Peter Steele, the iconic frontman of '90s goth-metal superstars Type O Negative would have turned 60 this week. One of the most unique and instantly identifiable artists the metal world has ever seen, Steele and his Type O Negative bandmates have had an undeniable influence on the modern metal scene, and an immense impact on the lives of millions worldwide. 



One of the most beloved bands of the era,  Steele's untimely demise left legions of fans heartbroken, with only the band's impressive catalogue of tunes to confide in. On what would have been his 60th birthday, the remaining members of the band posted a tribute to the late frontman on their Twitter. 

 

We miss our friend and brother every day. Today would have been his 60th birthday and we celebrate him. While it may be true that Everything Dies we still wish it wasn’t yet with you. pic.twitter.com/8LOCIPTB5K

— Type O Negative (@typeonegative) January 4, 2022

To celebrate the legacy of Peter Steele,  at Maniacs, we have put together this list of six essential Type O Negative songs to crank to celebrate the late singer's 60th birthday. 



Love You To Death (October Rust, 1996) 

The opening track on October Rust is a hauntingly beautiful goth-metal love song. The band has jokingly referred to October Rust as Steele's 'pimp' record, and we dare say a lot of gothic-metal romance has been soundtracked by it.  You can definitely hear the influence on a particular darkly romantic, cigarette smoking, heartagram brandishing frontman.

 

Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare-All) (Bloody Kisses, 1993) 

Arguably Type O Negative's signature song, Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare-All) is everything that was great about Type O Negative and Peter Steele in one perfect, the breakthrough smash of a song. Dripping with sarcasm, this send-up of goth's more narcissistic tendencies is home to instantly memorable hooks, witty lyricism and stellar songcraft. A moody masterpiece.  

Everything Dies - (World Coming Down, 1999) 

Type O Negative's 1999 album, World Coming Down is often heralded as their darkest and most personal and Everything Dies offers the most readily accessible and quite frankly brilliant insight into the power of the record and the depths of the darkness that were driving their artistic output by this period Steele's career. This is a quintessential 'feel bad hit' of the gothic-rock genre that also happens to be a brilliant piece of musical artistry. Doomy instrumentation, whispered vocals, piano-driven verses and an explosive chorus all come together in one beautifully sombre creation. 

Christian Woman, (Bloody Kisses, 1993) 

Technically three songs in one,  Christian Woman encapsulates so much that makes Type O Negative an essential band. Deliberately provocative and blasphemous, while at the same time being straight-up gothic-metal brilliance. This song is remembered for an infamous video, which depicts a devout Christian girl, pleasuring herself in a very blasphemous manner, but it also happens to be one of the best Type O Negative songs, and one of the driving forces behind Bloody Kisses becoming the very first Roadrunner Records release to go platinum. 

I Don't Wanna Be Me (Life Is Killing Me, 2003) 

Despondancy has perhaps never sounded as appealing as it does in this fast-paced, oddly anthemic, gothic-metal anthem about not wanting to be alive anymore. The opening track off of the brilliantly titled Life Is Killing Me sits alongside Anesthesia as the absolute can't skip masterpieces on Life Is Killing Me. Steele's voice, lyricism and musicianship are on full display here, with all three combining to power hooks that are as catch as any in the band's career. 

Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity (Slow, Deep and Hard, 1991) 

The first Type O Negative song to hit the global radar, this hilariously titled track is one of the longest that the band ever penned and it does a wonderful job of showcasing all of the different sides of the bands sound that make their music so great. Across a sprawling 12-and-a-half minutes, Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity, successfully transitions between Black Sabbath inspired metal passages, The Doors dark romanticism and Motorhead's straight up rocking, while maintaining an identity all of its own. That iconic chorus of "I know I know you’re fucking someone else” is pure early Steele genius.  

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