By The Canadian Press

Publicist says Meat Loaf ‘recovering well’ after collapsing on Edmonton stage

Jun 17, 2016 | 9:12 AM

EDMONTON: A publicist for Meat Loaf say the singer’s vital signs are “stable and normal” after he collapsed near the end of a performance in Edmonton.

Jeremy Westby with Webster Public Relations says in a news release that Meat Loaf is responsive and “recovering well” after being admitted to hospital on Thursday night.

Westby says the performer collapsed due to severe dehydration.

One video of the performance at Edmonton’s Jubilee Auditorium showed the singer bending over, then knocking over his microphone stand and falling to the floor. Audience members said he had been singing his classic “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

Mikey McBryan, 33, an ice pilot from Yellowknife who had taken his mom to the show for her 70th birthday, said the singer had appeared to be struggling earlier in the performance.

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“It was him forgetting words, he wasn’t on cue, but it was forgiveable,” said McBryan. “We’re all loving it and going crazy, and then it just took a turn for the worst.”

More than a few fans had noticed, with one tweeting Meat Loaf “did not look good 2nite. Was worried he wouldn’t last.”

“He sounded terrible from the start,” wrote another. “It was like he pushed through each song.”

Moments after he rolled onto his back, musicians from his band walked over while men from behind the scenes ran out onto the stage. A security guard directed some people away from the vicinity while other appeared to be running to get help.

“A lot of people thought it was part of the show — this is what’s going on,” said McBryan, who has himself appeared on the reality TV show “Ice Pilots NWT.”

“And then all of a sudden it wasn’t. The lights went on, they brought out a vertical screen that covered everybody, and they said ‘can everyone vacate the arena?’ “

Jim Thibaudeau, who had second-row-centre seats, said he has enormous respect for the singer and felt awful at what happened.

“I thought he’d died. I thought he’d had a heart attack and died. It was a terrible feeling. It was awful.”

Fans flooded Facebook with stories of witnessing the collapse, along with well-wishes for the 68-year-old, whose birth name was Michael Lee Aday.

Best known for his iconic 1977 album “Bat Out of Hell,” Meat Loaf was a pioneer of bombastic, theatrical rock. In his younger — and considerably larger — years, he performed with such intensity he dripped wet with sweat.

But his career has also had longevity, and Meat Loaf has made a name for himself as an actor — on Broadway and in the movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — and a reality TV star, on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.”

Westby says news on any Meat Loaf concerts that need to be postponed will be announced later.

“(Meat Loaf) extends his heartfelt thanks for everyone’s support and well wishes, and is expecting a speedy and full recovery,” Westby said in the release.

The singer recently cancelled concerts in Moose Jaw, Sask., and in Calgary, citing ill health.

According to his website, he is scheduled to perform Saturday in Cold Lake, Alta., then in Lethbridge, Alta., next Tuesday; Penticton, B.C., on Thursday; Victoria on June 25 and in Abbotsford, B.C., on June 28.

Meat Loaf has said he has asthma as well as a medical condition that causes an irregular heartbeat.

He has collapsed on stage before. In 2011, medics rushed to his aid during a concert in Pittsburgh but he got up and finished the show. In 2013, he collapsed at Wembley Arena in London and was admitted to hospital.