American rock singer and actor Marvin Lee Aday, better known as Meat Loaf, and author of Bat Out of Hell (1997), one of the ten best-selling albums in history, has died at the age of 74 after six decades dedicated to music and acting; his family reported today.
“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,” the family states on the singer’s Facebook page.
Born in Dallas, in 1947, as the frontman of the eponymous rock band, Meat Loaf went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide and starred in more than 65 films, including Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Wayne’s World.
Why was his name ‘Meat Loaf’?
“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. From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!”
He wanted to adopt the nickname “Meat Loaf” after enduring bullying during his childhood. He was constantly being mock of for his overweight in which he felt “tormented,” as he said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
According to his biography, his father, a policeman by profession, was an alcoholic who mistreated him and even tried to murder him, while his mother, a teacher, died of cancer when Marvin was 18 years old, in 1966.
He never wanted to stick to the rules
With this background, the singer assured Big Issue magazine that he had erased much of his childhood from his head. “Because my name is Meat Loaf, people think I’m a babbling idiot. I read Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams. I read constantly. I just don’t want to play by the rules,” he declared.
Having experienced major health problems in the past years, after Bat Out of Hell, he released two sequels, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose, which sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. He also won a Grammy Award for best solo rock vocal performance for the song “I’d Do Anything for Love.”
Many still remember the legendary rockstar for his role of Eddie in the still iconic musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He will surely be honored with heartfelt messages and tons of homage to this iconic character and his legendary career.
With information and photos from EFE
