If I die, I die ... Meat Loaf ‘killed by Covid’ at 74 after mask rant
HE had railed against the use of face masks as a nuisance, while admitting he was ‘scared to death’ of Covid.
Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life rock superstar behind the multi-million selling Bat Out Of Hell, has died after reportedly becoming ‘seriously ill’ with the virus.
He passed away at 74 on Thursday night surrounded by his family, weeks after his daughter Pearl had posted on social media that a number of her ‘friends and family’ had tested positive.
She did not say if her father was one of them, but wrote: ‘Thank their respect for science that they’re all vaxxed, otherwise they’d be way worse.’
It was unclear whether Meat Loaf was vaccinated himself, as he refused to disclose his status to fans or interviewers.
But in an interview in August he said he was against politicians trying to impose restrictions such as face masks, saying: ‘If I die, I die, but I’m not going to be controlled.’
A reporter had asked Meat Loaf, who was severely asthmatic and had other health issues before the pandemic, if he was worried about Covid.
He replied: ‘Oh, I’m scared to death! You kidding me? But I’m sorry, I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics. And right now they’re stopping because of politics.
‘And on CNN last night, it finally came out that the masks we’re all wearing are
‘I’m not going to be controlled’
useless. But I’ve known that for six months. They don’t do anything. They don’t stop you from getting Covid. They’re just a nuisance and make your nose itch and make it so you can’t breathe.’
Meat Loaf had been due to attend a business dinner this week to discuss his forthcoming reality TV show I’d Do Anything for Love… But I Won’t Do That – named after his 1993 hit.
But it was cancelled after he ‘became seriously ill’ with Covid, according to US website TMZ.
The ironically titled I’d Do Anything For Love was one of several huge global hits for Meat Loaf, starting off with his 1977 breakthrough Bat Out Of Hell. The bombastic rock opera, released paradoxically at the height of punk, remains one of the biggest albums of all time.
The album’s two follow-ups were also huge successes, with the singer who had been born Michael Aday in Dallas going on to sell 100million records worldwide over six decades.
He also became a Hollywood star, appearing in more than 65 films including Fight Club alongside Brad Pitt, Wayne’s World and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
In 2010 he turned to reality TV, appearing as a judge on ITV’s Popstar To Operastar.
Meat Loaf, whose voice ranged over three octaves, once turned his back on the chance to study opera, claiming he was ‘too crazy’.
Speaking to the BBC the same year, he said: ‘[I] had an offer to study opera and make a lot of money but it wasn’t for me – I’m too rebellious, too crazy. I have no regrets. [It] might have saved some of my voice, you know – doing 200 rock shows a year will take it out of you.’ A statement on Meat Loaf’s Facebook page after his death read: ‘Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight 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 appreterday. ciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man. We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.’ It finished: ‘From his heart to your souls… don’t ever stop rocking!’
Tributes also poured in from the worlds of music and theatre yesThe cast of a touring production of Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical performed last night’s show at the New Wimbledon Theatre in his memory.
Producers of the show, adapted from the hit single by his long-time collaborator Jim Steinman, said they had been left ‘deeply saddened’ by the death of their ‘great friend and producer’. Singer Cher, who duetted with Meat Loaf on 1981 single Dead Ringer For Love, paid an emotional tribute on Twitter, saying how ‘very sorry’ she felt for his family and recalling: ‘Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did Dead Ringer.’
Queen guitarist Brian May, who also worked with Meat Loaf, said he was ‘completely gutted’, while Bonnie Tyler hailed him as a ‘larger-than-life character’.
Unusually, an emotional William Hague also paid tribute, the former Tory leader speaking on a radio show of his love for the singer.
He had previously told how, growing up, he had a poster of Meat Loaf on one wall and Margaret Thatcher on another.
Meat Loaf had been plagued with health issues and had collapsed on stage several times in the past two decades.
He married Deborah Gillespie in 2007 and was previously married for 22 years to Leslie G. Edmonds, with whom he had daughter Amanda, and stepdaughter Pearl.