Meat Loaf, the singer best known for the Bat Out of Hell album, has died at the age of 74, a statement on his official Facebook page said on Friday.
Meat Loaf performing in March, 2021 Photo: GETTY via AFP
The American singer and actor, otherwise known as Michael Lee Aday, had a career spanning six decades, and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
His Bat Out Of Hell album was one of the best-selling of all time.
"Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side," a message on his Facebook page read.
"Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours."
The star sold 100 million albums worldwide - Bat Out of Hell remains one of the top 10 sellers of all time - and appeared in movies such as Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne's World.
"From his heart to your souls ... don't ever stop rocking!" the statement said.
The Dallas-born singer, was best known for his Bat Out Of Hell trilogy, which sold millions of albums worldwide.
His 1993 hit 'I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)' earned him a Grammy Award.
Prior to that he played the role of Eddie in the 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Meat Loaf in 2013 Photo: GETTY via AFP
Bat Out Of Hell - which remains one of the top 10 best-selling albums of all-time, alongside Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the Eagles - was also adapted as a stage musical, written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman.
Tributes have been paid from the world of entertainment, with broadcaster Stephen Fry tweeting a reference to one of his songs. "I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf," he wrote.
"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."
-Reuters/BBC
