TYPE O NEGATIVE manager
Mike Renault has confirmed to
CBS News that the band's frontman,
Peter Steele, has died.
In an email,
Renault said, "
Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That's all the details we have right now."
According to unconfirmed reports,
Steele had been ill for days leading up to his death.
TYPE O NEGATIVE's
web site left a message to their fans this morning around 5:15 a.m. It
read, "The forums have been re-opened. Please play nice and expect
statements from the band and family later today. Thank you for your
understanding and support."
Steele was born
Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall,
and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable
features in
TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.
Before forming
TYPE O NEGATIVE,
Steele played for the metal group
FALLOUT and the thrash band
CARNIVORE.