Meatloaf collapses in Edmonton
The 68-year-old Meatloaf, born Michael Lee Aday, was reportedly performing the song I’d Do Anything for Love as an encore at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton when he suddenly fell over onto the stage. Concert goers reported hearing the thump of the mike but many were unsure if the fall was part of the show or a real event.
Stagehands and security rushed out from the backstage area and gathered around the singer; the band and backup singers stopped performing within seconds of the collapse. Audience members at first were quiet but soon began calling out to the prone Meatloaf, even chanting his name.
Eventually fans realized it was real and security began ushering them out, telling them they needed to make way for emergency personnel to enter and attend to Meatloaf. While the auditorium emptied Meatloaf continued to stay down.
It’s unclear what medical procedures, if any, were performed on him as he lay prone upon the stage. He was taken to a local hospital. Word of his collapse spread all over social media.
Meatloaf, whose break came in 1977 with ‘Bat out of Hell’, which included his massive hit Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, had been feeling ill of late and though he performed at six or so concerts in Canada on his current tour, his previous two scheduled concerts, in Calgary and Moose Jaw, had been cancelled due to illness.
As of 3:30 a.m. EST there was no word on Meatloaf’s condition.
