The 65 year-old American, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, will finish his ten-date 'Last Bat' tour of the UK and Ireland before retiring.

The concerts will begin in Newcastle tonight, before winding up on the 17th of May in Dublin's 02 Arena.

The singer, who says he is suffering from no major health issues, cancelled a 2007 tour of Europe as he was suffering from a cyst of the vocal chords.

In 2011, as a result of a concussion and his asthma, he collapsed on stage during a concert in Pittsburgh. Currently awaiting a second knee replacement operation, the singer has chosen to call it a day rather than risk a deterioration in the quality of his performances.

Meat Loaf, who has been recording music since 1971, is perhaps best known for his trilogy of Bat Out of Hell albums, the first of which has been certified fourteen-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The first of the three albums featured the popular title track, while the opening song of the second's 12 minute-long opening song I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) became a massive commercial success.

The musician, who appeared in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has announced a new studio album entitled Brave and Crazy that has yet to receive a release date.