet.[31][32][33] It closed two weeks into its initial run.[34]
Meat Loaf and Steinman started working onBat Out of Hell in 1972, but did not get serious about it until the end of 1974. Meat Loaf then decided to leave theater and concentrate exclusively on music.[35] Meat Loaf was cast as an understudy forJohn Belushi inThe National Lampoon Show.[31] It was at theLampoon show that Meat Loaf metEllen Foley, the co-star who sang "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Bat Out of Hell" with him on the albumBat Out of Hell.[31][36]
Meat Loaf and Steinman spent time seeking a record deal; however, their approaches were rejected by each record company, because their songs did not fit any specific recognizedmusic industry style.[31]Todd Rundgren, under the impression that they already had a record deal, agreed to produce the album as well as play lead guitar along with other members of Rundgren's bandUtopia andMax Weinberg.[31][37] They then shopped the record around, but they still had no takers untilSteve Popovich'sCleveland International Records took a chance, releasingBat Out of Hell in October 1977.[31][38]
Meat Loaf and Steinman formed the bandNeverland Express to tour in support ofBat Out of Hell. Their first gig was opening forCheap Trick in Chicago. Meat Loaf gained national exposure as the musical guest onSaturday Night Live on March 25, 1978. HostChristopher Lee introduced him with a groan worthy joke.[39] In 1978, Meat Loaf jumped off a stage inOttawa, Ontario, breaking his leg. He finished his tour performing in awheelchair.[40]
Bat Out of Hell has sold an estimated 43 million copies globally, including 15 million in the United States, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. In the United Kingdom alone, its 2.1 million sales put it in 38th place. Despite peaking at No. 9 and spending only two weeks in the top ten in 1981, it has now spent 485 weeks on theUK Albums Chart (May 2015), a figure bettered only byRumours byFleetwood Mac with 487 weeks.[41] In Australia, it knocked theBee Gees off the No. 1 spot and became the biggest-selling album of all time in that country.Bat Out of Hell has, as of December 2020, spent a total of 522 weeks in the Top 200 in the UK chart.[42]
In 1979, Steinman started to work onBad for Good, the intended follow-up to 1977'sBat Out of Hell. During that time, a combination of touring, drugs and exhaustion had caused Meat Loaf to lose his voice. Without a singer, and pressured by the record company, Steinman decided that he should sing onBad for Good himself. While Steinman worked on Bad for Good, Meat Loaf played the role of Travis Redfish in the movieRoadie until his singing voice returned.[43] Steinman then wrote a new album for Meat Loaf,Dead Ringer, which was released in September 1981.[44] Steinman had written five new songs which, in addition to the track "More Than You Deserve" (sung by Meat Loaf in the stage musical of the same name) and a reworked monologue, formed the albumDead Ringer, which was produced by Meat Loaf andStephan Galfas, with backing tracks produced byTodd Rundgren,Jimmy Iovine, and Steinman. In 1976, Meat Loaf appeared on the track "Keeper Keep Us", from theIntergalactic Touring Band's self-titled album, produced by Galfas. The song "Dead Ringer for Love" was the pinnacle of the album, and launched Meat Loaf to even greater success. While it failed to chart in the US, it reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom and stayed in the UK Singles Chart for 19 weeks.[45]Cher provided the lead female vocals in the song.[46]
On December 5, 1981, Meat Loaf and the Neverland Express were the musical guests forSaturday Night Live where he and former fellowRocky Horror Picture Show actorTim Curry performed a skit depicting a One-Stop Rocky Horror Shop. Also on the show, Curry performed "The Zucchini Song" and Meat Loaf & the Neverland Express performed "Bat Out of Hell" and "Promised Land."[47][48][49]
