Type O Negative

“Am I Good Enough … For You?”
Type O Negative: 1989- 2010
“BUZZ: Newspaper Article” Nov- Dec 2012 (#20-T)

>How, Where & Why < In Jan 1997 I was working for a company I now only refer to as the 'Enemy' I was contacted by the record label Roadrunner and asked to check out this band 'Type O Negative' on 4 Feb 1997 in Des Moines, Iowa @ Toad Hollar, unfortunately I missed it because I worked at 6am at the time. 'Drain STH' was the opener. Then awhile later, I was offered the chance to meet Ozzy Osbourne, (1 of my childhood heroes) at 'OzzFest '97". *22 Jun 1997 in MPLS,MN. @ HHH Metrodome This was the actual 1st time I was able to see the band along with Coal Chamber, Fear Factory, Drain STH, (we actually had brunch with the a fore mentioned bands), as well as Marilyn Manson & Black Sabbath. I remember Kenny Hickey was quite taken with Martina Axen of 'Drain' (as was I). I was captivated by Type O Negative. The music was awesome it moved me, the 1st time a band had moved me like this since I 1st heard 'Black Sabbath' in 1972. I was so impressed I went out & bought "October Rust" when my girlfriend of the time came home from work I was so excited I said "Listen to this" I played "Love You To Death" for her and asked "Isn't this great what do you think?" she responded "That's great, I love music that when it's over I wanna go kill myself" I replied "Yea, I know, right?" So like always, with anything I like or find interesting, I delved into it & did my research: >Know What You’re Talking About < Type O Negative evolved from the bands 'Subzero' in 1988 & before that 'Carnivore' from 1982- 1987 who released 2 LPs one in 1985 & in 1987, & before that 'Fallout' in 1979- 1982 who released 1 single "Batteries Not Included" (I actually held 1 in my hand in 2000) & even before that 'Northern Lights' from 1976- 1979 when Peter Steele (Peter Thomas Ratajczyk: 4 Jan 1962 Red Hook Brooklyn, NY – April 14, 2010) on Lead Vocals & Bass and Josh Silver (16 Nov 1962: NYC) on Keyboards & Production. Steele brought in his long time friend from the neighborhood Sal Abruscato (Salvatore: 18 July 1970, Brooklyn, NYC) for Drums & then Silver brought in his childhood buddy Kenny Hickey (Kenneth Shaun Hickey: 22 May 1966 NYC) on Guitar & Vocals at 1st under the moniker "Repulsion" then changing the name to "Subzero" the entire band even went so far as to get tattoos of a "0" with a "-" in the center. Unfortunately there was already a band with the name "Subzero" so Steele decided to go with "Type O' Negative" in keeping with the tattoos. >Ground Xero < The band signed with "RoadRacer" records in 1990 and released their 1st CD "Slow, Deep & Hard" on 16 Jun 1991, this CD is more of a "Concept" album about a relationship Steele was in. It's hard to separate the tracks, but if I had to "Xero: Tolerance" "Glass Walls of Limbo" & "Prelude to Agony" would be the stand out selections for me. Originally this was one was to be titled "None More Negative" On 12 May 1992 the band releases its 2nd CD "The Origin of the Feces" for some reason, I cannot figure out, the band decided to make this CD a "Live Album" however it was created "Live" in the studio? The 1st cover was changed about 2 years after initial release as it was a nude picture of Steele's rear-end? This CD contains 2 reworked songs for the previous CD and 2 covers: "Hey Joe/Pete" & "Paranoid/ Iron Man" I find this one the weakest of their canon, so the stand out tracks would be; "Hey Pete" & "I Know You're F****** Someone Else". >Set Me On Fire < Here's where the band really take off! "Bloody Kisses" is released on 17 Aug 1993, this CD has the distinction of being re-released & altered 3 times!!! The original has a cover with 2 women embraced in a kiss, and the tracks "Kill All The White People" & We Hate Everyone" as well as 4 incidental pieces which were all later removed from the 2nd release in 1994. The 2nd version's cover is the same 2 women from the 1st version, only in this photo they are hugging. The song Suspended At Dusk" is also in place of the 6 tracks pulled from the 1st version. The 2009 version has a 2nd disk that contains 8 bonus tracks. This is the last release with Abruscato on Drums as he went on to join "Life Of Agony" the band's drum tech Johnny Kelly (9 Mar 1968: NYC) replaced Abruscato in 1994. Although the drum tracks for the next 3 CDs would be programed & would not use Kelly as a drummer. This is a great CD so this is hard but the stand out tracks for me are: "Blood And Fire" "Set Me On Fire" & "Christian Woman" The 1995 soundtrack "Mortal Kombat" contains a 1995 remix of "Blood And Fire" a far better version than the original. >The Green Man < Unbelievably the band top themselves with the next release "October Rust" put out on 20 Aug 1996 this is unquestionably their best work. This CD was not re-released or altered, perhaps a testimony to how great it is. Although "Love You To Death" was edited for a single release, "Cinnamon Girl" was remixed to a techno version for the "Duke Nukem" soundtrack, & "In Praise Of Bacchus" was also remixed for a single, & "Haunted" was featured on the "Blair Witch" soundtrack. This one is so great I cannot pick my favorites as the whole thing is my favorite. As of the late 80s VHS/ DVD started to count as part of most band's 'record deal' Type O Negative released the 1st of 2 long form videos "After Dark" on 24 Mar 1998 (VHS) & in 2000 for