Meat Loaf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meat Loaf
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.
Cause of death	Complications from COVID-19
Other names	Michael Lee Aday
Occupation	Singer actor
Spouse(s)	Leslie Edmonds ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 2001)​ Deborah Gillespie ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	Pearl Amanda
Musical career
Genres	Rock hard rock heavy metal
Years active	1968–2022
Labels	Rare Earth Cleveland International Epic RCA Arista Atlantic MCA Polydor Sanctuary Mercury Virgin
Associated acts	Patti Russo Jim Steinman Ted Nugent Tenacious D Todd Rundgren Neverland Express Brian May Stoney & Meatloaf Karla Devito

Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known as Meat Loaf, was a famous American singer and actor. He was known for his strong, wide-ranging voice and exciting live shows. He is one of the best-selling music artists ever.

His Bat Out of Hell album series sold over 65 million copies worldwide. The first album, Bat Out of Hell (1977), stayed on the music charts for more than nine years! It still sells about 200,000 copies every year.

Meat Loaf won a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for his song "I'd Do Anything for Love". He was very popular in Europe, especially in Great Britain and Ireland. He also acted in over 50 films and TV shows. Some of his famous roles include Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Robert Paulsen in Fight Club (1999).

Early Life and Nickname

Marvin Lee Aday was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 27, 1947. His mother was a school teacher and singer, and his father was a former police officer.

Meat Loaf said that when he was born, he was "bright red" and looked like "nine pounds of ground chuck." His father joked and convinced hospital staff to write "Meat" on his crib. Later, in seventh grade, his classmates called him "Meatloaf" because he was 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 240 pounds. He also got the nickname when a football coach yelled, "Get off my foot, you hunk of meatloaf!"

When he was 16, Meat Loaf met President John F. Kennedy. He was in Dallas when the President was assassinated.

In 1965, Meat Loaf graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. He acted in school plays like The Music Man. After college, he moved to Los Angeles. When he was 19, his mother died. After a difficult family incident, he moved to Los Angeles. He gained weight on purpose to avoid being drafted for the Vietnam War.

Music Career Beginnings

In Los Angeles, Meat Loaf started his first band, Meat Loaf Soul. They played their first show in 1968. The band changed names several times, including Popcorn Blizzard and Floating Circus. As Floating Circus, they opened for famous bands like the Who and Grateful Dead.

Meat Loaf then joined the musical Hair in Los Angeles.

1970s: Bat Out of Hell Success

Meat Loaf and Stoney (Shaun Murphy), 1971

Because of his work in Hair, Meat Loaf was invited by Motown to record an album. He sang with fellow Hair performer Shaun "Stoney" Murphy. Their album, Stoney & Meatloaf, came out in 1971. It included the song "What You See Is What You Get," which did well on the music charts.

Meat Loaf also acted in the original L.A. Roxy cast of The Rocky Horror Show in 1973. He played Eddie and Dr. Everett Scott. This musical was so popular that it became the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Meat Loaf played Eddie in the film.

Around this time, Meat Loaf started working on Bat Out of Hell with Jim Steinman. They worked on the album for years. Many record companies turned them down because their music didn't fit any one style. Finally, Cleveland International Records took a chance and released Bat Out of Hell in October 1977.

Meat Loaf and Steinman formed the band Neverland Express to tour. Their first show was opening for Cheap Trick. Meat Loaf became even more famous after performing on Saturday Night Live in 1978.

Bat Out of Hell has sold about 43 million copies worldwide. It is one of the best-selling albums ever. In the UK, it has spent over 500 weeks on the charts!

1980s: New Albums and Challenges

In 1979, Jim Steinman began working on a new album. Meat Loaf lost his voice due to touring and exhaustion. So, Steinman sang on his own album, Bad for Good. He then wrote a new album for Meat Loaf called Dead Ringer, released in 1981. The song "Dead Ringer for Love" was a big hit in the United Kingdom. Cher sang with Meat Loaf on this song.

Meat Loaf faced financial difficulties and legal challenges. This led to him losing rights to some of his songs for a time.

In 1984, Meat Loaf went to England to record the album Bad Attitude. It included songs by Steinman and a duet with the Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey. The song "Modern Girl" was a minor hit.

His next album, Blind Before I Stop, came out in 1986. Meat Loaf helped write three songs on this album.

1990s: Bat Out of Hell II and More Hits

Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman started working on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell in 1990. It was released in 1993 and was a huge success, selling over 15 million copies. The single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" reached number one in 28 countries! Meat Loaf won a Grammy Award for this song in 1994. The female singer on the song was Lorraine Crosby, but Patti Russo sang it with Meat Loaf on tour.

In 1995, Meat Loaf released his seventh album, Welcome to the Neighbourhood. It sold very well and included hits like "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" and "Not a Dry Eye in the House". Patti Russo sang duets with him on this album.

In 1998, he released The Very Best of Meat Loaf, which had some new songs.

