Meat Loaf, the rockstar behind hits like “I’d Do Anything For Love” and “Bat Out of Hell”, passed away on January 20, 2022, at the age of 74. His family confirmed the news of his death on his Facebook page, saying that he died with his wife Deborah by his side. However, they did not reveal his cause of death, leaving fans wondering what happened to the legendary musician. According to TMZ, sources claimed that Meat Loaf was seriously ill with COVID-19 before his death and that his condition quickly worsened, leading to more complications. But long before he caught the dreaded virus, Meat Loaf faced health setbacks that tested him for years. In this article, we will explore how Meat Loaf suffered from various health issues throughout his career and how he coped with them.
Contents
A Strained Voice and an Emotional Breakdown
Meat Loaf, born Michael Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas, had a spectacular rock music career that spanned six decades. He was one of the most successful performers of all time, selling millions of records worldwide. His most popular release was his Bat Out Of Hell album trilogy, which was known for its operatic rock style and popular single of the same name. The first album in the trilogy, which was released in 1977 and spent nine years on the music charts, is one of the best-selling albums in history with over 43 million copies sold. More than four decades after its release, the album is certified 14x Platinum and continues to sell an estimated 200,000 copies each year.
However, his voice, which was his greatest asset, also became his biggest challenge during the early days of his career. He confessed in an interview with People that he did not know how to deal with the things that were happening around him and that it caused him to be away for five years. He also revealed that he struggled with mental health issues and turned to alcohol for a year while facing an emotional breakdown. He fortunately recovered after undergoing psychotherapy for four sessions a week for a year with the help of his then-wife Leslie.
A Shattered Leg and Multiple Collapses
Meat Loaf’s health problems did not stop there. He also suffered from physical injuries and illnesses that affected his performance and well-being. In the 1970s, he shattered his leg in a car accident and had to undergo several surgeries to repair it. In the 2000s, he collapsed three times while performing on stage due to various reasons. In 2003, he collapsed in London due to an irregular heartbeat. In 2011, he collapsed in Pittsburgh due to asthma. In 2016, he collapsed again in Canada due to severe dehydration.
The rocker also confirmed to Rolling Stone that he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a rare heart condition that causes a problem in a person’s heartbeat. People with this disease suffer from fast heart rate and other arrhythmias. He underwent heart surgery to treat his condition and said that the prognosis was excellent as the procedure’s success rate was over 95 percent.
A Battle with Skin Cancer
Another health issue that Meat Loaf faced was skin cancer. He revealed in an interview with The Mirror that he had a cancerous growth removed from his face in 2013. He said that he noticed a small lump on his cheek and thought it was nothing serious until his doctor told him it was cancerous. He underwent surgery to remove it and said that he was lucky that it did not spread.
He also said that he was not afraid of death and that he believed in reincarnation. He said that he had a near-death experience when he was younger and that he saw a bright light and felt a sense of peace. He said that he wanted to go back to that place when he died.
A Legacy That Lives On
Despite his health challenges, Meat Loaf never gave up on his passion for music and entertainment. He continued to release albums, tour around the world, and appear in films and television shows throughout his career. He won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance Solo in 1994 for “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. He also received critical acclaim for his roles in films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Fight Club (1999) and TV shows like Ghost Wars (2017), Elementary (2013), House (2009), and Monk (2008).
He also became a published author with the release of his book To Hell and Back: An Autobiography in 1999. The autobiography was adapted into a TV documentary movie on VH1, titled Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back, in 2000.
Meat Loaf’s death has left a huge void in the music industry and in the hearts of his fans. He was a rock legend who inspired generations of musicians and listeners with his powerful voice and theatrical style. He was also a loving husband, father, and friend who touched many lives with his kindness and generosity. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and fans, but his legacy will live on through his music and his art. As his family said in their statement, “From his heart to your souls… don’t ever stop rocking!”
