Meat Loaf death: Cher and Boy George lead tributes to ‘bombastic’ singer

Tributes are pouring in after Meat Loaf, famous singer of hits including “I’d Do Anything for Love”, died aged 74.

A post on his official Facebook page read: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side. Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours...

“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!”

While he was best known as a musician, Meat Loaf also starred in a number of films, including Fight Club and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also had a surprising role in Spice Girls film Spice World: The Movie.

He appeared to delight in confusing fans by telling varying stories about how he got his stage name. Born Marvin Lee Aday, he changed his name to Michael before coming up with the stage name “Meat Loaf”.

Cher, Piers Morgan, Boy George and many more have paid tribute to the “bombastic” singer.

“Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did ‘Dead Ringer’,” Cher tweeted. “Am Very Sorry For His Family,Friends,& Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day?!”

“I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf,” Stephen Fry 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.”

The liveblog is now closed.

Biggest headlines after Meat Loaf dies aged 74

• ‘Bat Out of Hell’ singer Meat Loaf dies aged 74

• Broadcasters Piers Morgan and Kay Burley among those to pay tribute

• How Meat Loaf helped David Fincher direct Fight Club

• How the iconic singer got his unusual stage name

• What was the ‘that’ in ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’?

11:05 , Roisin O'Connor

We’re wrapping up the liveblog now but you can read more of our coverage here.

Cher pays tribute

10:55 , Roisin O'Connor

“Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did ‘Dead Ringer’,” Cher has written on Twitter. “Am Very Sorry For His Family,Friends,& Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day?!”

Stephen Fry: ‘Meat Loaf could be both cuddly and frightening’

10:37 , Roisin O'Connor

“I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf,” Stephen Fry writes.

“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.”

What was ‘that’ in ‘I’d Do Anything for Love’?

10:07 , Roisin O'Connor

From my colleague Ellie Harrison:

Meat Loaf, who has died aged 74, was best known for his 1993 hit “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”.

The lead single from the Bat Out of Hell II album earned the legendary singer a Grammy Award, but the “I won’t do that” lyric has long been misunderstood as referring to one thing, when it in fact refers to many.

In a 2014 interview with Yahoo!, Meat Loaf reflected on the lyric of the hit song, written by Jim Steinman. He said: “When we were recording it, Jim brings up the thing – he says, ‘People aren’t gonna know what ‘that’ is.’ I said, ‘Of course they are. How can they not know?’ He goes, ‘They’re not gonna.’”

Read about the meaning behind the song below:

What’s the one thing Meat Loaf ‘won’t do’ in ‘I’d Do Anything for Love’?

Boy George pays tribute

09:55 , Roisin O'Connor

A fun memory from Boy George here:

R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.

https://twitter.com/BoyGeorge/status/1484457538766651393

How Meat Loaf got his unusual stage name

09:48 , Roisin O'Connor

From my colleague Annabel Nugent:

As fans and fellow stars pay tribute to the late singer on social media, the story of how Meat Loaf chose his iconic stage name has resurfaced.

It is tricky to discern which backstory is true given that Meat Loaf told a number of tales when asked about the origin story of his unusual moniker.

In a 2003 interview, Meat Loaf said: “Names and ages piss me off. So I just continually lie.”

One story that continues to pop up, however, is that his father was responsible for coming up with the first part of the name.

“I was born bright red, so the doctor suggested that they should keep me in the hospital for a few days,” he recalled during an appearance on Oprah: Where Are They Now?.

He said that his dad told the hospital staff: “I want you to name my son there – because he looks like nine and a half pounds of ground chuck – I want you to put a name tag on the front of that plastic crib and it say ‘Meat’ on it.”

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“They stuck that printed card that said ‘Meat’ and that was it,” recalled the singer.

The second half of the stage name came courtesy of his football coach in eighth grade...

Read more here:

The story of how Meat Loaf got his iconic and unusual stage name

Photographer Mr Perou shares tribute on Instagram

09:28 , Roisin O'Connor

“Like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone when the morning comes…RIP #meatloafwho I photographed in 2003.not much more to say about this short shoot in the same bland hotel i shot the sparks brothers (outside of) and tori amos inside.Mr Meat Loaf was playful and a little bombastic.A large characterHe sold over 100million albums and must have been SO bored singing the same songs over and over and over despite the income.‘Bat out of hell’ was an epic albumwhich I also heard too many times when I was growing up.”

Low Cut Connie pay tribute

09:16 , Roisin O'Connor

“RIP Meat Loaf.

“An absolutely fantastic live performer. As the Tough Cookies viewers know, I love Rocky Horror so much. Thanx for the cheap thrills and cheesy songs and big big heart.”

How Meat Loaf helped David Fincher direct Fight Club

09:11 , Roisin O'Connor

From my colleague Jacob Stolworthy:

Meat Loaf, who has died aged 74, was a multi-talented star, appearing in films as well as releasing music.

The Grammy winner’s death was announced on his official Facebook page, with a statement reading: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side. Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours...”

Before selling millions of albums and releasing popular singles, including Bat Out of Hell and “I’d Do Anything for Love”, Meat Loaf appeared in films ranging from The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Focus, directed by Arthur Miller.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/meat-loaf-death-fight-club-b1997774.html

Piers Morgan pays tribute to Meat Loaf

08:55 , Roisin O'Connor

“RIP Meat Loaf,” Piers Morgan wrote from his Instagram page.

“One of rock music’s all-time great characters whose seminal iconic album Bat Out Of Hell is one of the biggest-selling records in history.A wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon. Sad news.”

08:41 , Roisin O'Connor

Here’s the full story on the news of Meat Loaf’s death

Legendary singer Meat Loaf has died

08:30 , Roisin O'Connor

Meat Loaf, whose real name was Michael Lee Aday, sold millions of albums worldwide, with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy among his most popular musical offerings.

Hit single “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” reached number one in 28 countries and earned him a Grammy award.

The rocker also played the role of Eddie in the 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and in 2016 was honoured with the Hero Award at the annual Q Awards music ceremony, which he dedicated to everyday heroes and called on people to “bring love back into this world”.

His career spanned more than just music, with the musician also featured in a string of films including 1999’s Fight Club and 1992’s Wayne’s World.

Bat Out Of Hell was also adapted as a stage musical, which was written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman and featured some of the musician’s best-loved hits.

Meat Loaf had spoken openly about health issues that had plagued him, notably asthma, which caused him to collapse on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 2011, and in 2003 he collapsed at Wembley Arena in London and was admitted to hospital.

Reporting by Press Association

Fans pay tribute to Meat Loaf after news of his death

08:18 , Roisin O'Connor

Sad news this morning, as a post from the official Facebook page of singer Meat Loaf announces he has died aged 70.

You’ll be able to follow us here as we share tributes, memories and stories of the much-loved artist.