Peter Steele

So I went to work today as usual and when we hit a slight lull I was perusing some news, including a dose of the metal world on Blabbermouth.net and saw a headline about Peter Steele that caught me off guard: TYPE O NEGATIVE's Label: The World Has Lost A Charismatic Frontman And A Very Talented Person

Lost?

I clicked and read and sure enough lost was right. Peter Steele was dead.

I can't say I was ever a huge Type O fan, but I certainly liked some of their stuff. They also crossed paths with my life.

First, when I had just met her, my ex-wife was really into Type O Negative. She had a shirt that she had received for her birthday right around the same time as I met her. I'll always remember its black and green. Type O Negative wasn't what I would consider her usual musical taste but she liked them. Liked Peter Steele.

So Type O Negative or not, we started hanging out and about six months later we wound up venturing down from Poughkeepsie to NYC to see Type O Negative at Roseland. It was around Halloween time and if memory serves me correctly Electric Hellfire Club opened and there was a brief, surprise appearance by the Misfits. Type O Negative blew up some pumpkins on stage and there was a toilet paper roll fight at one point as well. It was pretty fun.

Before that show, while sightseeing* I stopped at every record label I could find and dropped off resumes. There was a lot of walking but one label actually mentioned needing an intern. Unpaid, but good experience and travel expenses were paid for. That label was Roadrunner Records -- coincidentally (or not) Type O Negative's label.

So I quit my deli gig, moved from Latham to Poughkeepsie and started riding Metro North down to my internship at Roadrunner three days a week helping out in their publicity department. While there I met Peter briefly when he came in. He was one of the few musicians I met during that time that seemed like he was in a different league. Not "just a regular guy" as most were. He was certainly down to earth, nice (especially considering I was an intern) and clearly funny (naming an album The Origin of the Feces is nothing but funny), but he had that deep voice and was physically daunting. Really daunting. He was a presence whether on stage, sitting in a cubicle at an office or hanging out on the Frying Pan at a holiday party. He also was in Playgirl around that time so I saw a lot more Peter Steele than I ever really needed to.

Only 48 years old. Pretty sad. A sad event that hit home more than I would have anticipated.


A statement from Roadrunner and some videos too (including Halloween classic, Black #1 -- way better than Twilight or Vampire Diaries if you ask me):  http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=138554


*why is it not siteseeing?

Another Lame Recap Post

I know I've said it a million times already, but I really need to start blogging more.  I have been doing things and then when I finally get around to writing (like now) it seems so long ago that I say "screw it" and don't bother with the details.

Notable occurrences (just for the record):

Went to see Jimmie's Chicken Shack and it was canceled.  The venue wasn't even open.  I still don't know if it was the band or the venue.  Either way, it was pretty annoying.  A total lack of communication other than a sign on the door. Then, with the following day off from work and already out I proceeded to go to a new wine/martini bar that opened near my house and got ripshit drunk.  Partially because of me, but also due to the bartender throwing some free drinks/shots my way.  Jesus, what a hangover.

More exciting than my drinking and my hangover, but also involving both of those things, I went to NYC.  It was my first legitimate visit in quite awhile.  I think only my third visit since I left (and one of those was for legal matters, so not really fun).  It made me miss the old place, but I was also reminded that it's a island of insanity that I don't necessarily need. I was very back and forth on my feelings towards the big city the whole time I was there. That whole love/hate shit I have for pretty much everything.  Highlights include: inquiring at one parking lot for pricing and finding out it was $54 a day (and not parking there), The Spotted Pig, a party at my friend Todd's, bagels (good ones), little sleep, drinks everywhere (until 4am), Holiday Cocktail Lounge, sharing a couch with a big dog at some clothing store in SoHo while other shopped, Tribeca Tavern, Peruvian food, pickles, doughnuts, bialys, the NYC half marathon and the good ol' Twilight Diner in Pennsylvania.

Upon my return I had a dentist appointment.  That went well.  No cavities.  Oh, and a free toothbrush and whatnot.  That's always good.

I also watched laser eye surgery.  I started getting sweaty and sick feeling though so I stopped.  Too much touching of the eye for my brain's liking I guess.

And that's all I've got at this point.

Dogs With Attitude

Apparently these dogs in Tennessee have been listening to some N.W.A. as they are all about F**k Tha Police. 






Or at least F**king Tha Police car's bumper.

Words of Wisdom

The back page of Men's Journal is called "Survival Skills" which consists of about a dozen questions with some celebrity about life-assisting skills and advice and whatever.  In March's issue the person is Anthony Hopkins.  I read this over a month ago but I love his answer to the final question and keep thinking about it.  And hope I always do. And hope I put it to use.

Q: What advice would you give the younger you?
A: Lighten the fuck up.

I've Got Title-Writer's Block

I went to see Hamell On Trial tonight at Beachland Ballroom here in the Cleve. Good stuff as always.

Although I have to say it brings up a lot of NYC memories. The brain really gets a chance to get a bit bonkers when sitting there at the bar by myself listening to songs I knew years ago. Hamell was always a sure thing for an entertaining night out of the apartment and I went to see him a bunch when I was in NYC -- alone, with my wife, with friends. Anyway, I've moved and I still get a taste which is nice. Maybe not as frequently, but perhaps that makes it all the sweeter.

I also find my thinking a bit funny that on my way to the show I found me saying to myself, "What a pain in my ass to have to drive to see a show. It was so much easier in NYC when I'd just walk or subway to a show and then whip back home." Well on the way back from the show I actually took note of the clock in my car and it took me 12 minutes to get from the venue to my driveway. 12 minutes! That shit couldn't happen in NYC no matter how I opted to travel.

So all in all it was a good night.  I just wish I didn't have so much past in my head. I feel old.  And a little crazy.

Brite and Snowy

Heading to the Brite Winter Festival in a little while. Conveniently Mother Nature is being wintery as fuck right now. 31 degrees and snowing like crazy. This should be fun. A little defience of winter is always good. Especially in Cleveland where the trend is to hibernate until May.

TechnoSkate

I don't really skate enough to warrant anything like this, but these skates seem pretty damn cool: MLX Skates.

At least according to this release and the company web site (it must be true then!) the skates are better fitting, technologically advanced, modifiable and sleek looking.  With parts that can be replaced and people behind the product that give a crap.  Sounds worth a try for those who need it.

My skating a few times a year probably doesn't qualify me.  Damnit!