Search Our Site

'A Sweet Soul:' Hollywood Pays Tribute to Meat Loaf

By: Haley Bosselman By: Haley Bosselman | January 21, 2022 | Culture, Feature, Movies,

Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf, the iconic entertainer known for his theatricality and powerhouse voice, has died. He was 74.

His death was confirmed by a statement on his official Facebook page. A cause of death has yet to be announced.

“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends,” it says. “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!”

Born Marvin Lee Aday, the Dallas Texas native’s career spanned six decades. In that time, he sold over 100 million albums and appeared in over 65 movies, including critical darlings and pop culture gems like Fight Club, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.

After a brief stint in Los Angeles, Meat Loaf headed to New York City in 1970 and went on to perform in a number of musicals on Broadway, such as Hair, Rockabye Hamlet and The Rocky Horror Show, in addition to a number of off-Broadway shows.

Toward the end of the decade, Meat Loaf and lyricist Jim Steinman released his legendary debut: the operatic rock album Bat Out of Hell. The 1977 record spent 82 weeks on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum fourteen times. Subsequent albums Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose were certified platinum five times and gold, respectively.

Twitter and Instagram saw an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans, celebrity peers and even politicians. His individuality and star power was perhaps best captured in a thread by Alice Cooper.

“Meat Loaf was one of the greatest voices in Rock N Roll, and he was certainly one of my closest friends in the business. He was really so much fun, truly fun to be around. He just felt like a best friend to everyone no matter how long it had been since you last saw him,” he wrote, later adding, “I remember when you would see his show, he would treat the audience almost like a Pentecostal Preacher and he was so powerful on stage.”

Edward Norton, who acted alongside Meat Loaf in Fight Club, shared that he keeps a framed still from their scene together in the David Fincher film in his office.

“I don’t keep pictures from films around home. But I have this one in my office in a frame bc it makes me smile every time. It’s engraved ‘Love and Hugs, Meat’ it sums him up well. He was so funny. And gentle. And warm to everyone. A sweet soul. RIP Meat Loaf,” Norton wrote.

See more tributes below.


Tags: music web-og haley-bosselman

Photography by: Getty Images/Keystone

MLUX Watch Banner