On hearing the sad news of the death of Meat Loaf, some of his Tauranga fans remember back to their experience of meeting him during his NZ tour a decade ago.

Meat Loaf, the heavyweight rock superstar loved by millions for his Bat Out of Hell album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as Paradise By the Dashboard Light, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, and I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That), has died. He was 74.

The singer, born Marvin Lee Aday, died on Thursday according to a family statement provided by his longtime agent Michael Greene and posted to Meat Loaf's Facebook page.

'Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends.

His career has spanned six decades that saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including ‘Fight Club', ‘Focus', ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show' and ‘Wayne's World'.

‘Bat Out of Hell' remains one of the top ten selling albums of all time.

'We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man,' says the family statement.

'We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time. From his heart to your souls…don't ever stop rocking!”

The singer has had numerous health scares over the years.

Tauranga's Brian and Claire Rogers recall planning to meet the rock legend at his Tauranga show in 2011, one of three shows that was part of his NZ Guilty Pleasure tour. The other shows were scheduled for Wellington and Auckland.

'I bought tickets to this for Brian's birthday,” says Claire.

The tickets included a meet and greet with the singer, at what was planned to be one of the first shows to ever be held at the TECT Arena at Baypark.

'We were so excited, got there, and he came out and made the announcement that he couldn't perform as he'd lost his voice.”

The music superstar had collapsed twice during concerts in the week leading up to the NZ shows, and it was reported that he had suffered an asthma attack. NZ concert publicists had been assured the NZ tour would go on, including the Tauranga performance.

The NZ shows were sold out. Tauranga couple Greg and Ruth Bold had also bought tickets to attend the local show.

'We went to the meet and greet but he was unwell,” says Greg. 'He came out though and did the meet and greet with us and apologised as he couldn't do the show.”

Claire and Brian say they were given tee shirts and the opportunity to come back to the rescheduled concert.

'We'd so looked forward to it, but unfortunately were unable to go to the rescheduled concert. I still have the tee shirt,” says Claire.

Greg says that at the second show, the superstar did the meet and greet all over again.

'It was absolutely fantastic,” says Greg. 'He had us all stand in a semicircle and he started telling stories about his life.

'He grabbed me by my arm and pulled me out and then made me part of the story. It was very cool.

'He also grabbed Ruth and pulled her out and she became part of the story that he was telling," says Greg.

'That's how I got to hug him,” says Ruth.

Ruth had been a Meat Loaf fan for years, and his 2011 tour was the second time she'd seen him.

'We'd previously been to see him at Western Springs,” says Ruth.

'He wasn't an airs and graces rockstar. He was affable. We were both blown away by him. He would have made a good Kiwi,” says Greg.

'On the night of the Tauranga 2011 concert, he said if you want the 1970 Meatloaf voice then go and listen to the CDs. He was in his 60s by then,” says Ruth

The singer signed a poster for the couple, and they bought his biography.

'He signed that for us too,” says Greg.

Meatloaf. Photo: Meat Loaf Facebook page.

Friends and fans are mourning his death on social media.

'I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf,” actor Stephen Fry wrote on Twitter.

Andrew Lloyd Webber tweeted: 'The vaults of heaven will be ringing with rock.”

And Adam Lambert called Meat Loaf: 'A gentle hearted powerhouse rock star forever and ever. You were so kind. Your music will always be iconic.”

Meat Loaf's biggest musical success after Bat Out of Hell was Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, a 1993 reunion with Steinman that sold more than 15 million copies and featured the Grammy-winning single I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).

He is survived by Deborah Gillespie, his wife since 2007, and by daughters Pearl and Amanda Aday.