‘Bat Out of Hell’ songwriter and producer Jim Steinman dies at 73

Songwriter and producer Jim Steinem, known for his work with hit-makers like Meat Loaf, Barry Manilow and Celine Dion, has died,according to the Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner’s office. He was 73. 

Steinman was born in New York City and got his start writing musicals. He first met Meat Loaf while working on the musical “More Than You Love,” and the two went on to collaborate on the rock and roll singer’s multi-platinum 1977 debut album “Bat Out of Hell.”

The project included hits like “You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” 

Following the success of “Bat Out of Hell,” they teamed up for subsequent album: “Bat Out of Hell II” which featured the international hit “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).” Steinman also penned hits such as Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.”

Songwriter Jim Steinman has died at 73 years old. Steinman wrote songs for Meatloaf, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Def Leppard. (Photo: Larry Busacca)

Steinem’s was nominated for his first Grammy for his work with Tyler on the “Footloose” musical song “Holding Out for a Hero.” He garnered two more nominations in 1993 for song of the year and best rock song with “I’d Do Anything For Love.” In 1996, he won a Grammy for album of the year for his writing and production work on  Dion’s “Falling Into You.”

In 2012, Steinman was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. 

In 2017, “Bat Out of Hell” was transformed into a musical, and Meat Loaf called the project “Steinman’s dream.”

“Every song that Jim Steinman has ever written has been for this musical,” Meat Loaf said. “I’m just happy that my friend and someone who I love dearly and have worked with for over 40 years is finally seeing his dream come true.”

Film writer Brian Lynch paid tribute to Steinman’s music on Twitter, calling his work “greatness.” 

“Steinman wrote songs about love that before you fell in love you thought love was gonna be,” he wrote. 

TV screenwriter Javier Grillo-Marxuach tweeted: “every song a three act play. every emotion a grand opera. doesn’t matter if it’s celine dion, meat loaf, or the sisters of mercy on the mic: a jim steinman song is always its own magnificent beast.”

Contributing: Associated Press 

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