Meat Loaf on Toledo's Sunday night menu

12/13/2002

It's been three years since Toledo's last helping of Meat Loaf, but the hefty singer who tells stories in music is coming back for another serving Sunday night.

Meat Loaf, who considers himself an actor first and a singer second, has had a full plate lately with parts in four movies released this year and a new album due for release next year.

Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, the singer moved to California in 1966 at age 18 and formed a band called Meat Loaf Soul. The group achieved some local fame, opening for such stars as the Who, Johnny Winter, and Ted Nugent.

Meat Loaf made his acting debut in a touring production of the musical Hair, and later moved to New York City where he met playwright Jim Steinman. It was a collaboration with Steinman that brought Meat Loaf to stardom with the 1977 album “Bat Out of Hell.”

That set of theatrical songs went on to sell an estimated 30 million copies worldwide and turned Meat Loaf a household dish. The hits included such classics as “Two Out of Three Ain't Bad,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

Sudden stardom was not easy on Loaf, however, who found it difficult to endure constant criticism in the media.

Although he had a No. 1 album in England in 1981 with “Dead Ringer,” Meat Loaf basically disappeared from the American music scene until 1993 when he teamed up with Steinman again for “Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell.” That album went to the top of the charts and earned Meat Loaf his first Grammy Award.

He's always kept a hand in theater, appearing in 49 feature films including The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club. He also is a familiar face on television.

Ironically, despite his meaty monikor, Meat Loaf is a vegetarian.

Meat Loaf & Friends will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Ave., with Kasim Sulton opening. Tickets are $36 and $46 from the box office, 419-321-5007, or Ticketmaster.