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How Did Peter Steele Die? The Full
Timeline of April 14, 2010
Steele fronted Type O Negative (formed 1989 from his prior thrash band Carnivore), pioneering gothic/doom metal with deep baritone vocals, 6'7" stature, and ironic lyrics on love, death, and addiction. Key albums include Bloody Kisses (1993, platinum), October Rust (1996), World Coming Down (1999), Life Is Killing Me (2003), and Dead Again (2007)—t
Peter Steele, born Peter Thomas Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962, died on April 14, 2010, at age 48 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from sepsis caused by untreated diverticulitis; initial reports cited heart failure or aortic aneurysm, but the Estate of Peter T. Ratajczyk corrected this in 2018.
Full Timeline of Events Leading to April 14, 2010
- Fall 2009: Steele quits alcohol and drugs to turn his life around, marking a personal recovery after years of substance abuse, rehab, jail time for drug charges, and a 2005 suicide attempt hoax via the band's website (posting a fake tombstone with dates 1962–2005 to promote a signing with SPV Records).
- Early 2010: Band prepares for a new Type O Negative album, planning recording in a Staten Island studio starting early May; other members (Kenny Hickey, Josh Silver, Johnny Kelly) set up equipment while Steele was in Scranton.
- April 12, 2010: Steele falls ill with flu-like symptoms at his Scranton home; condition worsens over the next two days, leading to untreated diverticulitis progressing to sepsis.
- April 14, 2010 (morning/afternoon): Steele dies suddenly at home. Bandmates, unaware, try calling him about rehearsals but get no response.
- April 14, 2010 (later): Johnny Kelly receives voicemail from Steele's sister, then confirms: “I called her up and said, ‘What’s up?’ and she was like, ‘We lost Peter.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ and she said, ‘He’s gone.’ At the time, they didn’t know the cause of death.”
- Immediate aftermath (April 2010): Initial hospital/autopsy reports cite heart failure or aortic aneurysm; early media echoes this (e.g., Syracuse obituary, Loudwire).
- July 2010: Remaining members state the band may not continue without Steele.
- November 2010: Type O Negative officially dissolves; drummer *Johnny Kelly* states, "Even if there is somebody who could take his place it wouldn't matter. We don't have any interest in continuing. It's impossible – it hasn't even come up in any kind of discussion. When Peter died, Type O Negative died with him."
- November 7, 2018: Kathy O'Connor of the Estate corrects cause to sepsis from diverticulitis, noting it went untreated despite the aortic aneurysm confirmation.
Verified Cause of Death and Medical Details
Historical Context
Interesting Lesser-Known Facts
- Steele was rehearsing with Hickey and Kelly's side project Seventh Void (doom metal) when the call came, underscoring how suddenly he was lost mid-comeback.
- He lived reclusively in Scranton post-rehab, embracing Roman Catholicism (noted in fan recollections after Life Is Killing Me).
- False death rumors plagued him: the 2005 website stunt fueled skepticism when real news broke on April 14, 2010.
Common Misconceptions Corrected
No direct quotes from Steele on his death exist, as it was sudden; bandmate quotes above are the closest primary accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
On what date did Peter Steele die?
April 14, 2010. He died at his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, three months and ten days after his 48th birthday.
Where did Peter Steele die?
At his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he had been living to be close to his girlfriend. He had left Brooklyn after stopping drinking and using drugs in fall 2009.
How did Peter Steele's bandmates find out?
Drummer Johnny Kelly received a voicemail from Steele's sister and called her back. He recalled: "I called her up and said, 'What's up?' and she was like, 'We lost Peter.' I said, 'What do you mean?' and she said, 'He's gone.'" The band was preparing to record a new album the following month.
Was Peter Steele's death sudden?
Effectively yes — he became ill on April 12, 2010 with what seemed like flu, refused hospital treatment, and died on April 14. The diverticulitis-to-sepsis progression killed him in roughly 48 hours.
Did Peter Steele have a 2005 fake death hoax?
Yes. In 2005 the band posted a fake tombstone with the dates 1962–2005 on their website as a promotional stunt for their SPV Records signing. The hoax briefly caused real confusion among fans on April 14, 2010, when his actual death was first reported.