Following a dispute with his former songwriter Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf was contractually obliged to release a new album, resulting inMidnight at the Lost and Found, released in May 1983.[50] According to Meat Loaf, Steinman had given the songs "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" to Meat Loaf for this album. However, Meat Loaf's record company did not want Meat Loaf to sing Steinman's songs, saying that nobody wanted to hear them.Bonnie Tyler's version of "Eclipse" andAir Supply's version of "Making Love" topped the charts together, holding No. 1 and No. 2 for a period during 1983.[51] Meat Loaf is credited with having been involved in the writing of some of the tracks on the album, including the title track, "Midnight at the Lost and Found."[52]
Poormoney management as well as 45 lawsuits totaling US$80 million, including ones from Steinman, resulted in Meat Loaf filing forpersonal bankruptcy in 1983.[8] The bankruptcy resulted in Meat Loaf losing the rights to his songs,[53] although he received royalties forBat Out of Hell in 1997.[17]
In 1984, Meat Loaf went to England, where he felt increasingly at home, to record the albumBad Attitude; it was released that year.[20] It features two songs by Steinman, both previously recorded, "Nowhere Fast" and "Surf's Up." The American release on RCA Records was in April 1985 and features a slightly different track list, as well as alternate mixes for some songs. The title track features a duet withthe Who's lead singerRoger Daltrey.[54][55] It was a minor success with a few commercially successful singles, the most successful being "Modern Girl".[20] In 1985, Meat Loaf took part in some comedy sketches in the UK withHugh Laurie.[56][24] Meat Loaf also tried stand-up comedy, appearing several times inConnecticut.[56]
Meat Loaf worked with songwriterJohn Parr on his next album,Blind Before I Stop, which was released in 1986 byArista Records. It features production, mixing, and general influence byFrank Farian. Meat Loaf was involved in the composition of three of the songs on the album.[57] Meat Loaf performed "Thrashin" for the soundtrack of the 1986 skateboarding filmThrashin' (directed byDavid Winters and starringJosh Brolin).
Following the success of Meat Loaf's touring in the 1980s, he and Steinman began work during December 1990 onBat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell; the album was released in September 1993. The immediate success ofBat Out of Hell II led to the sale of over 15 million copies, and the single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" reached number one in 28 countries. In March 1994, at the36th Annual Grammy Awards, Meat Loaf won theGrammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo for "I'd Do Anything for Love."[58] This song stayed at No. 1 in the UK chart for seven consecutive weeks. The single featured a female vocalist who was credited only as "Mrs. Loud." Mrs. Loud was later identified asLorraine Crosby, a performer from England.[59] Meat Loaf promoted the song with American vocalistPatti Russo, who performed lead female vocals on tour with him. Also in 1994, he sang the U.S. national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" at theMajor League Baseball All-Star Game.[60] He released the single "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through", which reached No. 13 in the United States.[61]
In 1995, Meat Loaf released his seventh studio album,Welcome to the Neighborhood. The album wentplatinum in the United States and the United Kingdom.[62] It included three singles that hit the top 40, including "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" (which reached No. 13 in the United States[63] and No. 2 in the UK),[64] and "Not a Dry Eye in the House" (which reached No. 7 in the UK chart).[65]I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth) was a duet withPatti Russo, who had been touring with Meat Loaf and singing on his albums since 1993. Of the twelve songs on the album, two are written by Steinman. Both are cover versions, the "Original Sin" fromPandora's Box'sOriginal Sin album and "Left in the Dark" first appeared on Steinman's ownBad for Good as well as the 1984 albumEmotion byBarbra Streisand. His other singles, "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" and "Not a Dry Eye in the House", were written byDiane Warren.[66]
In 1998, Meat Loaf releasedThe Very Best of Meat Loaf. The album featured three new songs co-written by Steinman – two withAndrew Lloyd Webber and one withDon Black, "Is Nothing Sacred", released as a single.[67] The single version of this song is a duet with Patti Russo, whereas the album version is a solo song by Meat Loaf.
