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I met him at Megacon in Orlando, Florida, the day after I graduated from high school; skipped my ex’s graduation party and everything. In my underwear, naturally. Freshly 18 years old. He was initially unable to make it to the event, but came through at the last minute. Also attending the weekend-long event with him were his “Rocky Horror Picture Show” co-stars, Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors), Lady Patricia Quinn-Stephens (Magenta), Little Nell Campbell (Columbia), and Tim Curry (Dr. Frank-N-Furter). It was right after I joined Tampa’s local “Rocky Horror” shadow cast, Hell on Heels, but right before performing in my first show, so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Meat Loaf was born in Dallas, Texas on September 27, 1947 as Marvin Lee Aday (changed to Michael Lee Aday in 1984). You would know him best for his iconic singing career, as well as his successful acting career. Meat Loaf released a dozen albums throughout his lifetime, perhaps his most famous being the “Bat Out of Hell” trilogy of concept albums in collaboration with composer Jim Steinman (1947-2021). Lengthy songs such as “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” and the titular “Bat Out of Hell” became some of the most successful rock ballads of all time. Aday’s most well-known film and television credits include Robert Paulson in Fight Club (1999), a bus driver in Spice World (1997), Jack Black’s father in The Pick of Destiny (2006), a cameo in Glee (s2e5, “The Rocky Horror Glee Show”), and of course my favorite role of his, Eddie the ex-delivery boy in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975).
That day at Megacon, right before we took our group photo together, he asked me my name and I told him, and he said, “Hi, Emily. I’m Meat… did you know that?” and I laughed. His character was about to become my entire life for the next three years. I will never forget that exchange. At his table, my dad got to meet him too and talk to him about seeing him live in concert in Ohio many years ago
On the morning of January 21, 2022, word came out that Meat Loaf had passed away suddenly the previous evening. While no official cause of death had been released, it was reported by close family that he had been sick with COVID-19 and died of complications from the virus. Aday was also openly against mask mandates and a denier of the lockdowns during the pandemic.
While I didn’t agree with his politics at all, he was so kind to me when our paths crossed. His music got me through my early college years and always provided me with 9+ minutes of quality airway coverage when I was doing my radio gig for Hillsborough Community College’s HawkRadio. It’s also safe to credit Meat Loaf with my current relationship, as my boyfriend, Tex played an Eddie on our shadow cast and that was where we first met; if Meat Loaf hadn’t originated that role, I potentially wouldn’t have met my boyfriend.
While Meat Loaf’s death was shocking and painful to those he left behind, now more than ever it’s important that we all get vaccinated and continue to mask up to protect each other from the potentially deadly effects of the Coronavirus.
And to Meat Loaf, rest in paradise and thank you for the music.