47 Facts About Peter Steele

Peter Thomas Ratajczyk, known professionally as Peter Steele, was an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and composer of the gothic metal band Type O Negative.

Peter Steele has been listed among the "66 Best Hard Rock and Metal Frontmen of All Time" by Loudwire.

Peter Steele's father was of Polish descent and his mother of Scottish-Irish ancestry.

Peter Steele was raised in the Bensonhurst and Brighton Beach neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

Peter Steele was the youngest of six children, with five older sisters.

Peter Steele's father fought in World War II and later worked at a shipyard.

Peter Steele started taking guitar lessons at age 12, before moving on to bass six months later.

Peter Steele worked for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation until he began touring with Type O Negative in the summer of 1994.

Peter Steele was based at Brooklyn Heights Promenade, where his job involved park maintenance, driving vehicles including garbage trucks and steamrollers, and eventual promotion to the role of park supervisor.

Peter Steele considered his days working for the parks department to be among his happiest.

In 1982, after the split of Fallout, Peter Steele formed the thrash metal band Carnivore.

In 1986, Peter Steele wrote lyrics for several songs on hardcore punk band Agnostic Front's second album Cause for Alarm.

Peter Steele formed the band in 1989 along with his childhood friends Josh Silver, Kenny Hickey and Sal Abruscato.

Peter Steele had a tattoo in mind of a minus sign contained within the number 0 that he originally intended to represent the Subzero band logo.

When Type O Negative signed with Roadrunner Records, Peter Steele signed his recording contract with a mixture of Suave hair conditioner and chocolate syrup mixed with food dye, contrary to popular belief that it was his own blood and semen.

Peter Steele caused some controversy when touring in Europe to support Slow, Deep and Hard, thanks to rumors about his social and political views, with some critics going so far as to brand him a Nazi sympathizer, even though his bandmate, Josh Silver, is Jewish.

Peter Steele suggested that the European press had misunderstood his humor, and that his sarcasm was sometimes lost in translation to print.

The song "Black No 1 " pays tribute to gothic subculture and is a satirical ode to a goth girl Peter Steele had once dated.

Peter Steele attacked his detractors with the songs "We Hate Everyone" and "Kill All the White People", which dealt directly with the band's rumored racist ideology and served to erode any such accusations.

Peter Steele based the design on a Nordic cross flag that incorporates his favorite colors.

The song "Green Man" had two meanings for Peter Steele; it is written about the Celtic embodiment of nature, and Peter Steele's time with the parks department, when young children called him the "Green Man" due to the green uniform he wore on the job.

Peter Steele had been dealing with personal problems during the recording and mixing of 1999's stripped-down and heavier sounding World Coming Down.

Peter Steele noted the emotional strain caused by executing songs from World Coming Down in a live setting.

In 2000, Peter Steele made a guest appearance on the song "Just Say No To Love" from Iommi, the first solo album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

In 2001, Peter Steele made a guest appearance on the song "Cross the Line" from the Biohazard album Uncivilization.

Peter Steele wrote the song " Electrocute" about a "stunning" ex-girlfriend, and how they would attract the interest of passers-by when out together as a couple.

Peter Steele had never been happy with the conditions of the recording contract and had described it as "a millstone around my neck".

Peter Steele alleged that Type O Negative's split from Roadrunner Records, aside from a poor offer, had to do with an unauthorized release of a best-of compilation.

Peter Steele remained on friendly terms with the staff at Roadrunner Records and in October 2005 he appeared on the Roadrunner United album to help celebrate the label's 25th anniversary.

In 2006, Peter Steele reactivated Carnivore with a new lineup that included longtime Type O Negative collaborator Paul Bento.

Peter Steele made his final recording on the 2007 Type O Negative album Dead Again.

Peter Steele revealed on MTV's Headbangers Ball that the new alliance with SPV Records was probably his favorite thing about Dead Again from a production standpoint.

Peter Steele considered Dead Again to be less melancholic and more positive compared to the band's previous albums.

Peter Steele appeared as a nude centerfold of Playgirl in 1995.

Peter Steele went on to appear as a guest on the talk shows Ricki Lake, The Jerry Springer Show, and The Howard Stern Show.

In 2003, Peter Steele had an acting role in the episode "Exeunt Omnes" of the series Oz.

Peter Steele followed this with a role in the 2005 film Bad Acid.

Peter Steele is among the musicians featured in the 2011 documentary Living the American Nightmare.

Outside of music, Peter Steele spent time lifting weights both at home and on his tour bus.

Peter Steele enjoyed reading books on the subject of science and he had an interest in European culture.

Peter Steele liked working on his house and was interested in architecture and civil engineering.

Peter Steele worked on his cars, including a heavily modified 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix he customized himself.

Peter Steele had a love for cats and kept several as pets.

Peter Steele later confirmed he had been suffering from paranoia caused by his heavy substance abuse.

Peter Steele had been using cocaine since the age of 35, a decision for which he expressed great regret.

Peter Steele stated in a 2003 interview that he had bipolar disorder, and linked his mood swings to the types of songs he wrote.

Peter Steele died of sepsis caused by diverticulitis on April 14,2010, at the age of 48.