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In 2003, Meat Loaf released his albumCouldn't Have Said It Better. For only the third time in his career, Meat Loaf released an album without any songs written by Steinman (not counting live bonus tracks on special edition releases). Although Meat Loaf claimed thatCouldn't Have Said It Better was "the most perfect album [he] did sinceBat Out of Hell",[68] it was not as commercially successful. The album was a minor commercial success worldwide and reached No. 4 on theUK Albums Chart,[65] accompanied by a sellout world tour to promote the album and some of Meat Loaf's best selling singles. One such performance on his world tour was at the2003 NRL Grand Final inSydney.[69] There were many writers for the album includingDiane Warren andJames Michael, who were both asked to contribute to his 2006 album,Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose. The album featured duets with Patti Russo and Meat Loaf's daughterPearl Aday.
On November 17, 2003, during a performance at London'sWembley Arena, on hisCouldn't Have Said It Better tour, he collapsed of what was later diagnosed asWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a condition marked by an extra electrical pathway in the heart which causes symptoms like a rapid heartbeat. The following week, he underwent a surgical procedure intended to correct the problem.[70] As a result, Meat Loaf's insurance agency did not allow him to perform for any longer than one hour and 45 minutes.[71]
From February 20 to 22, 2004, during an Australian tour, Meat Loaf performed with theMelbourne Symphony Orchestra, in a set of concerts recorded for the albumBat Out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The performances included theAustralian Boys' Choir singing back-up on aCouldn't Have Said It Better track, "Testify."[72]
Meat Loaf and Steinman had begun to work on the third installment ofBat Out of Hell when Steinman suffered a heart attack. According to Meat Loaf, Steinman was too ill to work on such an intense project while Steinman's manager said health was not an issue.[73]
Steinman had registered the phrase "Bat Out of Hell" as a trademark in 1995.[74] In May 2006, Meat Loaf sued Steinman and his manager in federal District Court in Los Angeles, seeking $50 million and an injunction against Steinman's use of the phrase.[75] Steinman and his representatives attempted to block the album's release. An agreement was reached in July 2006.[76] Denying reports in the press over the years of a rift between Meat Loaf and Steinman, in an interview withDan Rather, Meat Loaf stated that he and Steinman never stopped talking, and that the lawsuits reported in the press were between lawyers and managers, and not between Meat Loaf and Steinman.[77]
The albumBat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose was released on October 31, 2006, and was produced byDesmond Child. The first single from the album "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (featuringMarion Raven) was released on October 16, 2006. It entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 6,[78] giving Meat Loaf his highest UK chart position in nearly 11 years. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200,[79] and sold 81,000 copies in its opening week,[80] but after that did not sell as well in the United States and yielded no hit singles, although it was certified gold.[81] The album also featured duets withPatti Russo andJennifer Hudson.[82] In the weeks following the release ofBat III, Meat Loaf and theNeverland Express did a brief tour of the U.S. and Europe, known as the Bases are Loaded Tour. In October 2006, Meat Loaf's private jet had to make an emergency landing atLondon Stansted Airport after the plane's forward landing gear failed.[83][84]
In 2007, Meat Loaf beganThe Seize the Night Tour, withMarion Raven, serving as a supporting act. Portions of the tour in February 2007 were featured in the documentaryMeat Loaf: In Search of Paradise, directed byBruce David Klein. The film was an official selection of theMontreal World Film Festival in 2007.[85] It opened in theaters in March 2008[86] and was released on DVD in May 2008.[87]
During a performance at theMetro Radio Arena inNewcastle upon Tyne, England, on October 31, 2007, at the opening of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" Meat Loaf walked off the stage early in the song and said that it was his last performance. His tour promoter, Andrew Miller, said that it was a result of "exhaustion andstress" and said that Meat Loaf would continue touring after suitable rest.[88] The next two gigs in the tour, at theNEC andManchester Evening News Arena were canceled because of "acutelaryngitis" and were rescheduled for late November.[89] The concert scheduled for November 6, 2007, at London'sWembley Arena was also canceled. Meat Loaf canceled his entire European tour for 2007 after being diagnosed with acyst on his vocal cords.[90]
