PAYING TRIBUTE
CHER has paid an emotional tribute to her friend Meat Loaf after the singing legend died at the age of 74.
The star, real name Michael Lee Aday, passed away on Thursday night with his family by his side.
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In light of the news, fellow music icon Cher, 75, took to her social media to remember her Dead Ring for Love collaborator.
She penned on Twitter: "Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did 'Dead Ringer'.
"Am Very Sorry For His Family, Friends,& Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day?" alongside a cry-face emoji.
Guns 'n' Roses rocker Slash also paid tribute to the legendary music maker and shared a throwback photo of Meat Loaf in his heyday.
He captioned the shot simply: "RIP #Meatloaf".
In the UK, producer Pete Waterman, 75, appeared on today's Good Morning Britain to remember Meat Loaf and recalled several memories with the Bat Out Of Hell hitmaker.
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Speaking to Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway, Pete said he was once on a plane to New York with Meat Loaf and he had a "cold trunk of beefburgers".
Pete recalled: "He was such an amazing character. I was once on a plane with him to New York and he took a box, like a cold trunk of beef burgers.
🔵 Read our Meat Loaf live blog for the latest updates on his death
"It was like, amazing, what that boy could eat I tell you. He could eat."
"Meat Loaf was Meat Loaf wasn't he? His size was part of the whole legend it was his voice, it was just," he shared of the larger than life character.
"You knew what you got with Meat Loaf, there was no buying it out, it was 100%
a 100% of everything."
Presenter Ben added: "There was never any compromise and trust me if you met him, there was never any disappointment as well. He always, always delivered."
Aside from Pete's tribute, broadcaster Piers Morgan took to Twitter this morning to remember the star and wrote: "RIP Meat Loaf, 74.
"One of rock music’s all-time great characters whose seminal iconic album Bat Out Of Hell is one of the biggest-selling records in history.
"A wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon. Sad news."
British comic and actor Stephen Fry tweeted: "I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf.
"Had a fun time performing a sketch with him on Saturday Live way back in the last century."
DEATH OF A LEGEND
Meat Loaf passed away on Thursday night, and his death was confirmed this morning by his long-time agent, Michael Greene.
Meat Loaf's cause of death has not yet been revealed.
A statement posted to Facebook read: "Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side.
"Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.
"His amazing career spanned 6 decades that saw him sell over 100 Million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.
"Bat Out of Hell remains one of the top 10 selling albums of all time.
"We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate 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. From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!"
STELLAR CAREER
The star sold millions of albums worldwide, with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy among his most popular musical offerings.
He was honoured with the Hero Award at the annual Q Awards music ceremony in 2016, which he dedicated to everyday heroes and called on people to "bring love back into this world".
The rock veteran had been plagued with health issues and rumours that he’s dying ever since he collapsed onstage in June 2016 and has appeared in a number of interviews with slurred speech, with even Katie Price telling him she thought he had died.
Meat Loaf was forced to deny he'd passed away.
The star did have surgery nearly two months ago to remove a cyst on his back – and at the time he explained he was no longer going to discuss the speculation on his health.
“Listen, I am not dying. After three months of therapy I will be fine. I am sick of talking about it. I don’t want to talk about it from now on,” he said.
"And anyone else who asks me the question, I’m not going to respond to it.”
In 2012, Meat Loaf claimed dying on stage would be the "best thing" that could happen to him.
"I’ll die for ya," he said in an interview with Tinnitist.
"I literally will die for an audience. The best thing that could ever happen to me is that I die onstage.
"Because then I’m dying doing what I love. I hate to cut us off but I gotta go."
Meat Loaf was last pictured on stage on March 27 last year when he performed with country artist John Rich at Redneck Riviera in Nashville.
The rock star was born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas, in 1947, forming his first band Meat Loaf Soul in the 1960s.
He had the nickname Meat Loaf since he was a child and kept it when he went on stage.
In 2016 he told Oprah he was "born bright red" and his father called him Meat because he "looked like nine and a half pounds of ground chuck.”
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The second part reportedly came when he was 13 and accidentally stepped on his sports coach, who yelled: “Get off my foot, you hunk of meat loaf!”
Meat Loaf's colourful career saw him not only wow fans with his music, but also with his theatrics as he appeared in more than 50 movies and television shows - including the 1997 film Spice World.
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Meat Loaf dead at 74-: Star's pal Pete Waterman leads tributes with hilarious story about star's rider
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