Meat Loaf’s Publicist Assures He’s Okay After Onstage Collapse

Fans were shocked when rocker Meat Loaf collapsed during a concert in Edmonton, Canada, on Thursday, but it’s been confirmed that he is doing better and is “responsive.”

The singer’s publicist Jeremy Westby released a statement to USA Today, proclaiming that Meat Loaf collapsed due to severe dehydration towards the end of his concert at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium.

“He was admitted to a nearby hospital to undergo routine tests. His vital signs are stable and normal,” said Westby in the statement. “He extends his heartfelt thanks for everyone’s support and well-wishes and is expecting to make a speedy and full recovery.”

Further, the “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” singer’s Facebook page shared the same statement with social media users, adding that “Any concert postponements / rescheduled dates will be announced at a later time. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

Singer Meat Loaf collapses during concert in Canada. https://t.co/u07865iNdbhttps://t.co/xIkHqVadUs

— ABC News (@ABC) June 17, 2016

In social media shared videos, the 68-year-old was seen collapsing forward, putting down his hands and then rolling over, according to CNN. Musicians and stagehands quickly came to his aid, leaving the audience confused.

CBC previously reported that longtime Meat Loaf fan Jamie Carriere witnessed the collapse Thursday night while he was singing his 1993 classic “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

“He fell … he just fell. You could hear the microphone just hit the ground,” said Carriere, who noted that the audience were told to exit the venue, while firetrucks and ambulances arrived to take him to a nearby hospital.

Carriere added, “I thought it was a joke, I didn’t know what was going on because he was joking around throughout his set.”

Fans spoke to the Edmonton Journal, describing what they witnessed during and before the incident, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. local time. Concertgoer Britt Brewer described the scene as “surreal,” but like many thought that his collapse was simply part of the act. She also thought the singer, who was born Marvin Lee Aday, seemed to be “a little bit tired.”

Earlier this week, Meatloaf announced that due to illness, he was cancelling his shows in the Canadian cities of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Calgary, Alberta. He had been touring Canada since May and has seven more dates in the country scheduled.

“Let it suffice to say that he is one of the kindest, most gracious, and greatest ambassadors of our industry and the person who never needed to be told to reach out for help others always extending his efforts and love to all,” said John Luongo, in a Facebook post, wishing the singer well.

He continued, “The fact that we live in a cell phone society only adds more ability for each and every moment of life, both good and bad, to be captured for all to see.”

This isn’t the first time Meat Loaf has collapsed on stage. While performing in England in December 2003, he cited Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome as the cause. In 2011, he collapsed at a Pittsburgh concert, attributing it to an asthmatic condition.

Last year, Meat Loaf spoke to USA Today, eerily predicting that he would die on stage and already had a procedure in place for what the band should do.

“If it’s too morbid to leave me lying there, then they’ll take me off, and the band will play ‘When the Saints Go Marching In,‘ ” he said. “Then the piano player will play ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’ and the band will get everybody to stand up and sing. Even if I’m dead, the show’s going on.”

According to BBC News, Meat Loaf’s 1977 classic album, Bat Out of Hell, has sold a reported 43 million copies and has continued to sell about 200,000 copies annually. Next year will mark its 40th anniversary.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]