On June 27, 2008, Meat Loaf beganThe Casa de Carne Tour inPlymouth, England alongside his longtime duet partner Patti Russo, who debuted one of her own original songs during the show.[91] The tour continued through July and August with twenty dates throughout England, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Six U.S. shows were also added for October and December 2008.[92]
In May 2009, Meat Loaf began work on the albumHang Cool Teddy Bear in the studio withGreen Day'sAmerican Idiot album producerRob Cavallo, working with such writers asJustin Hawkins, Rick Brantley,Ollie Wride,Tommy Henriksen, andJon Bon Jovi.[93] The album is based on the story of a fictional soldier, whose "story" furnishes the theme.[94] The album is based on a short story by the Los Angeles-based screenwriter and director Kilian Kerwin, a long-time friend of the singer.Hugh Laurie andJack Black both perform on the album, Laurie plays piano on the song "If I Can't Have You", while Black sings a duet with Meat Loaf on "Like A Rose". Patti Russo and Kara DioGuardi also duet on the album.Brian May ofQueen features on guitar along withSteve Vai. It received positive reviews from critics and fans alike.[94][95][96] The first single from the album, "Los Angeloser", was released for download on April 5 with the album charting at number 4 in the UK Albums Chart on April 25, 2010.[65] The Hang Cool Tour followed in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Patti Russo accompanied him on the tour, continuing through mid-2011.[97]
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Hell in a Handbasket, released in October 2011 for Australia and New Zealand, and February 2012 for the rest of the world, was recorded and produced byPaul Crook; Doug McKean did the mix with input fromRob Cavallo. The album features songs called "All of Me", "Blue Sky", "The Giving Tree", "Mad, Mad World", and a duet with Patti Russo called "Our Love and Our Souls."[98][99][100]
At the2011 AFL Grand Final, the pre-match entertainment was headlined by a 12-minute medley performed by Meat Loaf. The performance was panned as the worst in the 34-year history of AFL Grand Final pre-game entertainment in a multitude of online reviews by football fans and Australian sport commentators.[101][102] Meat Loaf responded by calling online critics "butt-smellers",[103] and the AFL "jerks", vowing to convince other artists not to play at the event.[104][105]
In 2011, Meat Loaf planned to release a Christmas album calledHot Holidays featuringGarth Brooks andReba McEntire, but the album was never released.[106]
In September 2016,Braver Than We Are, a 10-track album created with Jim Steinman, was released. Meat Loaf recorded reworked versions of Steinman's songs "Braver Than We Are", "Speaking in Tongues", "Who Needs the Young", and "More" (previously recorded bythe Sisters of Mercy) for the album. Additionally, the song "Prize Fight Lover", originally issued as a download-only bonus track forHang Cool Teddy Bear, was re-recorded for the album.[107][108]
In January 2020, during an interview forThe Mirror, Meat Loaf announced, "I'm not old. I've got songs for another record and I'm reading a script."[109] In a February 2020 Facebook post, Meat Loaf announced his intention to record a new album containing 'four or five new tracks', including Steinman's "What Part of My Body Hurts the Most" (a song long requested by fans, but previously under contract restrictions for theBat Out of Hell musical), along with the original 1975 demo recordings made for theBat Out of Hell album.[110] Meat Loaf's longtime collaborator Jim Steinman died on April 19, 2021, of kidney failure.[111]
In a Facebook post in November 2021, he further elaborated that he and his band would be returning to the studio in January 2022 to record seven new songs for a forthcoming album, which would also include live tracks from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.[112] However, on January 20, 2022, he died at age 74. At the time of his death, the recording process had not yet begun.[6]
In addition to his role in 1975 forRocky Horror Picture Show, Meat Loaf also had a career as an actor in television and film. 1992 he was a main character inLeap Of Faith where he played as the band director/bus driver/piano player, He also played a small role as a doorman/bouncer inWayne's World. He appeared as theSpice Girls' bus driver in the 1997 movieSpice World and as Red in the 1998 thriller/drama filmBlack Dog alongsidePatrick Swayze andRandy Travis. InDavid Fincher's 1999 filmFight Club he played Robert Paulsen, a man who joins a men's self-help group. He also reportedly assisted directorDavid Fincher with the editing of the film.[113]
In 2000, he played a character in the sixth-season episode "Gettysburg" ofThe Outer Limits. Meat Loaf appears (uncredited) asJack Black's father in the 2006 filmTenacious D in The Pick of Destiny,[114] providing vocals on the film's opening song "Kickapoo."[115]
In 2009, Meat Loaf acted inHouse S5 E20 "Simple Explanation", playing Eddie, a husband who is determined to die in order to donate his liver to his wife.
