He was a man who lived up to his name.
Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday, was big, bold, and deliciously over-the-top.
He was a rock star who sang epic songs about love, lust, and life.
He was also an iconic actor who played memorable characters in both cult classics and blockbusters.
But behind the scenes, Meat Loaf faced many struggles that tested his spirit and his health.
He endured abuse, poverty, addiction, depression, anxiety, lawsuits, and financial woes.
Additionally, he suffered from various illnesses and injuries that affected his voice and his
mobility and he also battled with his weight and his image.
Despite his many trials and tribulations, Meat Loaf never gave up on his passion for
music and performing.
On January 20th, 2022, Meat Loaf passed away at the age of 74 with his wife Deborah by
his side.
Following his death, his family referred to him as "the incomparable Meat Loaf" who "brought
us all on an incredible journey", while his fans mourned the loss of a unique and beloved
artist.
But what exactly caused Meat Loaf’s death?
How did he die?
And why was it so tragic?
In this video, we will explore the life and death of Meat Loaf: the man who would do anything
for love (but he won’t do that).
Facts Verse Presents: Meat Loaf's Cause of Death was Utterly Tragic
Meat Loaf’s Career In a Nutshell
Marvin Lee Aday was born on September 27th, 1947, in Dallas, Texas.
He had a difficult childhood marked by abuse, poverty, and health problems, but he developed
a love for music and theater at an early age singing in his school's choir and joining
several bands in his teenage years.
In 1967, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career.
There, he played in local clubs and bars with various musical acts such as Popcorn Blizzard
and Meat Loaf Soul.
He later moved to New York City and appeared in Broadway musicals such as Rockabye Hamlet,
Hair, and The Rocky Horror Show.
Meat Loaf became famous with his debut album Bat Out of Hell, in 1977, which was co-written
by his longtime collaborator and friend, composer Jim Steinman, and sold over 50 million copies
worldwide.
The album featured epic songs such as “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”, “Paradise by
the Dashboard Light”, and “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth”.
Not only did the album sell extraordinarily well, but it also showcased Meat Loaf’s
powerful voice and distinct theatrical style.
In the 1970s, Meat Loaf also starred as Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show film.
He went on to appear in several other films, including 1980s Roadie, 1992s Wayne's World,
1997s Spice World, 1999s Fight Club, and 2006s Tenacious D:
The Pick of Destiny – just to name a few.
He won a Grammy Award for his song “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”
from his album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell in 1994.
He also received several other awards and nominations for his work in music and film.
Throughout his career, Meat Loaf influenced many musicians with his powerful voice and
theatrical style.
A few famous musicians and bands who cited Meat Loaf as a major influence include Bon
Jovi, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, The Darkness, Cher, and even Celine Dion of all people.
Meat Loaf released twelve studio albums, five live albums, seven compilation albums, one
extended play, and thirty-nine singles.
He sold over 100 million records (albums and singles) worldwide, including 22.32 million
in the United States and 8.35 million in the United Kingdom.
His Childhood Was Traumatic
Meat Loaf had a traumatic upbringing that was largely influenced by his abusive alcoholic
father, Orvis Wesley Aday.
His mother, Wilma Aday, was a school teacher and a gospel singer, while his dad was a police
officer who often drank heavily and frequently became violent with his family.
Meat Loaf said that his father would beat him with a wire coat hanger or a belt buckle
until he bled.
He also claimed that his father tried to kill him twice: once by throwing him down the stairs
when he was six months old, and another time by stabbing him with a butcher knife when
he was nine years old.
In one noteworthy interview, Meat Loaf said that he only managed to escape death by running
away from home or hiding under the bed.
On top of all of that nastiness, Meat Loaf also suffered from bullying at school for
being overweight and having a stutter.
Meat Loaf’s relationship with his father remained strained for many years.
He said that his father never apologized or showed any remorse for his actions.
However, Meat Loaf eventually forgave his father before he died of cancer in 1977.
In later interviews, he said that he realized that his father was also a victim of abuse
from his own father and that he wanted to break the cycle of violence and hatred.
He Privately Suffered From Various Health Problems
Meat Loaf was a rock legend who rocked the world with his powerful voice and theatrical
style.
But behind his fame and success, he also faced many health challenges that he chose to keep
private for most of his life.
One of his earliest health problems was asthma, which he had since childhood.
