A host of stars paid tribute to Meat Loaf following his death at 74.
Cher, Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan led stars honouring the Bat Out Of Hell singer, real name was Michael Lee Aday, on Friday morning after his family revealed he had passed away with his wife by his side.
His one-time collaborator Cher, 75, who joined Meat Loaf on 1981 hit Dead Ringer For Love, spoke of having 'so much fun' recording with the star, while Piers, 54, gushed: 'One of rock music’s all-time great characters... A wondrously talented, flamboyant, funny, outrageous and rebellious chameleon. Sad news.'
Heartache: A host of stars paid tribute to Meat Loaf following his death at 74 (Meat Loaf pictured performing in Las Vegas in October 2013)
Heartache: His one-time collaborator Cher, who joined Meat Loaf on 1981 hit Dead Ringer For Love, led the tributes
Meat Loaf, who was known for hits including Bat Out Of Hell and sold more than 100million albums worldwide and starring in 65 movies, died with his wife Deborah at his side.
While no cause or other details were given by his family, he had suffered numerous health scares over the years. He had an extraordinary career over six decades with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy in his most popular offerings.
After working together in the early Eighties, Cher penned: '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'.
Piers meanwhile penned: '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.'
Touching: Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan joined Cher in honouring the Bat Out Of Hell singer, real name was Michael Lee Aday, on Friday morning after his family revealed he had passed away with his wife by his side
Shock: Piers meanwhile penned: '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'
Way back when: Meat Loaf and Cher pose with Des Lynam (centre) after they joined him on The Des Lynam Show on BBC Radio 2 in 1998
Stephen joined in the tributes, sharing a video of the duo appearing together on a sketch on Saturday Live, with the caption: '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'.
Fellow rocker Slash honoured the star - simply writing: 'RIP'.
The official Mungo Jerry Twitter account wrote: 'R. I. P. Meatloaf, “Bat Out of Hell” was one of those albums that accompanied me on rotation while driving to the many gigs that I did in the late 70’s early 80’s, the music & production was highly influential in the field of commercial rock music. God Bless r.I.p. buddy'.
Boy George added to the tributes with a humorous tale about the rocker, writing: 'R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.'
Jo Whiley added: 'God I loved Bat Out of Hell. Soundtrack to my youth. Sad news RIP Meatloaf. Extraordinary voice Phenomenonal character'.
Shock: British journalist Kay Burley wrote: 'Very sad news that Meatloaf has died. ‘I’d do anything for love’ was a massive hit in 1993, reached Number one in 28 countries and was a firm favourite in our house. He was 74'
Pain: Stand-up comedian Janey Godley wrote: 'The first album I bought, wee record shop Shettleston rd 1978, I carried it home like a new baby, opened the record player, took off my Donny Osmond LP, placed Meat Loaf on the turntable, dropped the needle & sat back on my single bed to let the HUGE music wave over my soul'
Reaching out: His family announced his passing in a Facebook post shared on Friday morning
British journalist Kay Burley wrote: 'Very sad news that Meatloaf has died. ‘I’d do anything for love’ was a massive hit in 1993, reached Number one in 28 countries and was a firm favourite in our house. He was 74.'
Music boss Pete Waterman spoke about Meat Loaf during an appearance on Good Morning Britain shortly after the news erupted, saying: 'Meat Loaf was an amazing character....
'I once sat on a plane with him to NW. He had a trunk of burgers. That boy could eat! What he could pack away! His size was part of the whole legend. His voice. You knew what you got with Meat Loaf'.
Stand-up comedian Janey Godley wrote: 'The first album I bought, wee record shop Shettleston rd 1978, I carried it home like a new baby, opened the record player, took off my Donny Osmond LP, placed Meat Loaf on the turntable, dropped the needle & sat back on my single bed to let the HUGE music wave over my soul'.
American singer Meat Loaf sold more than 100million albums worldwide and starred in 65 movies. He is pictured in 1993
Meat Loaf had spoken openly about health issues that had plagued him, notably asthma, which caused him to collapse on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh in 2011, and in 2003 he
