Meat Loaf, ‘Bat Out of Hell’ singer, has died at 74

Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life singer whose bombastic rock opera “Bat Out of Hell” is one of the best-selling albums of all time, has died at age 74, according to a statement on his verified Facebook page.

“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,” the statement read. “Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.”

Meat Loaf’s agent confirmed his death to CNN. No cause of death was shared.

Tributes poured in for the artist whose career spanned six decades.

“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.”

The singer, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, was born in Dallas.

Meat Loaf’s two biggest albums – 1977’s “Bat Out of Hell” and the 1993 follow-up “Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell” – produced numerous hit singles, including “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

He also won a Grammy in 1993 for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song “I’d Do Anything for Love.”

Meatloaf performs in Munich in 1985.

Meat Loaf, circa 1970

Meat Loaf poses with fans.

The performer appears in 1975's "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Meat Loaf speaks into a bullhorn in 1977 in Los Angeles.

Meat Loaf is seen on April 12, 1978, during a performance at Symphony Hall in Atlanta.

Karla DeVito and Meat Loaf perform in March 1978 on the "Bat Out of Hell Tour."

Meat Loaf performs in 1979 at Donington stadium in England.

Meat Loaf and Debbie Harry perform in the 1980 movie "Roadie."

Tim Curry and Meat Loaf perform the "Tim and Meat's One-Stop Rocky Horror Shop" skit on December 5, 1981, on "Saturday Night Live."

Meat Loaf stands onstage on April 4,1994, in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Meat Loaf performs with John Entwistle of The Who in 1987 in London.

Meat Loaf poses with his wife Leslie Aday.

Meat Loaf performs in 1994 in the United Kingdom.

Jay Leno interviews Meat Loaf on December 13, 1995.

Meat Loaf performs during the "Born to Rock" tour in 1996 in Kiel, Germany.

Meat Loaf stars as Amos "Rattlesnake Jake" Frogge in "The Ballad of Lucy Whipple" in 2001.

Prince Charles and Meat Loaf attend the 95.8 Capital FM's Party In The Park for the Prince's Trust on July 6, 2003, at Hyde Park in London.

The performer jokes around with the paparazzi on March 8, 2006.

Meat Loaf and Norwegian singer Marion Raven gesture during a news conference promoting Meat Loaf's album "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose" on September 4, 2006, in Hong Kong.

Meat Loaf performs on October 6, 2011, in Brisbane, Australia.

Meat Loaf appears in a scene in the 2006 movie "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny."

Meat Loaf performs on June 27, 2007, at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam.

Meat Loaf poses for a portrait on August 31, 2016, in Berlin.

Meat Loaf takes a curtain call as he visits the "Bat Out of Hell" performance on August 20, 2019, at New York City Center.

Meat Loaf and country artist John Rich perform on March 27, 2021, at Redneck Riviera Nashville.

In pictures: Rock 'n' roll legend Meat Loaf

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Meat Loaf also appeared in several television shows and films, including the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Fight Club” and “Wayne’s World.”

The singer acknowledged physical problems had affected his ability to perform. But in November, he posted on Facebook that he’d had four back surgeries and would be back in the studio in the new year.

Watch Meat Loaf, Romney belt out song

01:27 - Source: CNN

“The back surgeries hurt everything. Before the back surgeries I was still trying to do shows, that’s when some of you saw or heard of me collapsing on stage and finally stopping the tour in the UK. I couldn’t hit high notes because of back pain. Not a slight back pain. Pain that would bring you to your knees,” he wrote.

In 2016, Meat Loaf collapsed at a concert in the Canadian city of Edmonton and was admitted to the hospital. The cause was dehydration, a spokesperson said at the time.

CNN’s Sean Federico-O’Murchu and Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.