Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Metal Scene Loses A Gigant: Peter Steele Dead At 48

On April 14, 2010, Peter Steel (real name Petrus T. Ratajczyk) died due to heart failure. He will be most remembered as the front man of the Gothic Metal legends Type O Negative. However, before that, he fronted a successful thrash Metal band in the early eighties called Carnivore.


The first time I ever heard Type-O was live at the Warehouse during their October Rust tour. I did not know what to expect. All I knew is that they were a Metal band with a lead singer who has a voice deeper then the Crash Test Dummies. That was also the night I got introduced to Life of Agony, since they were the opening act. When Type-O hit the stage, I was confused. I could not understand why they are playing so slow. I never heard that kind of music, and what didn't help was Steel's dry sense of humor. He kept apologizing, saying that "he has a soar throat". To be honest, I came that night to see a Metal show, instead, I didn't know what I was witnessing.


Despite having mixed feelings about the evening, the next day I went and picked up a copy of October Rust and Life of Agony's Ugly. A few months later, someone left a copy of Bloody Kisses in my car. Ever since that year (I believe it might have been 1997) their music has played a significant part in my life.


Peter Steel provided every Metal head a CD that they can put on in order to create a romantic mood. Lets face it, I'm sure that every Metal head would love the idea of scoring wile blasting Slayer, but girls just aren't into that. However, pop-in any album from Bloody Kisses to Dead Again, and you have the perfect music for getting-it-on.


On the other side of the spectrum, while single, many times I took comfort in Typo-O's music. It was confronting to know that there is someone out there, who is infinitely better looking that me, having the same wows in the romance department.


I still never got a copy of Life is Killing Me, and I just recently discovered Carnivore, so I still have a lot of music to discover. Yet, it's just awful that we will never hear any new material. Peter Steel had a truly distinct style that contributed greatly to the development of the Metal genre. He will be greatly missed.


Peter Steel
January 4, 1962 – April 14, 2010
R.I.P

1 comment:

  1. Hey Nick, I remember that show! I think I dragged you guys out to see Type O because I had just gotten into the band a few months before. That might even have been my cd I left in your car - glad to know it got a good home and a lot of plays.

    It was a killer show, I think their music is the kind of thing that just grows on you - the ultimate sign of a truly creative and worthwhile metal band. Sucks to hear that Steele is dead, I had no idea.

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