Imelda ‘so sad’ at loss of good pal
IMELDA May has led tributes to late rocker Meat Loaf following news of the American music legend’s death.
Singer Imelda posted a treasured black and white photo of the two together, with the message: “Meat Loaf, my good pal, has passed. I’m so sad.
“The world is duller without him already. He was wildly talented, vividly vibrant.
“I’m so lucky I got to sing, record, perform, laugh, joke around, talk sense, talk nonsense and connect with such a wonderful, hugely talented, charismatic, supportive, highspirited and lovely man.”
The pair collaborated on an orchestral version of his hit I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That). Imelda recalls one time when he went to one of her gigs in a tiny venue and “sat by the side of the stage, whooping, crying, cheering.
Nobody knew he was there except the band and I”.
Meanwhile, fellow musician and singer
Paddy Cullivan said:
“Meat Loaf inhabited his songs. They were so good, they touched everyone’s lives. They were pure Americana.”
Musical comic Fred Cooke said singers like Meat Loaf are a rarity: “He gave it all – it’s hard to have the right amount of rock, and also give the right amount of selfdeprecating humour. He got it just right.
“His voice – the power. It’s hard to imagine anyone else singing his songs. He was a pure performer, made for the stage. He was a legend of the stage and it’s hard to believe that energy and presence is gone.”
And Pat Kenny recalled on his Newstalk show yesterday: “Not many people know this, but I performed with Meat Loaf. I was on stage with him at the RDS. When he was on the Late Late he invited me to come and sing Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad. I was petrified but it’s a memory I’ll always cherish.”
It was one of a number of times the singer was on the Late Late. He had previously been on with Gay Byrne, who asked him: “Do I have to call you Meat Loaf throughout this interview?” He replied: “You can call me Meat – or you can call me Mr Loaf if you like.”