Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; 27 September 1947 – 20 January 2022), better known by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American singer and actor. He was recognised for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live performances. His "Bat Out of Hell" album trilogy—"Bat Out of Hell" (1977), "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell" (1993), and "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose" (2006)—has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The first album remained on the charts for over nine years and continued to sell an estimated 200,000 copies annually as of 2016. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Wilma Artie, a schoolteacher and gospel singer, and Orvis Wesley Aday, a former police officer and businessman, Meat Loaf acquired his nickname from his childhood due to his large stature and a remark by a football coach. He witnessed the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965, where he performed in stage productions and played football. After attending Lubbock Christian College and North Texas State University, he relocated to Los Angeles, forming his first band, Meat Loaf Soul, in 1968. The band underwent multiple changes and was later known as Popcorn Blizzard and Floating Circus, performing alongside acts such as the Who, the Stooges, and the Grateful Dead. Meat Loaf's early stage career included roles in the Los Angeles production of "Hair", the off-Broadway production of "Rainbow", and the original cast of "The Rocky Horror Show". He met songwriter Jim Steinman during the Public Theater production of "More Than You Deserve", which led to their collaboration on "Bat Out of Hell". Released in 1977 by Cleveland International Records, the album achieved significant global success, spawning singles including "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", "Bat Out of Hell", "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth", and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad". To tour the album, Meat Loaf formed the band Neverland Express, performing across the United States and internationally. In the 1980s, Meat Loaf released albums including "Dead Ringer" (1981), "Midnight at the Lost and Found" (1983), "Bad Attitude" (1984), and "Blind Before I Stop" (1986), experiencing varying commercial success. Legal disputes, financial difficulties, and vocal issues marked this period. In the 1990s, Meat Loaf and Steinman reunited to release "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell" (1993), which sold over 15 million copies, and the single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" topped charts in 28 countries. He followed this with "Welcome to the Neighborhood" (1995) and compilation albums, continuing to collaborate with Steinman and other songwriters. During the 2000s, Meat Loaf released "Couldn't Have Said It Better" (2003) and "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose" (2006), performing extensively with the Neverland Express. Health issues, including Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, affected his touring schedule, and he undertook multiple world tours during this period. In the 2010s, Meat Loaf released "Hell in a Handbasket" (2011) and "Braver Than We Are" (2016), the latter a collaboration with Steinman. He continued touring, often featuring duets with Patti Russo and other collaborators. Plans for a Christmas album, "Hot Holidays", were not realised, and he experienced onstage collapses in 2016. In 2020 and 2021, Meat Loaf announced intentions to record new material, including previously unreleased Steinman songs. Steinman died in April 2021. Meat Loaf died on 20 January 2022 at the age of 74. At the time of his death, plans for recording new material had not yet commenced. Meat Loaf also had an extensive acting career, appearing in over 50 films and television shows, including "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975), "Spice World" (1997), and "Fight Club" (1999), as well as stage productions such as "Hair" and the original Broadway cast of "The Rocky Horror Show". Studio albums Bat Out of Hell (1977) Dead Ringer (1981) Midnight at the Lost and Found (1983) Bad Attitude (1984) Blind Before I Stop (1986) Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993) Welcome to the Neighbourhood (1995) Couldn't Have Said It Better (2003) Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006) Hang Cool Teddy Bear (2010) Hell in a Handbasket (2011) Braver Than We Are (2016)