Singer, Actor Meat Loaf Passes Away – Opinion

Michael Lee Aday, whose backstreet operatic vocals and soaring dramatic rock’n’roll tales of teenage love and lust recorded under the stage name Meat Loaf defined youth in the 1970s, passed away late Thursday evening from as-yet undisclosed causes. He was aged 74.

Meat Loaf was one of the most unlikely rock stars. Severely overweight throughout most of his life, a singer who was anything but an option as this week’s Cute Guy, seemed destined for oddball outlier roles. In 1971, he made his first public appearance in the stage production in Los Angeles of the 1960s Hippie Musical. Hair. He was still living in Los Angeles two years later and he continued to work as part of that original cast. The Rocky Horror Picture ShowLater, he was seen in the movie adaptation of 1975.

He and Jim Steinman (his songwriting partner) were rewarded for their musical vision in 1977. Jim Steinman died in 2021. Bat Out Of Hell. First picked up on due to the love-lost ballad “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad,” its perfectly balanced mix of angst and suitably impassioned music struck a chord in teenagers everywhere. Bat Out Of HellIt is one the top ten most-loved albums, selling more than 43 million copies worldwide.

Meat Loaf seldom received full credit for how he and Steinman possessed a sly sense of humor, evidenced in songs such as “Paradise By The Dashboard Light.”

But after Bat Out Of Hell Meat Loaf struggled to maintain such high heights and his career declined until 1993, when Steinman and he reconnected and were released. Bat Out Of Hell II. The 1970s teens now navigating midlife’s murky waters seized upon the album with glee, as it sold 14 million copies and reestablished Meat Loaf as a commercially viable musical presence.

Meat Loaf, one of few rock conservatives who was unafraid and not afraid to speak his mind about politics, was a rare example. He voted for Republican candidates. One of them paid tribute to Meat Loaf Friday.

Heartache—but with warm memories—with news of Meat Loaf’s passing. An exceptional man, he was gentle and kind. His music is timeless because of its unique quality. As many others who had the pleasure of knowing him, I will be sad to lose his friendship. https://t.co/fqdCm1RcAM

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) January 21, 2022

Meat Loaf was a deserved cultural icon, a hero to those needing one who, like them, didn’t fit in much of anywhere. He was the singer who shouldn’t have made it but did. He was a man who loved and respected his fans.

Meat Loaf made an offer on the spot to all those who attended a San Francisco Bay Area concert that had been delayed for several months. He offered to pay for the tickets the night after at no additional cost. Meat Loaf is a rare artist in any field. He was a man who can be described as larger than life and who really fit the bill.

Godspeed, Mr. Aday. Heaven has just added a star to its stage.