Today we are going to tell you some interesting facts about Meat Loaf.
(Photo: Lynn Goldsmith)
Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas Texas on September 27, 1947.
He was the only son of his mother - a teacher and gospel singer and his father a policeman who eventually set up a business selling cough syrup.
His mother died of cancer when he was a child and his alcoholic father continued to raise him.
He had a difficult childhood, on one occasion when his father was drunk he even tried to stab him with a knife.
Already in high school, his acting and singing talent was evident, when he appeared in local school productions.
When he reached conscription age he was so determined to avoid joining the army, so he deliberately gained about 30kg in a month in an attempt to become unfit for conscription. It did not help him that much. The army sent him his conscription notice two weeks later.
His first band was called "Meat Loaf Soul", they served as a warm up-act for many well-known artists, including Ted Nugent, "The Who" and "The Stooges".
He became famous following his performance in the 1975 cult film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
Later in 1977 he released one of the best-selling albums of all time - "Bat Out of Hell", which sold over 40 million copies worldwide. This album will become a trilogy when in 1993 and 2006 Meat Loaf will release the sequels.
The album ranks third on the list of best-selling albums of all time. It has been on the UK Albums Chart for no less than 474 weeks and still sells about 200,000 copies a year.
In addition to appearing in "The Rocky Movie Show," Meat Loaf has appeared in about 50 other films, including iconic films such as: "Wayne's World" from 1992, "Fight Club" from 1999, "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny" and more.
Although he is called Meat Loaf he is vegetarian. He changed his diet for health reasons in the 80s.
In 1993 he won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)"
In his last years, he had difficulty in performing and reaching high notes, due to back problems that caused him severe pain.
Meat Loaf has released throughout his career 12 studio albums, with sales of over 80 million copies.
He passed away on January 20, 2022, at 74 years old, with his wife Deborah Gillespie by his side.
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