Max,

What have you been spinning?

Dammitall. Type O is one of my favorite bands, and I've loved almost all of their albums. I was hoping to try out their live shows again, since they sped up their music a bit, and would probably put on a more engaging experience. After Peter became sober, I was looking forward to several more kick-ass albums, and here is where he ends up. Peter had a great sense of humor, and I loved listening to his interviews, at least the sober and coherent ones towards the latter part of his life.

Being selfish, it sucks we won't get any more music from this awesome band. Unselfishly, I'm glad he obtained the clarity of sobriety for a few years before he died, and I hope his family and friends get through this with minimal damage. Considering the stereotypical fanbase for this band, I also hope people don't get all dramatic with the news.

October Rust and World Coming Down are two of the best albums in the "gothic" genre. I've tried for years to find something comparable, but haven't succeeded. All Type O today, in "honor" of the news.

Bloody Kisses and Dead Again. I enjoyed the former much more than the latter. Black No. 1 is awesome.

Give October Rust a listen. It's my fav overall album by them, and you should enjoy it if you like Bloody Kisses.

I agree.

This is my favorite by them as well. Such a perfectly named album too. I put this one on once that Fall cripness hits the air and listen to it in the week's leading up to Halloween. It's especially great music for that time of year.

Also, Type O Negative opening for Pantera was my first ever concert. This band will be missed. R.I.P. Peter

Also agreed - this is the one that got me into them. Life Is Killing Me is also fantastic. I love World Coming Down and Dead Again but to me LIKM is right there with Bloody Kisses and October Rust.

Will do. Looks like I have several CD's to buy next time I hit Best Buy.

Great observation. Not long after October Rust came out in 1996 I moved to NYC to join a goth progressive band with a singer who coincidentally had a bit of his own Pete Steele thing going on. I can remember walking home from work down 5th Ave. listening to October Rust daily on my CD player in the fall. The perfect companion music to the season.

Nice to see I'm not the only one who rings in Fall with October Rust; it's a flawless album, and it's so soothing to enjoy on those crisp autumn nights.

First time I saw Type O Negative was when they opened for Danzig on Halloween night '94 @ Irvine Meadows in support of Bloody Kisses. I ran out the next day and bought that album; they've been my favorite band ever since.

My only time seeing them live was in '96 at the Vic in Chicago with Life of Agony opening. I think that was when Pete had a big upright bass on like a normal bass. Loved the stage setup for that tour.

looks like it is official: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/new...010-21220.aspx

Well this officially sucks, wake up and read this news. Type O is one of my top 3 favorite bands and I can't actually believe the news. I actually had been looking for news about them about two weeks ago, cause I know they usually release an album every 3-4 years. I was hoping they had started recording something, but like typical Type O there was little news. Regardless I'll never forget traveling to any venue within about 6 hours to see them, the only band I have seen in 7 different states. Some of my best memories growing up were with those road trips with my cousin to see them play. October Rust is still my favorite album, but all of them are good. Especially Origin of Feces with the fake live crowd. Still some of the funniest stuff I've ever heard.


RIP Peter.

This band always had a great sense of humor, particularly given their genre of goth/metal/whatever you want to call it that is many times waaaay too serious. I'm guessing a lot of people probably didn't think this news was real at first due to the joke about Peter's death from before.

October Rust was always one of the first albums I'd play once there was a chill in the air as well. It's one of those albums that's great from start to finish and just sets the mood for the months to come.

RIP Peter Steele

Sucks. Been following his career since Carnivore.

About time someone mentioned it. I was about to ask if anyone heard of Carnivore. Not a big fan of Type O, but I love Carnivore. Peter Steele was a big influence in the New York metal & hardcore scene and he will be missed.

RIP Thermo-Nuclear Warrior

My first Carnivore show about twenty-one years ago :

Heart failure that young? Drug abuse related?

If it was drug abuse, they would've called it "natural causes".

He was 6'7". That's a lot space for a heart to be pumping blood through.

The age range that most men have heart attacks is 35-55.

My first exposure to Type-O-Negative was walking inside a Blockbuster Music store (I think at the time it was called Music Plus) around 1993 and seeing a huge poster of the Bloody Kisses album cover on the wall. I was immediately intrigued by it (who wouldn't with a photo like that, if you know what I mean).

I love their dark and haunting rendition of "Summer Breeze" off that album.

I remember in 1993 when Bloody Kisses came out, everyone I knew was into them and the song Black #1. I remember the next year they toured with Pantera and they came to Fresno and I got to see them. It was one of the craziest shows I've ever seen. I remember Pete coming out at one point when Dimebag was doing a solo and picking him up right off the ground like a rag doll, spun him around, and then almost lifted him over his head. Then Pete just put him back down and walked off stage. The crowd went crazy because Dime never broke a note or lost the solo.

I meant drug abuse that sped up the heart related problems. Not meaning that's what directly killed him on that day.

Peter's death was even reported on MSNBC this morning.

