Meat Loaf Biography
Larger-than-life singer/actor Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27, 1947 in Dallas, Texas. Meat Loaf grew up in a family of gospel singers. At age 20, he moved to Los Angeles where he formed a group known as Meat Loaf Soul, and sometimes, Popcorn Blizzard. The band opened for bands such as The Who, the Stooges, and Ted Nugent. Eventually, Meat Loaf combined his love of music with a love of acting and landed a role in the musical Hair. When the touring production of Hair made a stop in Detroit in 1971, Meat Loaf and a co-star recorded the LP Stoney & Meat Loaf.
During the mid-70s, Meat Loaf starred in an off-Broadway production of Rainbow, Jim Steinman’s musical More Than You Deserve, and the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also began working with classically trained pianist, Jim Steinman on other projects, including a tour with the National Lampoon Road Show.
After the National Lampoon Road Show, Jim Steinman began composing a musical based on the classic children’s story, Peter Pan. The music he composed for Never Land evolved into what would become Meat Loaf’s breakthrough album, Bat Out of Hell (1977). The album which made Meat Loaf a star and still remains on the music charts. Bat Out of Hell, a teen rock opera, became one of the biggest selling albums of all-time and boasted three Top 40 singles, named Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Light, and You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth.
In 1975, Meat Loaf married Leslie G. Edmonds, whom he had met just one month prior at a recording studio. The couple had a daughter named Amanda Aday in 1981. Now, Amanda has taken up acting herself. Leslie also had another daughter named Pearl from a previous marriage, and now she is a back-up singer for Meat Loaf.
A sequel album to Bat Out of Hell was expected to be released in 1981; however, Jim Steinman’s solo debut, Bad for Good ended up taking priority. After Meat Loaf released his own follow-up, Dead Ringer, it was reported that he had been unable to collaborate with Jim Steinman for physical and emotional reasons. A rift between the two musicians resulted, and Jim Steinman filed a suit against Meat Loaf and his label, Epic. Meat Loaf continued to release albums throughout the early-mid 80s, including Midnight at the Lost and Found (1983), Bad Attitude (1984), and Blind Before I Stop (1986). The albums were commercially unsuccessful, and Meat Loaf filed for bankruptcy and retreated from the public eye.
In 1993, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman reunited to create Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. Over 15 years after Bat Out of Hell was released, its follow-up album was nearly as successful as the original album and marked a major comeback for Meat Loaf. The album sold over five million copies, largely on the heavy radio play of its hit single I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).
In 1995 Meat Loaf released Welcome to the Neighborhood, and in 2003 he released Couldn't Have Said It Better, which includes songs written by hit maker Diane Warren. While on tour for the album, Meat Loaf collapsed during a concert, afflicted with what was later diagnosed as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The following week, he underwent a surgical procedure intended to correct the problem.
In May 2006, a song from Bat Out of Hell III was leaked to the internet. The album is expected to feature more collaborative works from both Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman; however the two have recently been embroiled in trademark disputes as Steinman currently owns the rights to the phrase “Bat Out of Hell.” Let us know of updates to the Meat Loaf biography at editor@yuddy.com |
