January 21, (THEWILL) – American singer and actor, Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74.
Born Marvin Lee Aday, the Grammy winner who played Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died Thursday night, Jan. 20, surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends.
“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. From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!”, Loaf’s family said in a statement on Friday.
Meat Loaf’s debut album Bat Out of Hell is among the best-selling albums in history, racking up 14 million units sold in the U.S. alone. Worldwide sales estimates go as high as 30 million. Its U.S. singles “Two of Three Ain’t Bad” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” — which peaked at No. 11 and No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively — both were certified platinum in 2018, four decades after release.
Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell also was a smash overseas, spending more than 10 years on the UK album chart despite peaking at No. 9. It remains among the 20 best-sellers of all time there.
Meat Loaf and Steinman also collaborated on the 1993 album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which has sold more than 5 million units in the U.S. alone.
Its platinum lead single “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” spent five weeks at No. 1 in the U.S. and UK to become by far Meat Loaf’s biggest hit.
Meat Loaf won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance, Solo. He has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