On October 26, 2010, Meat Loaf (credited as Meat Loaf Aday) appeared on theFox television seriesGlee in "The Rocky Horror Glee Show", the series' tribute episode toThe Rocky Horror Picture Show.[116] In 2011, he was a contestant inseason 11 ofCelebrity Apprentice, during which he was eliminated after task number 12. In the course of the contest he had a notable dramatic showdown with fellow contestantGary Busey which was then televised.[117]
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In December 1978, Meat Loaf went to work with Steinman inWoodstock, New York, where his future wife, Leslie G. Edmonds, was working as a secretary atBearsville Studios;[37] they were married in early 1979. From a previous marriage, Leslie had a daughter namedPearl, who later marriedAnthrax rhythm guitaristScott Ian. Meat Loaf adopted Pearl in 1979, and her last name was changed to Aday.[118]
Also in 1979, he and his family moved to a house on Eagle Drive inStamford, Connecticut. In 1981, Leslie gave birth toAmanda Aday, who later became a television actress.[56] For a brief time after Amanda's birth, they lived inWestport, Connecticut. He coached children's baseball or softball in each of the Connecticut towns where he lived, including for his daughter's team atJoel Barlow High School.[56] He lived on Orchard Drive inRedding, Connecticut, from 1989 to 1998. He had also lived on Beach Road inFairfield, Connecticut.[119][120] In February 1998, the family purchased a house inBeverly Hills, California for $1.6 million.[121] Meat Loaf and Leslie divorced in 2001.[122]
In 2001, he sold his 5,083-square-foot house inMandeville Canyon near Los Angeles toGreg Kinnear for $3.6 million.[123] In 2003, theBBC said that he was seeking a residence inHartlepool; Meat Loaf supportedHartlepool United F.C.[124] In May 2005, he purchased a 7,142-square-foot Spanish-style home offMulholland Highway inCalabasas, California, for $2,999,000;[125] he sold it for $3,065,000 in May 2011.[126]
Meat Loaf married Deborah Gillespie in 2007. In May 2012, he moved toAustin, Texas, purchasing a newly constructed 5,200-square-foot house at 17701 Flagler Drive for $1,475,000.[127][126] Before his death, he lived inBrentwood, Tennessee.[128]
In 1984, Meat Loaf legally changed his first name from Marvin to Michael because he was "haunted" by aLevi Strauss & Co. commercial which—according to him—contained the line "Poor fat Marvin can't wear Levi's."[17]
Meat Loaf was a fan of theNew York Yankees.[129] He gotPhil Rizzuto to recite theplay-by-play of a young man racing around the bases in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".[130] He participated in multiplefantasy baseball leagues every season.[131] He also expressed support for the English Association football teamHartlepool United F.C. In June 2008, he took part in a footballpenalty shootout competition on behalf of two cancer charities inNewcastle upon Tyne. He auctioned shots to the 100 highest bidders and then took his place between the goal posts.[132] He also participated in celebrity golf tournaments. In April 2005, he was one of the celebrity drivers in the 2005Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, finishing seventh among the 12 celebrity drivers in the race.[133]
He revealed that he hadsocial anxiety and said, "I never meet anybody much in a social situation because when I go into a social situation, I have no idea what to do." He said that he does not "even go anywhere" and that he felt that he led a "boring life", in having said that he "completely freaked" when having to attend a party and that he was "so nervous, so scared" of the idea. He also said that he spent time with fellow musicians mainly in work-related situations rather than social ones.[134] He also said that as a kid, "Being too fat to play with the other children, I had to spend a lot of time alone, which probably has a lot to do with the way I am today. I'm usually alone in my hotel room from right after the show until the next day's sound check. And I'm never bored; I don't get bored. Probably because mothers wouldn't let their kids play with me."[17]
