My heart is so very low...
For a couple of days I've been trying to put together some words on the recent death of Peter Steele.
So far I haven't mustered anything near what I feel. I'm mostly shocked at the news, saddened that his life was too short and hopeful that it was natural causes*.
I first listened to the band a little while after their October Rust album was released. I had just bought the Bloody Kisses album (on the merit of the cover alone) and then headed off to a pub on Hastings seafront. I saw on the jukebox the track Love You To Death and, seeing that I'd just purchased one of their albums, thought I'd listen to this track to see what I'd bought.
It was all-consuming. The rolling bass, the heavy keyboards. And that voice. I had never heard anything like it before and I've never heard anything like it since. Not to mention that it physically did something to me. I remember having to stop the car one night when their new single was played on the radio as my legs turned to jelly and I physically became unable to drive.
A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to interview him about the release of their album Dead Again. I knew he was slippery in interviews and this was no exception. But I'm glad I had the opportunity.
Peter, I'm gutted that I'll never hear another new song in that voice of yours but I hope you find the peace that eluded you in this life.
*At the time of writing, the autopsy reports have not been released.