Meat Loaf is proving to be bigger in death than in life. The late-singer's streams are up an astounding 2,583 percent since his January 20th death. The legendary singer died this past January 20th, at the age of 74 with no cause of death announced. Billboard reported: “From January 21st, the day the rocker’s death was announced, through January 23rd, on-demand audio and video streams of Meat Loaf’s music soared to 15.9 million, according to initial reports to MRC Data. That’s up from 593,000 streams over January 18th to 20th.”
Leading the way is (1993's) 'I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That),' which accrued 3.2 million streams (from) January 21st to 23rd, a 1,645 percent rise from 186,000 (spanning) January 18th through 20th.
Just below that was 1977's “Paradise By The Dashboard Light,” which drew 3.1 million streams — up 1,976 percent from 147,000 in the days prior. 'Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad' snagged 1.9 million plays — up 1,856 percent, with the Bat Out Of Hell title track reaching 1.6 million steams — up 4,399 from before his death was announced.
Meat Loaf openly wore a chip on his shoulder regarding the lack of respect he and late-songwriter Jim Steinman received over the years — despite their multi-platinum success. Not too long ago, we asked Meat point blank why he thinks the industry has never followed the fans in saluting him for his legendary work: “In '75, '76 when we were trying to get Bat Out Of Hell done as a record, everyone hated it. So, when it finally took off — and it has sold almost 44 million copies — the only person to ever come up and say he was wrong was Clive Davis. Everyone else will not admit they're wrong. And so, they're going to make sure that I'm never in the 'boys' club' in music. In film, I'm fine.”
Meat Loaf told us that he's come to accept the fact that no matter what road he took creatively, the critics would be there waiting to bash him and Jim Steinman, hell-bent on treating them as permanent outsiders: “Oh no, they dismiss me. (Laughs) My favorite thing about some of these critics — y'know what Billy Joel said, 'Don't ever fight anybody that buys ink by the barrel' — What's really interesting is when Jim (Steinman) and I put out Bat Out Of Hell, it got some of the worst reviews ever. And then Bat II came out and that wasn't critically well received. But I put out Hang Cool Teddy Bear, and the critics who didn't like anything that I did with Jim Steinman are going, 'Well this is certainly not Jim Steinman.”