I love Type O Negative's cover of Black Sabbath, especially Peter's delivery of "What... is this... that stands... before me?"

I shall give that song a spin this weekend in Peter's honor.

Peter Steele

Statements from the band & his family via Blabbermouth:

TYPE O NEGATIVE members Josh Silver (keyboards), Kenny Hickey (guitar) and Johnny Kelly (drums) have released the following joint statement:

"It is with great sadness that we inform you that TYPE O NEGATIVE front man, bassist, and our band mate, Peter Steele, passed away last night of what appears to be heart failure.

"Ironically Peter had been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was imminently due to begin writing and recording new music for our follow-up to 'Dead Again', released in 2007.

"The official cause of death has yet to be determined pending autopsy results.

"The funeral services will be private and memorial services will be announced at a future date.

"We'd like to share our thoughts and those of Peter's family below.

"We are truly saddened to lose our friend and appreciate the tremendous outpouring today from around the world."

Separate statements from TYPE O NEGATIVE members:

Josh Silver (keyboards): "Peter, my endless source of frustration, (as I'm yours), you have really done it this time. You have changed and touched countless lives through music, comedy and often brutal honesty. You've made life both interesting and irritating and I could not imagine not having known you for 37 years.

"It still isn't true in my mind, but in time I will miss you and the creating that we all endured together. We certainly disagreed constantly and I believe (and hope) we all learned from each other.

"Should I call you my brother, friend or neighbor? I can only call you Peter (and usually after 2 p.m).

"We laughed at ourselves more times then I can count. Knowing humans are preposterous creatures and I know we reveled in that fact.

"I will miss you in time, but at this moment your premature departure seems surreal and has pissed me off to no end.

"Though I never told you that I harbor a deep respect for you, I do.

"Goodbye my friend."

Kenny Hickey (guitar): "Peter Steele was one of the most brilliant and funny personalities in music and it was all for real. Half the time people thought he was joking, but he was actually telling the truth. Part of me died with him."

Johnny Kelly (drums): "It's impossible for me to put into a few sentences what I am feeling at the moment, Peter.

"I'm not sure if I should eulogize or roast you.

"Both good and bad, we went on one hell of a ride together and sadly, the ride has come to an end.

"You truly were a unique person. Your music touched many people. Myself included. Whether it was talking about THE BEATLES, power tools, how Pluto was no longer considered a planet or calling me at 3 a.m. asking me to drive to your house to have a fistfight with you, you always kept it interesting.

"It was a privilege to have been your bandmate. It's something that I will always cherish."

A statement issued today by Steele's family:

"Legendary goth/heavy metal musician Peter Steele died suddenly Wednesday, April 14, 2010, after a short illness at the age of 48. He wrote and orchestrated the music for the Brooklyn-based band TYPE O NEGATIVE, a groundbreaking group known for its dramatic lyrical emphasis on the themes of romance, depression, and death. Steele, renowned as much for his striking physical appearance as his musical talent, was the creative force behind the bands 20-year success writing most of the material for the their albums.

"TYPE O NEGATIVE and Steele have been lauded as a major influence by numerous alternative and metal bands. The band gained a worldwide following through touring and recording seven studio albums, two best-of compilations, concert DVDs and music videos. Their 1993 album, 'Bloody Kisses', went platinum, and the 1996 follow-up, 'October Rust', went gold.

"The music world has lost a great talent, and music fans worldwide are mourning, but for our family we are mourning a beloved brother, uncle, cousin, friend and funny man.

"Peter Steele was a complex man, known for his brooding looks, his self-deprecating sense of humor, unique view of the world, and most of all his loyalty to his fans, friends and family. Survived by five sisters, the eldest living sister notes that he was more than our brother, he was our son. His untimely death is tragic — a great loss to us and to music.

"The official cause of death has yet to be determined pending autopsy results, and funeral plans at present remain unknown.

"The family thanks fans for their loyalty to Peter and band members, but request that fans and media respect their wishes for privacy.

"In addition to his success in music, Peter Steele also tried his hand at acting, appearing in HBO's 'Oz' and the cult classic film 'Bad Acid'. He also composed music for the film soundtracks 'Freddy vs. Jason' and 'Mortal Combat', the television movie 'Nosferatu: The First Vampire', and the soon-to-be released 'Living the American Nightmare'."

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I love how, even during a time like this, the guys still maintain their sense of humor. I'm sure they know Pete wouldn't want it any other way.

He had a long tour with drugs, and only recently became sober. I think it was primarily cocaine, and lots of booze, but I could be wrong. Watching some of his interviews from 7 years ago was kind of tough, he seemed so out of it. His recent ones, within the past 2 years or so, were much more coherent, well thought out answers, and incredibly funny. Add in his size, and things probably don't go to well.

After listening to almost my entire collection of Type O yesterday, it's interesting how "prophetic" a lot of their lyrics were. I guess that goes with the territory, though, considering their musical style.