Ever since the Chuck Biscuits hoax back in October I've been withholding emotion whenever news of death flares up on the internet. Unfortunately, this time, it seems the rumors are true. Lord Petrus Steele (aka, Petrus T. Ratajczyk, aka, Pete Steele) was confirmed dead yesterday at age 48 evidently due to heart failure. In case the photo above didn't ring any bells, Steele was the bassist and towering 6' 7" frontman for legendary Thermonuclear Crossover act CARNIVORE. I had the supreme (cough cough) pleasure of witnessing Carnivore at The Ritz in NYC back in 1988 and Steele commanded the stage like a hulking Gulag sergeant. The throngs of skinheads in attendance clearly didn't get the memo that his lyrics were largely satirical and when the band launched into 'Race War' it seemed as though Steele's prophetic declaration was about to come true: "EVERYBODY'S GONNA DIE!!!!!" Incidentally, skinheads seem to miss a lot of memos. Like the local anti-racist thug who tried to pick a fight with me a few weeks ago while I was out shopping with my daughter. Or the Aryan Nation clown on the public bus who tried to hand me his business card. But I digress. In addition to releasing two of the funniest and most inflammatory NYHC albums of the 80's and flashing his cock in the pages of Playgirl magazine, Steele also penned the lyrics for Agnostic Front's Cause For Alarm LP (the controversial lyrics to 'Public Assistance' being echoed a few years later in 'Der Untermensch'). He later went on to enjoy a relatively successful career with TYPE O NEGATIVE, who played music your girlfriend probably dances to in the shower. When it comes to purgative revenge fantasy, ugly self-loathing and ol' fashioned hatred, very few will ever rival the blunt intensity of his malignant wit. This weekend be sure to eat the brains from your enemy's skull in memory of Pete Steele. The world is now a smaller, wimpier place.
Lord Petrus Steele
January 4, 1962 - April 14, 2010
January 4, 1962 - April 14, 2010
R.I.P.
10 comments:
This is very sad news for me. The Carnivore albums are great and I'm not ashamed to admit that I like Type O Negative as well. Especially the early stuff was brilliant - can't really picture a girl dancing in the shower to "The Origin of the Feces"...
I can picture it, Michal. And I like what I see...
By the way, the first Type O Negative album was basically material that would've been the third Carnivore LP and it RULES!
WELL SAID, Herr Dread. The missus and I met Peter Steele back in the mid-'90s at the MISFITS coffin box midnight release party at Generation Records downtown. She took a photo with him and he said she "smelled good." He also drove a car that looked like it could have rolled out of 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK. Regardless ... I dug CARNIVORE and I (for the most part) dug TYPE O, so I'm said to see Steele is gone ...
Super bummer. Nice write up though Dennis. As you know, to me the Carnivore albums are some of my absolute favorite LPs of all time, and were a big influence on Noah and I in forming our humble little band. Carnivore had it all. From the incredible music (ranging seamlessly from thrash to doom to hard rock and back again) and insanely catchy hooks you can hang your spiked gasmask from to the awesome sci-fi and post apoc stories he spun with tongue planted firmly in cheek were just pure genius. Same goes for the first two Type O albums (I love them), and while the rest of Type O's catalog can be hit or miss, they still have their moments on each LP. Glad I got a chance to see them live (Type O), and I'll definitley miss Pete's awesome, original and unique take on metal and rock music.
RIP Pete! Drink a beer for him.
Thumbs up for a typically thoughtful response. It's always refreshing to read in the midst of endless "OMFG RIP!" posts.
mr petrus basically gave us brooklyn's answer to VENOM!
always ruled live and always a stand up guy.
PREDATORRR!!!!
Many good Carnivore memories. They played Lamour in Brooklyn all the time in the '80s. They once did this bit where Pete had a rusty bucket filled with cow (pig?) organs that he'd toss into the crowd. After the show I got hit with a huge liver that slid down the sleeve of my leather jacket. Sweet!
Also, my first CB's hardcore matinee was Carnivore and Agnostic Front....
RIP Thermonuclear Warrior!
...Great blog, Dennis Dread. I first visited after your awesome mix tape that appeared on Cosmic Hearse last Halloween. Thanks!
Sorry dude, I'm not a girl and don't use to dance in the shower, but I like EVERYTHING Type O Negative released, even more than any Carnivore!
RIP Pete, see ya in hell.
Man I was BUMMED when I heard that this was true. I've always loved that picture though. Holy effing cow.
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