Meat Loaf, a Dallas native, remembered by Texans, fans as ‘American dream chaser’

Grammy-winning rock singer Meat Loaf died Thursday night at the age of 74.

Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album is one of the top 10 selling albums of all time. He won a Grammy Award for his 1993 song I’d Do Anything for Love. During his six-decade career, Meat Loaf sold over 100 million albums worldwide and starred in over 65 movies, including Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.

Meat Loaf, born in Dallas in 1947, gave homage to his Texas roots in his song Tear Me Down.

“Yeah, everything from Texas is big, larger than life and none bigger than little Marvin Aday. So big his daddy called him Meat Loaf. He grew into a big man, with a big voice. And he sings big songs and has big hits.”

On Friday morning, Texans and celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to the Dallas native.

“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,” read a post on Meat Loaf’s Facebook page announcing his death.

“Dallas singer Meat Loaf (1947-2022), a UNT Mean Green alumnus, was one of several Texas connections to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” wrote Star-Telegram reporter Bud Kennedy.

Fellow musician Cher, who performed Dead Ringer with Meat Loaf wrote: “Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did “Dead Ringer”. Am Very Sorry For His Family,Friends,& Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day.”

Texas native country singer John Rich, who was a friend of Meat Loaf, said “He was the epitome of an American dream chaser and a great friend to me.”

Dallas writer Robert Wilonsky shared photos of Meat Loaf on Twitter, including yearbook photos.

Meat Loaf received his Distinguished Alumni award at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas in 2015 and Wilonsky said in his post that he handed him the award.

“He told me to introduce him not as Marvin Aday, but as “Meat Loaf. Or Meat,” Wilonsky said.

“I remember being so excited to buy this album 40 years ago and singing my lungs out with my junior high friends,” longtime fan Kathleen Lucente tweeted.

“He wasn’t for everyone but those of us who got him, understood,” said Texas fan Paul Devlin.

Austin fan Sarah James tweeted that she was playing Bat Out of Hell on her record player in honor of Meat Loaf.

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me singer Boy George recounted time he spent with Meat Loaf in the United Kingdom.

Country music singer Travis Tritt posted about Meat Loaf, saying he was, “One of the nicest people anyone could ever want to know.”

Never Gonna Give You Up singer Rick Astley shared a photo of him and Meat Loaf on his Twitter.

Actor and comedian Stephen Fry shared a video of him and Meat Loaf performing a sketch on the British television program Saturday Live from the 80s.

“I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light,” Fry said in his post.