Meat Loaf was a vegetarian from 1981 to 1992. Discussing the confusion caused by his contrasting stage name and dietary habits, he once toldEntertainment Weekly, "There've been vegetarians who wouldn't speak to me because of my name. I was sitting withJon Bon Jovi at one of those awards things, and I say, 'Oh, man, I lovek.d. lang. I'd really like to meet her.' They went to find out if it was okay, and she goes, 'No. His name is Meat Loaf.' I stopped being a k.d. lang fan after that."[135] He declared in 2019 that he would tryveganism forVeganuary in 2020 and would be partnering with UK restaurant chainFrankie & Benny's to promote its vegan options.[136]
Although he did not belong to any faith-based institution, Meat Loaf was religious. While growing up, he attended church with his mother and studied the Bible, which influenced his work. Several of his songs, such as "40 Days" and "Fall from Grace", have religious themes. He prayed every night.[137]
Meat Loaf was not officially registered with any political party. In 1997, he performed at aninaugural ball during thesecond inauguration of Bill Clinton,[138] and attended thefirst inauguration of George W. Bush in 2001.[139] He donated to the presidential campaigns of Republican candidatesRick Santorum andJohn McCain, the latter of whom became the party's nominee in the2008 United States presidential election.[140]
On October 25, 2012, Meat Loaf endorsedMitt Romney for president, citing poorRussia–United States relations as a major reason he had been "arguing for Mitt Romney for a year."[141] He said, "I have never been in any political agenda in my life, but I think that in 2012 this is the most important election in the history of the United States." He then said there are "storm clouds" over the United States and "thunder storms" over Europe: "There are hail storms – and I mean major hail storms! – in the Middle East. There are storms brewing through China, through Asia, through everywhere."[141] The same day, he performed "America the Beautiful" standing next to Romney.[140][142]
In a 2017 interview withBillboard, he made positive remarks about PresidentDonald Trump,Ivanka Trump, andDonald Trump Jr.; they had worked together onThe Celebrity Apprentice in 2011.[143] When asked during an episode ofThe Celebrity Apprentice if he would vote for Trump, Meat Loaf said: "I would vote for you. In fact, I'll help you with your campaign." Though months after that, according to a 2020 interview, he had a confrontation with Trump over a response to a journalist implying that Trump would be better as a financial advisor than a president. He recalls saying "You’re not running for President, back off man!" and said of the event "I stood up to him because I’m really not afraid of him".[144][145]
Meat Loaf said that he did not believe in climate change.[146] In an interview with theDaily Mail in 2020, he calledGreta Thunberg "brainwashed" due to her views on climate change, saying: "I feel for that Greta. She has been brainwashed into thinking that there is climate change and there isn't. She hasn't done anything wrong but she's been forced into thinking that what she is saying is true."[147]