2000s: Health and Later Albums

Meat Loaf performing in New York in 2004

In 2003, Meat Loaf released Couldn't Have Said It Better. This album did not have any songs written by Steinman. It reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. During a concert in London in 2003, Meat Loaf collapsed. He was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a heart condition. He had surgery to fix it.

Meat Loaf and Steinman began working on Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose. Meat Loaf and Steinman had a legal disagreement over the "Bat Out of Hell" name, but they settled it. The album was released in 2006. The first single, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", was a hit in the UK.

In 2007, Meat Loaf started The Seize the Night Tour. During a show in England, he walked off stage and said it was his last performance. His promoter said it was due to "exhaustion and stress." He later canceled his European tour because of a cyst on his vocal cords.

In 2008, he began The Casa de Carne Tour with Patti Russo. In 2009, Meat Loaf started working on Hang Cool Teddy Bear. This album featured famous musicians like Hugh Laurie, Jack Black, and Brian May from Queen. It was released in 2010 and did well on the charts.

2010s: Final Albums and Passing

Meat Loaf in 2019

His album Hell in a Handbasket was released in 2011 and 2012. It included a duet with Patti Russo.

In 2011, Meat Loaf performed at the 2011 AFL Grand Final in Australia. His performance received some criticism.

In September 2016, Meat Loaf released Braver Than We Are, another album created with Jim Steinman. It featured new versions of Steinman's songs.

Meat Loaf's longtime friend and collaborator Jim Steinman died in April 2021. Meat Loaf had planned to record a new album in January 2022, but he passed away suddenly on January 20, 2022, at age 74. He reportedly died from complications related to COVID-19.

Acting Career

Besides his music, Meat Loaf had a busy acting career. He played a small role in Wayne's World (1992). He was the Spice Girls' bus driver in the 1997 movie Spice World. He also played Red in the 1998 film Black Dog with Patrick Swayze.

In David Fincher's 1999 film Fight Club, he played Robert Paulsen. He even helped the director with editing the movie.

Meat Loaf appeared as Jack Black's father in the 2006 film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. He sang on the movie's opening song, "Kickapoo".

In 2010, Meat Loaf appeared on the TV show Glee in an episode that paid tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In 2011, he was a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice.

Personal Life

Family and Homes

Meat Loaf being interviewed in 2009.

In 1979, Meat Loaf married Leslie G. Edmonds. He adopted Leslie's daughter, Pearl, who later married Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian. In 1981, Leslie gave birth to their daughter, Amanda Aday, who became a TV actress.

Meat Loaf coached children's baseball or softball teams in the towns where he lived. He and Leslie divorced in 2001. He married Deborah Gillespie in 2007. Before he passed away, he lived in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Name Change

In 1984, Meat Loaf legally changed his first name from Marvin to Michael. He said he was bothered by a commercial that said, "Poor fat Marvin can't wear Levi's."

Hobbies and Interests

Meat Loaf was a big fan of the New York Yankees baseball team. He enjoyed playing in fantasy baseball leagues. He also supported the English football team Hartlepool United F.C.. He took part in celebrity golf tournaments and car races.

Meat Loaf also shared that he had social anxiety. He found it hard to be in social situations and preferred to be alone. He said that as a child, he spent a lot of time by himself because other kids wouldn't play with him.

Meat Loaf was a vegetarian from 1981 to 1992. He once said that some vegetarians wouldn't talk to him because of his name. In 2019, he announced he would try veganism for a month.

Beliefs

Meat Loaf was a religious person, even though he didn't belong to a specific church. He grew up studying the Bible, which influenced his music. Some of his songs, like "40 Days," have religious themes. He prayed every night.

Meat Loaf was not officially part of any political party. He performed at events for both Republican and Democratic presidents. In 2012, he supported Mitt Romney for president. He also spoke positively about President Donald Trump.

Meat Loaf did not believe in climate change. In 2020, he said that Greta Thunberg was "brainwashed" about her views on climate change. He also criticized COVID-19 lockdowns and mask rules. He said, "If I die, I die, but I'm not going to be controlled."

Health Challenges

Meat Loaf faced several health issues throughout his life. He weighed 240 pounds by the time he was in 7th grade. In 2003, he was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a heart condition. He also had asthma and fainted on stage in 2011 due to an asthma attack.

In 2016, he collapsed on stage again due to severe dehydration. He later had back surgery in 2016 and used a cane or wheelchair in 2019. In 2019, he fell off a stage and broke his collarbone.

Death

Meat Loaf died in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 20, 2022, at age 74. He was reportedly ill with COVID-19 and died from complications of the virus. His wife was with him when he passed away, and his daughters rushed to see him. Many famous people, including Bonnie Tyler, Cher, and Brian May, shared tributes to him. The Queen's Guard even performed his song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)."

Discography

Tours

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Images for kids

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  A printed ad for a Meat Loaf concert in 1978

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  Meat Loaf performing at Birmingham's NEC arena, 2007

See also

In Spanish: Meat Loaf para niños