Did You Know...

Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Meat Loaf Kicked around Los Angeles starting in his late teens, and he got together a band sometimes named Popcorn Blizzard, and other times Meat Loaf Soul. This band opened for a number of big acts and gave Meat Loaf a way into the world of big-time music. His role in the Los Angeles production of 'The Rocky Horror Show' got him the film gig, and Meat Loaf was almost there career-wise.

It took a collaboration with songwriter Jim Steinman to get Meat Loaf over the top, however. Steinman wrote a cycle of songs laden with melodrama that he called 'Bat Out of Hell,' and Meat Loaf turned three of the tunes into Top 40 hits: 'Two out of Three Ain't Bad' (which went gold), 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' and 'You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth.'

In 1993, Steinman and Meat Loaf created a sequel 'Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell.' This, after Meat Loaf had take some time off to rest his voice, which he had ripped to shreds through constant touring. This album produced a platinum Number One hit, 'I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That),' which proved that Steinman still liked long song titles. The song won a Grammy anyway, for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo. These days, Meat Loaf still cranks 'em out with the best, and you should make sure you get your tickets to see this musical behemoth before there are no tickets to get.