[O-] Obituary

[CountDeMoney]

It's been announced before, but always as a joke, particularly when he was mad with the record label back in 2005;  but apparently this time it's the real deal.

Peter Steele, of Heavy Metal Band Type O Negative, Dies at 48

Peter Steele, the singer, bassist and chief songwriter for the heavy metal band Type O Negative, died on Wednesday. He was 48.

His death was announced on the band's Web site (typeonegative.net). The announcement said that the cause had not yet been officially determined but appeared to be heart failure; it did not say where he died.

Mr. Steele had battled substance abuse for many years, but the band said he had triumphed over his addictions. "Peter had been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was imminently due to begin writing and recording new music" for the band's next album, the online announcement of his death said.

Type O Negative, based in Brooklyn, was formed in 1990 and attracted a loyal following. Its style was a mixture of goth gloominess and heavy-metal intensity; the songs Mr. Steele wrote explored dark themes, sometimes with dry humor, as reflected in titles like "Life Is Killing Me" and "Everyone I Love Is Dead."

The band's "Bloody Kisses," released in 1993, was the first album on the Roadrunner label to be certified platinum.

Steele was known as a bassist, singer, and as the band's website said, a "control freak." The 6'7'' composer of gothic metal was also known for his dark humor and low heavy voice.

Steele was born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. While working as a sanitation worker for the New York City Department of Sanitation in the 1980s — a job he always said he loved — Steele fronted thrash pioneers Carnivore, known for throwing raw meat into the crowd during their live shows. In 1990, Steele formed Type O Negative, which had a more gothic-metal look and sound. Steele played bass and was the lead vocalist for the band, as well as its main composer. The band eventually rose to fame and heightened popularity with their videos for ode to goth chicks "Black No. 1″ and "Christian Woman," and had continued to record and perform up until a few years ago.

During the band's time in the spotlight, the musician appeared on the cover of Playgirl and posed fully nude for the magazine. Steele was known to suffer from depression and had had issues with substance abuse. In 2005, his Carnivore bandmate Keith Alexander was killed in a bike accident in Brooklyn.

Before joining Type O Negative, he was in the metal group Fallout and the band Carnivore.

RIP, Pete.

[ulmont]

Too slow. We had this thread last week.

Edit: previous thread: http://languish.org/forums/index.php?topic=4348.0