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Pete Steele, singer from Type O Negative, deadat 48.


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2010 1:11 PM EDT

Peter Steele, Type O Negative Singer, Dead At 48

Singer reportedly died of heart failure, according to manager.

By Gil Kaufman

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Peter Steele of heavy metal band Type O Negative has died of heart failure at age 48. Steele (born Petrus Ratajczyk), the burly 6'7" bassist and lead vocalist of the Brooklyn goth-metal band, formed Type O in the early '90s after stints in several other groups, including the hardcore act Carnivore.

A spokesperson for Type O bandmates Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly confirmed the sad news to MTV News. And according to CBS News, band manager Mike Renault sent an e-mail saying, "Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That's all the details we have right now."

The band's most recent label, SPV/Steamhammer Records, reportedly issued an online statement about Steele's passing. "It's with great sadness that we give our condolences to the family and friends of Peter Steele," it read. "He died on April 14th, 2010. With his bands Carnivore and Type O Negative he achieved cult status and was loved by fans around the world. ... The world has lost a charismatic frontman and a very talented person. Our condolences go to Peter's family, friends and the members of his bands."

Fuse metal hostess Mistress Juliya (Juliya Chernetsky) tweeted about the news on Wednesday. "Today is a very sad day in metal ... end of an era ... Peter Steele passed today," she wrote. "I loved my friend ... our idol ... my heart is with his band and family."

Blabbermouth.com, a site run by the band's former label , Roadrunner Records, also reported that Type O keyboardist Josh Silver had confirmed that Steele died on Wednesday.

A rumor circulated that Steele had died in 2005, but that turned out to be a publicity stunt to promote their new record, making it difficult to assess the validity of this latest report. The earlier rumor sprung from an image of a tombstone with his name and the dates 1962-2005 that was briefly posted on the band's Web site but then removed. Steele reportedly suffered from clinical depression, reflected in the band's doom-laden lyrics, dark image and an often morbid sense of humor.

Type O released seven studio albums, with their most recent being 2007's Dead Again.

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281x211.jpg Type O Negative's Peter Steele

Photo: Paul Bergen/ Redferns

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This is sad as Type O Negative was my first concert ever. Saw them in the 6th grade when they opened up for Pantera on the Far Beyond Driven Tour. He had a serious Physical precense on stage as he was a 6'7 monster. Can't say i'm suprised by the news though.

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A rumor circulated that Steele had died in 2005, but that turned out to be a publicity stunt to promote their new record, making it difficult to assess the validity of this latest report. The earlier rumor sprung from an image of a tombstone with his name and the dates 1962-2005 that was briefly posted on the band's Web site but then removed.

That's what I first thought of when I heard this news. Saw Type O in the mid 90's, brilliant show. I remember reading somewhere he was a Jets fan too. RIP.

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Kenny Hickey, as noted a guitarist in TON, used to live a few doors down. His mom and brother still do. One of the guys who wrote a bunch of songs with them early in their careers was a family friend(he since died of lap band surgery infection, but I digress). Remarkably for his size and his baritone voice he was known to be a very gentle guy who was a "mama's boy" in the best sense of the word.

It wasn't any great secret Pete Steele had serious long-term drug problems. Hopefully he finds some measure of peace, because he didn't here. Rest in peace.

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