23 Facts You May or May Not Know About Peter Steele

For the fans of Type O Negative, the name Peter Steele is well known. He was their bassist and vocalist. And when news of his death hit the media, it hit the fans hard. And even for those who don't listen to that band, it was sad to learn of his death. According to Facts.net, here are 23 facts you may or may not know about Peter Steele

1. His real name was Petrus L. Ratajczyk

-He adopted the stage name Peter Steele when he formed the band Type O Negative

2. He was not only the lead singer, but also the bassist for Type O Negative

-He sang lead and played bass for metal band Type O Negative. The band formed in 1989 and quickly gained a following because of their unique blend of goth metal, doom metal and dark lyrics

3. He was self conscious about his height

-At 6'7'', anytime the band was photographed, he made sure to stagger his height compared to the others. He insisted on sitting down or appearing in such a way that his height was not immediately obvious

4. He started out on drums

-Prior to switching to vocals and bass, Peter played drums for various local New York City bands

5. He's a classically trained musician

-With his rock and metal background, he has a strong education in classical music and can also play the piano and guitar

6. He had a dark sense of humor

-He was known for his dry wit and sarcastic humor, which often became obvious in his lyrics

7. The Beatles and Black Sabbath were his influences

-The style of music he chose was strongly influenced by bands of the 1960s and 1970s, especially The Beatles and Black Sabbath. Those bands inspired him to blend heavy metal and classic rock

8. He suffered from substance abuse

-He battled substance abuse issues most of his life and it impacted his personal and professional life

9. His lyrics were deeply personal and introspective

-The lyrics he wrote took long, hard looks into things like love, loss, depression, human conditions, which resonated with the fans incredibly well

10. He had a brief stint with thrash metal band Carnivore

-Prior to forming Type O Negative, he was briefly a member of thrash metal band Carnivore, where he played bass and provided vocals. Carnivore was a thrash metal band known for politically charged lyrics

11. He had a unique sound to his bass

-His bass lines were often heavy on melody and they became a trademark of Type O Negative songs

12. He was fascinated with occultism and vampirism

-He incorporated dark themes such as vampirism, occultism into his lyrics, along with other supernatural themes, showing his fascination with darker elements of life

13. Peter Steele appeared naked on the front of the album Bloody Kisses

-Peter Steele appeared nude on the cover of Type O Negative's Bloody Kisses album. It caused a lot of controversy, but it became one of the band's most recognized albums

14. His stage presence was unique and awe inspiring

-He had an intense stage persona that was also magnetic, thus allowing him to command attention of the audience. This made Type O Negative's concerts memorable

15. He had a devastating vocal range

-He had a deep voice that could go to any octave. This allowed him to hit every note from high to low

16. The New York Rangers were his favorite NHL team

-He was a big fan of sports and often made references to his being a fan of New York-based NHL team the New York Rangers

17. Animal lover is another term attached to him

-Peter Steele loved animals. He strongly supported animal rights

18. His career in music was long and successful

-Releasing multiple albums with Type O Negative, he left a massive impact on metal music and gothic rock genres, thus inspiring new bands

19. His lyrics really made you think

-His lyrics often explored thought-provoking topics such as human conditions, mortality, topics that really made the listener wonder

20. He was versatile in his talents

-Not only working with Type O Negative, he worked with different artists from different genres of music

21. He appeared in Beavis & Butthead Do America

-Peter Steele made a memorable guest appearance in the Beavis & Butthead movie, interacting with the titular duo

22. Charming and enigmatic are at least two words to describe him

-He had not only a charming and enigmatic personality, but his mysterious nature kept fans wanting to find out more about him, thus adding to his appeal

23. His death shocked the world

-When Peter Steele died, fans all over the world were shocked and heartbroken. He died on April 14, 2010. His death left a gaping void in the hearts of fans because they knew there would never be another one like him