MEAT LOAF RECOVERING FROM HEART SURGERY

LATEST: Recovering rocker MEAT LOAF has undergone surgery to correct a heart condition, his fan club's website reports.

The BAT OUT OF HELL star, who collapsed on stage at London's WEMBLEY ARENA last week (begs17NOV03), has assured his followers he's making "excellent" progress after the minor operation on Friday (21NOV03).

He had surgery to treat WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE syndrome, diagnosed when an extra pathway carrying electrical signals through the heart is detected.

But despite the scare, the charismatic 52-year-old singer is hoping to resume his tour at Manchester, England's EVENING NEWS ARENA on Sunday (30NOV03).

In the statement on the website, Meat Loaf says, "The prognosis is excellent as the procedure's success rate is over 95-per-cent.

"I was in surgery for around two hours, out of the hospital and back at the hotel."