DVD I am uncertain as to why, but the band has been taking 3 years between releases, on 21 Sep 1999 "World Coming Down" is released, again another outstanding CD almost tied with its predecessor, this CD was another, Not to be re-released or altered. Although "Everyone I Love Is Dead" & "Everything Dies" were edited for single releases. Originally this was to be titled 'Prophets Of Doom and Aggroculture' >Frozen, Too Late < I was transferred to St. Paul in Nov 1999. Then one day on our way to the 'Winter Carnival' I saw Type O Negative was headlining (The Deadlights was the opener) So now I was ready to see my new heroes in Action, here's the setlist (the best I can remember anyway) *22 Feb 2000 in St. Paul, MN. @ Roy Wilkens Auditorium "In the Flesh" (Pink Floyd) Kill All the White People "Cornucopia" (Black Sabbath) Everyone I Love Is Dead My Girlfriend's Girlfriend Prelude to Agony Christian Woman Love You to Death World Coming Down Too Late: Frozen "No Quarter" (Led Zeppelin) Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All) Great show, great performance, they had a snow machine during "Too Late: Frozen" at the end of the concert Peter Steele said "I'd like to thank each and everyone of you, because if it weren't for you ... I'd have killed myself along time ago ..." On 31 Oct 2000 the band release "Least Of The Worst" a "Best Of" of sorts, this CD contains 3 songs not any other release "It's Never Enough" "12 Black Rainbows" & "Stay Out Of My Dreams" all 3 are leftovers from "World Is Coming Down" as well as edit or remix versions for the other tracks on this CD. This very same month Steele was featured on the track "Just Say No To Love" from Tony Iommi's solo CD "Iommi" *11 Nov 2001 in MPLS, MN. @ Quest Me to Peter Steele "How was it to record with Tony Iommi" Steele "Like I was 16 again, it was awesome, it was the same with Ozzy" Me to Steele "Interesting Bass you use now?" Steele: "I call it a 'Fender- Bacher' but Fernandes, doesn't like me to do that ... who wants an apple?" >Angry Itch < The band release their 6th CD "Life Is Killing Me" is released on 17 Jun 2003, originally titled "The Dream Is Dead" but changed before release. This time 4 years after the last one, this is once again another great CD. So once again it's hard to pick, but the stand out tracks for me are: "Less than Zero" "IYDKMIGTHTKY" & "Todd's Ship Gods" although the CD is great. *10 Aug 2003 in MPLS @ Quest Me to Kenny Hickey "What guitars do you use at home off the road" Hickey "I just bought a 1985 Gibson Les Paul Custom a "Black Beauty" Me to Hickey "Your Fernandes has a duel color tone, black to green when the light hits it" Hickey: "I designed that myself !" *24 Nov 2003 in MPLS @ Quest Me to Josh Silver (notorious for not wanting to do interviews) "How come you guys never play 'Haunted' live?" Silver "Cause it's 10 minutes long, dude" Silver to a female fan "Fallout single, where'd you get that?" Fan: "Internet" *29 Oct 2004 MPLS, MN. @ Quest Me to Johnny Kelly "Who's you main influence as a drummer" Kelly "Bonham, I'd love to get a 26" kick drum in 'Green Sparkle' to shake the roof & make my fillings rattle" Me to Kelly "Who's idea was it to wear the 'Prison Orange Suits'” Kelly: "Peter's ... because he was just in for a stint, and thought it would be funny" and laughs On 14 Mar 2006 the 2nd long form video was released by the band "Symphony For The Devil" filmed on Sun 22 Aug 1999, in Cologne, Germany at the Bizarre Festival. This DVD also came with a CD of a 'Santana' Medley of 3 songs. The band's label "RoadRunner" (Peter Steele holds the record as the artist signed to this label for the longest period of time) released "Best Of Type O Negative" on 12 Sep 2006 reportedly without the band's knowledge, containing the 'Deep Purple' song "Highway Star". It was also about this time Steele ran into a health issue, of which that issue and the band leaving the 'RoadRunnner' label lead to rumors that Steele had died. >And In The End < The final CD "Dead Again" came out on 13 Mar 2007 at this time the band was signed to SPV- Steamhammer. This release was a real departure for the band, probably because Steele the main song writer had found God and re-embraced his Catholic upbringing, in addition too, this is the 1st CD to have Drummer Kelly actually play drums on the recordings, as well as Guitarist Hickey sang co-lead vocals with Steele. This CD like some of their others, I feel are intended to be listened to as a whole. So the stands out tracks, here for me are: "Profits of Doom" "She Burned Me Down" & "September Sun". There is an 'Exclusive Edition' with a 5 Live song CD & a 'Special Bonus Edition' with a 6 track DVD. *10 Apr 2007 in MPLS @ 1st Ave. I missed this show as I was stuck in Phoenix for a family thing, I wish I had seen this one, simply because my memories of the next & last time I saw the band (Described below). *16 Jun 2008 Maplewood, MN. @ Myth Peter Steele walked out on stage using a cane because of a limp & had a music stand with sheet music & lyrics to the songs they played that night, as I recall he wore glasses for some of the songs, he seemed to be in poor health, and very thin. Peter Steele died of heart failure (presumably Cocaine Induced) on 14 April 2010, effectively ending Type O Negative. "It is better to be hated for who you are, rather than loved for what you are not … So I am I good enough for you ... I guess not" MrZERo