Peter Steele & Type O Negative:
The Complete Band History

In 1979, Steele formed the heavy metal band Fallout, marking his entry into the music industry. Following Fallout's dissolution, he founded Carnivore in 1982, a thrash metal band where his lyrical approach became notably provocative. With Carnivore, Steele's songwriting tackled controversial subjects including religion, war, race, and misogyny. Tho

Early Life and Musical Foundations

Formation and Early Years (1989–1991)

Type O Negative was officially formed in 1989 in Brooklyn, New York City, after Carnivore disbanded. Steele assembled the band with childhood friends Josh Silver (keyboards), Kenny Hickey (guitar), and Sal Abruscato (drums). Abruscato was later replaced by Johnny Kelly in 1993, who remained the band's drummer through their final years.

The band's naming process reflected both practical constraints and creative inspiration. They initially chose "Repulsion," but were forced to change the name due to legal conflicts with an American grindcore band already using that name. They then adopted "Sub-Zero," but discovered another band held that name as well. The final name, "Type O Negative," emerged from an unexpected source: Steele heard a radio advertisement requesting donations of type O negative blood and was inspired by the concept. Notably, Steele had already designed a tattoo featuring a minus sign within the number 0, originally intended as the Sub-Zero band logo, which aligned perfectly with the new name's visual representation.

A significant advantage came when Steele's existing multi-album contract with Roadrunner Records from his Carnivore era remained intact despite that band's breakup. When Roadrunner received a Type O Negative demo, the label chose to retain Steele rather than drop him, and the band officially signed to Roadrunner in 1991.

Commercial Breakthrough (1993–1998)

Type O Negative's third album, Bloody Kisses, released in 1993, became a watershed moment for both the band and Roadrunner Records. The album achieved critical and listener acclaim, becoming the first Roadrunner release to reach certified gold status in the United States. The album's thematic focus centered on romance, love, sex, and death.

The sudden commercial success created significant pressure on the band. Peter Steele initially expressed reluctance about touring nationally, a hesitation that reflected the band's adjustment to newfound prominence.

In 1996, Type O Negative released October Rust, continuing their exploration of gothic metal with sophisticated production and atmospheric arrangements.

Later Career and Final Years (2004–2010)

In June 2004, Type O Negative signed to the Steamhammer imprint of SPV Records, marking a shift from their longtime Roadrunner relationship. Their sole album for this label, Dead Again, released in 2007, debuted at No. 27 on the United States charts—the band's highest chart debut to date.

During this period, Steele's personal struggles became increasingly public. After releasing the 2003 album Life is Killing Me, Steele largely withdrew from public view for several years. He entered rehabilitation for substance abuse issues and served jail time for drug-related charges. In a darkly humorous move characteristic of the band's self-deprecating humor, Steele faked his own death on the band's website as a joke about his extended absence—a prank that would take on tragic irony when his actual death occurred.

The band was known for their sardonic approach to their own image. Their greatest hits compilation was titled The Least Worst of Type O Negative, and they recorded a fake live album where the audience booed them after every song and a bomb threat abruptly halted the concert. Steele himself told an interviewer, "I think all recent music sucks, and that includes Type O Negative."

Death and Legacy

On April 14, 2010, Peter Steele died at age 48. Initial reports attributed his death to heart failure, but the cause was later clarified as sepsis caused by diverticulitis. The band released an official statement on their website on April 15, 2010.

Type O Negative disbanded following Steele's death, with the final lineup consisting of Steele (bass, lead vocals, keyboards, guitars), Kenny Hickey (guitars, backing and co-lead vocals), Josh Silver (keyboards, piano, effects, synthesizers, programming, sampler, backing vocals), and Johnny Kelly (drums, percussion, backing vocals).

Notably, Steele's previous band Carnivore had reunited with a new lineup and performed at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006, demonstrating the enduring influence of his early work.