He was critical of theCOVID-19 lockdowns during theCOVID-19 pandemic, telling thePittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2021: "I hug people in the middle of COVID ... I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics." He opposedmask mandates and described a person who called for people on airplanes to wear masks as a "Nazi" and "power-mad." Meat Loaf then said: "If I die, I die, but I'm not going to be controlled."[148][149] While no official cause of death has been announced, it is speculated that he did die of COVID-19.[150]
In 2003, Meat Loaf was diagnosed withWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a condition marked by an extra electrical pathway in the heart that causes symptoms like a rapid heartbeat.[151] Meat Loaf hadasthma and, in July 2011, he fainted on stage while performing inPittsburgh due to anasthma attack.[152][153][154]
He collapsed again while on stage inEdmonton in June 2016 due to severe dehydration, after having already canceled two other shows due to illness.[155] The playback containing his pre-recorded, voice-over vocal track continued while he lay unconscious on the stage, which caused controversy overlip syncing, claims that Meat Loaf denied, saying that his mic was live.[156] After the incident, Meat Loaf usedacupuncture,physical therapy and a trainer for four days a week, an hour and a half each session.[157] Meat Loaf had emergency back surgery in November 2016 including aspinal fusion due to acyst that was pinching nerves, and in 2019, he was using a cane and a wheelchair to get around.[158]
At the 2019Texas Frightmare Weekend at theHyatt Regency DFW hotel, Meat Loaf fell off an interview stage and broke hisclavicle.[159] Meat Loaf and his wife sued Texas Frightmare Weekend and Hyatt due to the accident.[160][161]
Meat Loaf died inNashville, Tennessee, on the evening of January 20, 2022, at the age of 74. No officialcause of death was released.[5] He was reportedly ill with COVID-19 earlier in January, and reporting byTMZ suggested that he died from COVID-19 complications.[162][163] As his health rapidly declined, his two daughters rushed to see him in the hospital with his wife beside him as he died.[164] His daughter had posted toInstagram in early January that: "We are not sick, but we have too many friends and family testing positive [for COVID-19] right now, positive but doing OK."[149] Notable people who posted tributes includeBonnie Tyler,Cher,Brian May,Boy George,Travis Tritt,Marlee Matlin,Stephen Fry, and hisRocky Horror co-starNell Campbell.[165][166][144] TheQueen's Guard performed a rendition of "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)."[167]
Note: Meat Loaf's band TheNeverland Express has since continued with American Idol winnerCaleb Johnson
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | State Fair | Boy In Stands | Uncredited | [169] |
| 1975 | The Rocky Horror Picture Show | Eddie | as Meatloaf | |
| 1979 | Americathon | Roy Budnitz | [10] | |
| Scavenger Hunt | Scum | [170] | ||
| 1980 | Roadie | Travis W. Redfish | [171] | |
| 1981 | Dead Ringer | Meat Loaf / Marvin | ||
| 1986 | Out of Bounds | Gil | as Meatloaf | [172] |
| 1987 | The Squeeze | Titus | [173] | |
| 1991 | Motorama | Vern | ||
| 1992 | Wayne's World | "Tiny" | [174][173] | |
| The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag | Lawrence | |||
| Leap of Faith | Hoover | [173] | ||
| 1997 | Spice World | Dennis | [175] | |
| 1998 | Gunshy | Lew Collins | [173] | |
| Black Dog | "Red" | |||
| The Mighty | Iggy Lee | |||
| Outside Ozona | Floyd Bibbs | |||
| 1999 | Crazy in Alabama | Sheriff John Doggett | [173] | |
| Fight Club | Robert "Bob" Paulsen | as Meat Loaf Aday | [176] | |
| The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man (hu) | ||||
| 2001 | Face to Face | Driver | ||
| Rustin | Coach Trellingsby | [173] | ||
