Meat Loaf

Michael (Marvin) Lee Aday, known as Meat Loaf (Dallas, September 27, 1947), is an American singer and actor. His career began in Los Angeles in 1967, where he formed the band Meat Loaf Soul and Popcorn Blizzard, with whom he opened for the Who, the Stooges and Ted Nugent. In 1971, after landing a part in the musical “Hair”, he released “Stoney & Meat Loaf”, which passed almost unnoticed. Very different was the fate of the follow-up, 1977's “Bat Out Of Hell”, the first chapter of a long (and troubled) partnership with composer Jim Steinman, who helped turn him into a star, thanks also to the singles “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad”, “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” and “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth”. The result of four years of work, the album would go on to sell more than 34 million copies.

Four years later came “Dead Ringer”, which turned out to be something of a flop: Meat Loaf was even accused of being unable to write songs up to standard without Steinman, who in the meantime released his own solo debut album, “Bad For Good”. No Steinman songs appeared on the following record either, “Midnight At The Lost And Found” (1983). This marked the start of a very difficult period for Meat Loaf, who after releasing “Bad Attitude” (1984) and “Blind Before I Stop” (1986), was forced to file for bankruptcy and go through a period of rehabilitation to recover his voice.

The Meat Loaf-Jim Steinman duo reunited in 1993 for “Bat Out Of Hell: Back Into Hell”, a kind of sequel to the first installment, which sold five million copies, helped along by the huge success of the song “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance. Without Steinman, meanwhile, the Texan singer released “Welcome To The Neighborhood” two years later, followed by the live album “Live Around The World” the year after that.

After a long hiatus, Meat Loaf returned in 2003 with “Couldn’t Have Said It Better”, followed by “Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose”. After “3 Bats Live” in 2008, two years later came “Hang Cool Teddy Bear”, followed three years later by “Hell In A Handbasket” and, five years after that, by “Braver Than We Are”.

Hugely popular in Europe, where he became a true rock icon, especially in Britain, Meat Loaf also pursued a career as an actor, appearing in more than 50 films and TV shows. Sometimes playing himself, other times taking on roles similar to his own personality, such as his memorable turn as Eddie in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. He also appeared in “Fight Club” as Robert “Bob” Paulson and in “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny” as Jack Black's father.

Meat Loaf died in Nashville on January 20, 2022, from complications due to Covid-19. A year earlier, his friend and longtime partner Jim Steinman had passed away.

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