US rock icon Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74.

News of the star’s death was confirmed on his Facebook page, with a message from his family reading: "Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side."

The cause of death is not yet known.

Born Marvin Lee Aday, Meat Loaf was one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, selling over 100 million albums worldwide and scoring huge hits with such records as Bat Out Of Hell, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love and I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

To this day, Bat Out Of Hell remains one of the top 10 best-selling albums ever recorded, selling millions across the globe, while his single I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) won him a Grammy Award in 1993.

A rock musical based on his songs also drew strong reviews in both the UK and the US.

In addition to his career as a musician, he also made a number of films, appearing Fight Club, Focus, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.

The statement announcing his death continued: "Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.

"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.

"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!"

Tributes from across the music industry and beyond have already started to pour in, with many taking to Twitter to pay the respects.

Cher, with whom Meat Loaf performed Dead Ringer For Love, said: Had so much fun with Meat Loaf when we did Dead Ringer. Am very sorry for his family, friends and fans. Am I imagining it or are amazing people in the arts dying every other day?”

Stephen Fry tweeted: “ I hope paradise is as you remember it from the dashboard light, Meat Loaf. Had a fun time performing a sketch with him on Saturday Night Live way back in the last century.”

Paul Gambaccini said on Good Morning Britain: This is crushing for me, he played with us on our Regents Park softball club, I did introduce one of his albums. Believe it or not, he coached baseball in my hometown Connecticut. This is someone I was really fond of personally… this was a person who was a normal person.

“He was not operatic, he was one of the boys, he wanted to pitch in softball, he was crazy about his children. If you did not know he was Meat Loaf you would just call him Mr O’Day.”

Music mogul Pete Waterman said: Meat Loaf was this larger than life character with a unique voice. That first album, Bat Out Of Hell, was just amazing.”

Radio 2 DJ, Jo Whiley, shared: God I loved Bat Out Of Hell. The soundtrack to my youth. Sad news. RIP Meat Loaf. Extraordinary voice, phenomenal character.”

Abbey Road Studios tweeted: "We’re saddened to hear of the passing of iconic singer and actor @RealMeatLoaf, who worked at Abbey Road in the 1980s & ‘90s. In 1984, he spent several weeks in Studio Two recording the album ‘Bad Attitude’ choosing Abbey Road for what he described as its ‘English dramatics’."

Boy George also tweeted: "RIP Meat Loaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends. He once turned me upside down in a Chinese restaurant in St John's Wood."

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