He once said that he used to sing to control his breathing and overcome his fear of dying
from an asthma attack.
He also suffered from a rare heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which
causes irregular heartbeat and can lead to cardiac arrest.
He had surgery to correct this condition in 2003.
Another health issue that plagued Meat Loaf was a vocal strain.
His singing style was very demanding and often caused him to lose his voice or damage his
vocal cords.
He had several surgeries to repair his voice over the years, but he never stopped singing
despite the pain and risk.
Meat Loaf also struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse in the 1980s, which affected
his physical and mental health.
He said that he drank to cope with stress and depression, but it only made things worse.
He eventually quit drinking and drugging after a near-fatal overdose in 1989.
In addition to these chronic conditions, Meat Loaf also experienced several accidents and
injuries that threatened his life and career.
He collapsed on the stage multiple times due to dehydration, exhaustion, or low blood sugar.
He also fell off a stage in 2019 and broke his collarbone, shoulder, and neck.
He had four back surgeries in 2020 to relieve severe pain that he described as "pain that
would bring you to your knees".
Despite all these health troubles, Meat Loaf never gave up on his passion for music and
performing.
He continued to tour and record albums until his death.
He Felt Betrayed By Steinman
Meat Loaf’s success came at a high price, as he faced many financial challenges and
hardships throughout his career.
One of the primary sources of his financial troubles was his strained relationship with
Jim Steinman, his longtime collaborator, and songwriter.
Steinman wrote most of the songs on Bat Out of Hell, as well as its sequels Bat Out of
Hell II: Back into Hell and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose.
However, after the first album's success, Meat Loaf suffered from severe substance addiction
and vocal problems that affected his performance and reputation.
He also had a falling out with Steinman over creative differences and royalties.
From 1978 to 1984, Meat Loaf lost Steinman, his voice, experienced severe depression and
was eventually sued by Steinman over music rights for a whopping 45 lawsuits equaling
$80 million in total.
The only choice Meat Loaf had was to file for bankruptcy.
He later said that he was exhausted with the legal battles and felt betrayed by Steinman.
Another factor that contributed to his financial woes was his health issues.
As we already touched on, Meat Loaf had been plagued by various ailments throughout his
life, such as asthma, heart problems, diabetes, vertigo, cysts on his vocal cords, concussions,
and broken bones from stage accidents.
These conditions often forced him to cancel concerts or tours, which resulted in the loss
of income and fans' disappointment.
He also had to pay for expensive medical treatments and surgeries.
Meat Loaf’s Tragic Death
Meat Loaf died on the 20th of January, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was 74 years old.
His official cause of death was not announced, but some sources reported that he died from
complications related to Covid-19.
He was survived by his wife Deborah and his two daughters Pearl and Amanda.
Meat Loaf was reportedly vehemently opposed to covid-19 guidelines and mandates before
his death.
He expressed his views in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2021,
where he said: "If I die, I die, but I'm not going to be controlled."
He also compared covid-19 rule enforcers to Nazis and called face masks a "nuisance" and
claimed that they "don’t stop you from getting Covid.”
Meat Loaf’s controversial stance on covid-19 was criticized by some fans and media outlets,
who accused him of being irresponsible and reckless.
They argued that he was putting himself and others at risk by ignoring the scientific
evidence and public health recommendations.
They also pointed out that he had asthma and other health conditions that made him more
vulnerable to severe covid-19 outcomes.
However, some of Meat Loaf's supporters defended his right to choose whether or not to follow
covid-19 guidelines and mandates.
They said that he was simply expressing his personal opinion and freedom and that he should
not be judged or vilified for it.
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his death, Meat Loaf's passing shocked and
saddened the musical world and his fans.
He was widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful rock singers of
all time.
Many celebrities and musicians paid tribute to Meat Loaf on social media and in interviews.
They praised his talent, charisma, passion, generosity, and humor.
Some of them included Brian May, Cher, Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Edward Norton, Celine
Dion, Ozzy Osbourne, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
His fans also expressed their grief and gratitude for his music and legacy.
They took to social media to share their memories of seeing him live or listening to his songs.
They also celebrated his unique style and spirit that made him a rock legend.
Meat Loaf may be gone, but he won't be forgotten anytime soon.
How will you remember Meat Loaf and his legacy, and do you think that he should have taken
Covid-19 guidelines more seriously?
Let us know in the comments.