Meat Loaf tribute act survived brutal surgery after late music icon saved his life

A man who idolised Meat Loaf and became one of his tribute acts said the rocker's death helped save his life - Peter Young noticed something was wrong when he gave an interview

'Had Meat Loaf not died, I don’t think I’d be here any more'(Image: Courtesy Peter Young / SWNS)

A Meat Loaf tribute act says the legendary rocker saved his life after he gave a TV interview about his death – and spotted a gap in his teeth.

Peter Young, 67, was asked to pay tribute to the Bat Out of Hell singer and only noticed the gap when he watched the BBC interview back. He went to the dentist a few months later and was told the gap was caused by stage four mouth cancer and that he may never sing again when he was diagnosed in December 2022.

But now cancer-free, he has released a new song to commemorate the third anniversary of Meat Loaf’s death, entitled ‘January 20th’, and plans a mega show in Blackpool complete with a 30-piece orchestra this summer.

'I wouldn’t have known'(Image: Courtesy Peter Young / SWNS)

Peter, of Blackpool, Lancs., said: “Had Meat Loaf not died, I don’t think I’d be here any more.

“I wouldn’t have done the interview, and I wouldn’t have known.

"The likelihood is, I would have been dead. I wouldn’t have checked, I never went to the dentist often enough. It’s a bit of a lesson for everyone, that."

Peter has released a new song to commemorate the third anniversary of Meat Loaf’s death(Image: Courtesy Peter Young / SWNS)

Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday in 1947, became a global star with hits including Bat Out of Hell and I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That). He died aged 74 in January 2022 with is wife Deborah and daughters Pearl and Amanda by his side.

Meat Loaf had a career spanning more than six decades and during that time he sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. The album Bat Out of Hell, released in 1977, was adapted as a stage musical – which was written by long-time collaborator Jim Steinman and featured some of the musician’s best-loved hits.

Peter Young (front left) alongside other performers(Image: Courtesy Peter Young / SWNS)

He also starred in 65 movies including Roadie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club, alongside Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

On eyear after his death, his wife said in a tribute: “Oh, how I miss you and wish I could rewind the clock and have you back beside me. Not a day goes by that I’m not thinking of you. No doubt there’s a huge piece of me missing and that’s because you were such an integral and influential part of my life.

Meat Loaf died in January 2022(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“You could almost say we were joined at the hip because we shared so much together. Heck, you even enjoyed our grocery runs. It was especially hard getting you out of Costco though. You were like a kid in a candy store.

“I am truly blessed to have shared 20 years with you, a life-long gift. I will always love you from the bottom of my heart!”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.