| Focus | Fred | |||
| The 51st State | "The Lizard" | [173] | ||
| Polish Spaghetti | Food Critic | [177] | ||
| 2002 | The Salton Sea | Bo | ||
| Wishcraft | Detective "Sparky" Shaw | [173] | ||
| 2003 | Learning Curves | Timmons | ||
| 2004 | A Hole in One | Billy | ||
| 2005 | Extreme Dating | Marshall Jackson | ||
| Chasing Ghosts | Richard Valbruno | |||
| Crazylove | John | |||
| BloodRayne | Leonid | |||
| 2006 | The Pleasure Drivers | Dale | ||
| Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Bud Black,Jack Black's father, providing vocals on the film's opening song "Kickapoo". | Uncredited | [178] | |
| 2007 | Urban Decay | Rick "Zero" | Meat Loaf atIMDb | |
| History Rocks | Himself | |||
| 2008 | Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise | Himself | ||
| 2010 | Burning Bright | Howie | Uncredited | Meat Loaf atIMDb |
| Beautiful Boy | Motel Manager | [173] | ||
| Polish Bar | Joe | |||
| 2011 | Absolute Killers | Dan | Meat Loaf atIMDb | |
| 2013 | The Moment | Sergeant Goodman | [173] | |
| All American Christmas Carol | Ross | [179] | ||
| 2014 | Stage Fright | Roger McCall | [173] | |
| Wishin' and Hopin' | Monsignor Muldoon | |||
| 2016 | Sausage Party | Meatloaf (archive recording) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–81 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Sugar Fly Simon | Episode: "Bump and Run" | Meat Loaf atIMDb |
| 1987 | The Grand Knockout Tournament | Himself | Television special | |
| 1988 | Monsters | Dr. Willard Wingite | Episode: "Where's the Rest of Me?" | |
| 1992 | Lightning Force | Richard Talbot | Episode: "MIA" | Meat Loaf atIMDb |
| Tales from the Crypt | Mr. Chumley | Episode: "What's Cookin'?" | Meat Loaf atIMDb | |
| Psyched for Snuppa | Snuppa (voice) | TV Pilot | [180] | |
| 1995 | To Catch a Yeti | Jake "Big Jake" Grizzly | TV movie | [173] |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun | Aaron Freemont | Episode: "The Mail Order Bride" | |
| Nash Bridges | Charlie Pep | Episode: "Wild Card" | ||
| 1998–99 | Behind the Music | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 1998 | South Park | Himself | Episode: "Chef Aid" | |
| 2000 | The Outer Limits | CSA Colonel Angus Devine | Episode: "Gettysburg" | |
| Blacktop | Jack | TV movie | ||
| 2001 | The Ballad of Lucy Whipple | Amos "Rattlesnake Jake" Frogge | TV movie | |
| Trapped | Jim Hankins | TV movie | ||
| 2006 | Masters of Horror | Jake Feldman | Episode: "Pelts" | |
| 2007 | Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve | Himself | ||
| Private Sessions | Episode: "Meat Loaf" | |||
| Go-Phone Commercial | Singing Father | |||
| 2008 | The F Word | Himself | ||
| 2009 | Hannity | Panel member | ||
| House | Eddie | Episode: "Simple Explanation" | ||
| Citizen Jane | Detective Jack Morris | TV movie | ||
| Bookaboo | Himself | Episode: "The Lamb Who Came for Dinner" | ||
| Don't Forget the Lyrics! | He won $500,000 forThe Painted Turtle | |||
| Ghost Hunters | Episode: "Bat Out of Hell" | |||
| Monk | Reverend Hadley Jorgensen | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Voodoo Curse" | ||
| 2010 | Popstar to Operastar | Himself | Judge | |
| Spicks and Specks | ||||
| Behind the Music: Remastered | Episode: "Meat Loaf" | |||
| WWE Raw | ||||
| Glee | Barry Jeffries | Episode: "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" | ||
| Ghost Hunters | Himself | Episode: "Sloss Furnaces" | [181] | |
| This Week | ||||
| 2011 | The Celebrity Apprentice | [117] | ||
| 2012 | Fairly Legal | Charlie DeKay | Episode: "Kiss Me, Kate" | [182] |
| 2017 | Elementary | Herman Wolf | Episode: "The Ballad of Lady Frances" | |
| 2017–2018 | Ghost Wars | Doug Rennie | Main cast |
