‘Bat out of Hell’ singer Meat Loaf dead at 74 after becoming ‘seriously ill with Covid’

Music icon Meat Loaf has died after he reportedly “became seriously ill” with Covid, as tributes flow for the rock legend whose career spanned six decades.

Music icon Meat Loaf, whose hits included Bat Out of Hell, has died aged 74.

While no official cause of death was immediately given, sources quoted by TMZ reportedly said he was supposed to attend a business dinner for the Australian show “I’d Do Anything for Love”, but cancelled after “he became seriously ill with Covid”.

His condition “quickly became critical”, the outlet reported.

It is unclear whether Meat Loaf was vaccinated - but just months before his death he declared “if I die, I die - I’m not going to be controlled” when discussing the virus.

Meat loaf

In the same interview - published in August last year after people worldwide had endured months of draconian rules and lockdowns - Meat Loaf, who suffered from asthma, also labelled face masks a “nuisance” and said he was happy to “hug people in the middle of Covid”.

“You’re not afraid (of Covid)?,” a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked the rocker.

He replied: “Oh, I’m scared to death! You kidding me? But I’m sorry, I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics. And right now they’re stopping because of politics.

“And on CNN last night, it finally came out that the masks we’re all wearing are useless. But I’ve known that for six months. They don’t do anything. They don’t stop you from getting Covid. They’re just a nuisance and make your nose itch and make it so you can’t breathe.”

After the interviewer said: “We’re being controlled by everybody”, he replied: “Yeah, I know. But not me. If I die, I die, but I’m not going to be controlled.”

A statement on the Texas-born singer’s official Facebook page said he died with his wife by his side.

Singer Meat Loaf and country artist John Rich at Redneck Riviera Nashville in March, 2021.

“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,” the statement said.

“His amazing career spanned six decades that saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies ... Bat Out of Hell remains one of the top 10 selling albums of all time. 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!”

It is believed Meat Loaf was in negotiations to bring a game show inspired by his 1993 hit I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) to Australia and star as its host.

According to reports about the project last year, the show would involve couples doing tasks inspired by classic songs.

Singer Meat Loaf during his widely panned performance at the 2011 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Supplied

His popularity here remains undiminished by the 2011 AFL Grand Final performance. He was believed to have been paid $600,000 for the disastrous 12-minute gig, with the singer unnerved before his performance by the threat of bad weather.

But ARIA has the Bat Out Of Hell record as holding onto its claim of being the best-selling album of all time in Australia, with 1,750,000 copies sold.

Born Marvin Lee Aday, the rock legend had been plagued with health issues and rumours that he’s dying ever since he collapsed onstage in June 2016 and has appeared in a number of interviews with slurred speech.

At one stage he was forced to deny he’d passed away.

He did have back surgery nearly two months ago to remove a cyst on his back, but insisted he wasn’t dying and would be fine after therapy.

He is perhaps best known for his 1977 “Bat out of Hell” album, and hit songs including “Paradise by the Dashboard light” (1977), “I’m Gonna Love Her for Both of Us” (1981), and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993).

“Bat Out of Hell” reportedly sold some 43 million copies and is one of the highest-selling albums ever.

Jim Steinman, the composer behind Bat Out Of Hell who would work on and off again with the singer over the decades - when they weren’t having the occasional legal spat - died last April aged 73.

Meatloaf’s family say their “hearts are broken”.

“I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat loaf,” British actor Stephen Fry Tweeted.

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

“He had the quality of being simultaneously frightening and cuddly, which is rare and rather wonderful.”

Pop icon Cher, who was the co-star on Dead Ringer For Love, a track on his 1981 solo record, posted a tribute to the rock legend.

“Had so much fun with Meatloaf (sic) when we did Dead Ringer. Am very sorry for his family, friends and fans. Am I imagining it, or are amazing people in the arts dying every other day?” she wrote on Twitter.

US singer Meat loaf has died aged 74.

His innate theatricality almost demanded he try his hand at acting and before Bat Out Of Hell, there was Meat Loaf in his firm fan favourite performance as Eddie in the 1975 film adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also had scene-stealing spots in Wayne’’s World, Spiceworld, Fight Club and Crazy In Alabama.

Meat, as he would introduce himself in interviews, told News Corp national music writer Kathy McCabe that his famously pained expression while belting out one of his classics comes from the fact he hates singing.

``Singing, it’s not natural to me, it’s like golf,’’ he said when in Sydney in 2013.

``I have to get up and spend hours psyching myself on the days I am singing because when, I go to do it, it hurts, it’s painful.

``They say the better the singer is the easier they make it look but I went backwards on that and decided to make it look like it was really, f … ing hard.’’

With The Sun.

Originally published as ‘Bat out of Hell’ singer Meat Loaf dead at 74 after becoming ‘seriously ill with Covid’