Springer is the name of several places in the United States:

• Springer, New Mexico
• Springer, Oklahoma
• Springer Mountain, southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail

Springer may also refer to:

• In cattle, a cow or heifer near to calving
• Springer (surname) for a list of people
• Springer Science+Business Media, a worldwide publishing group based in Germany, including the company formerly known as Springer-Verlag
• Springer Publishing, an American publisher
• Axel Springer AG, important conservative German publishing house
• Springer Opera House, Columbus, Georgia
• Springer (EP), a 2003 record by the Danish music band Efterklang
• Springer (Transformers), a Transformers character
• Springer (tank), a small demolition vehicle of the German Wehrmacht in WW2
• Springer (architecture), the first voussoir of an arch
• Springer fork, a type of motorcycle fork
• Springer, an interstellar teleporter featured in A Million Open Doors, a science fiction novel by John Barnes
• English Springer Spaniel, a breed of dog
• Welsh Springer Spaniel, a breed of dog
• Springer (orca), a wild orca (killer whale) also known as A73
• The Jerry Springer Show
• The British Army's name for the Tomcar
• A Piece Playground equipment supported by large vertically mounted springs designed with one or more seats for children to sit on

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Jerry Springer
Springer in 2011 at the book launch party for Michael Musto's Fork on the Left, Knife in the Back
56th Mayor of Cincinnati
In office 1977–1978
Preceded by	Jim Luken
Succeeded by	Bobbie L. Sterne
Personal details
Born	Gerald Norman Springer (1944-02-13)February 13, 1944 (age 68) Highgate, London, England
Nationality	American[1]
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Micki Velton (1973–present)
Alma mater	Tulane University (B.A.) Northwestern University (J.D.)
Occupation	Former politician, talk show host
Website	jerryspringertv.com

Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer (born February 13, 1944) is an American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991. He is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio,^[2] news anchor, and musician.

Early life[link]

Springer was born in Highgate tube station in London, England, while the station was in use as a shelter from German bombing during World War II^[3] and grew up on Chandos Road, East Finchley. His parents, Margot (née Kallmann; a bank clerk) and Richard Springer (owner of a shoe shop^[4]), were Jewish refugees who escaped from Landsberg an der Warthe, Germany (now Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland).^[5][6][7] His maternal grandmother Marie Kallmann, who was left behind, died in the gas trucks of Chelmno extermination camp. His paternal grandmother, Selma Springer, died at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. In January 1949, Springer immigrated with his parents to the United States, settling in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York and attended Forest Hills High School. He and his sister Evelyn were raised in a small four-room apartment. One of his earliest memories about current events was when he was 12 and watching the 1956 Democratic convention on television where he saw and was impressed by John F. Kennedy.^[8] He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1965, majoring in political science.^[9] He earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Northwestern University in 1968.^[6][10]

Springer became a political campaign adviser to Robert F. Kennedy.^[10] After Kennedy's assassination, he joined the Cincinnati law firm of Frost & Jacobs, now Frost Brown Todd.

Political career[link]

In 1970, Springer ran for Congress. He failed to unseat incumbent Republican Donald D. Clancy, but garnered an impressive 45% of the vote in a traditionally Republican district. He had previously spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age, including testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of ratification of the 26th Amendment.

Springer was elected to the Cincinnati city council in 1971.^[10] He resigned in 1974 after admitting to hiring a prostitute.^[10] The episode was uncovered when a police raid on a Fort Wright, Kentucky "massage parlor" unearthed a check Springer had written for its "services". The check subsequently bounced due to lack of funds in the account. Springer came clean at a press conference. Long-time Cincinnati newsman Al Schottelkotte pronounced Springer's career over, but Springer's honesty helped him win back his seat in 1975 by a landslide. In a post-election interview, Schottelkotte good-naturedly reminded Springer that he had declared Springer's career over. Springer told the newsman, "I'm glad that you were wrong." In 1977, he was chosen to serve one year as mayor by the City Council.

In 1982, Springer sought the Democratic nomination for governor of Ohio. TV commercials for Springer's campaign referenced his use of a check to pay a prostitute, saying that he was not afraid of the truth "even if it hurts".^[11] He failed to win the Democratic party's nomination—finishing a distant third behind former Lieutenant Governor Richard F. Celeste and Ohio Attorney General William J. Brown, and his political career was put on hold. Springer considered running for the United States Senate in 2003,^[12] but backed down due to negative associations with The Jerry Springer Show.^[13]

Politics to journalism[link]

Springer's broadcast career started while he was an undergraduate at Tulane University, on WTUL New Orleans FM, a progressive format independent radio station. It continued while he was still mayor of Cincinnati, with album-oriented rock radio station WEBN-FM, which was noted for its laid-back and irreverent radio format. The station featured commentaries by Springer under the banner "The Springer Memorandum." The popularity of these commentaries launched his broadcasting career.

Springer was hired as a political reporter and commentator on Cincinnati's NBC affiliate, WLWT, which had, at the time, the lowest-rated news program. Later, having been named primary news anchor and Managing Editor, he needed a broadcast catchphrase in the model of other great newsmen. With the help of some others at WLWT, he created his signature line: "Take care of yourself, and each other." Within two years he was Cincinnati's number-one news anchor, along with partner Norma Rashid. For five years, he was the most popular one in the city,^[10] garnering ten local Emmy Awards for his nightly commentaries, which were frequently satirized by Cincinnati radio personality Gary Burbank. Those commentaries would eventually become his "Final Thought" on "The Jerry Springer Show." Springer would remain commentator at WLWT until January 1993. He resided in Loveland, Ohio, during this time.^[14]

In 1997, the Chicago-based NBC-owned station WMAQ-TV hired Springer to serve as a news commentator. However, this proved to be unpopular among viewers, as it resulted in the resignation of long-time news anchors Ron Magers and Carol Marin. After performing only two commentaries, Springer resigned as commentator.^[15][16]

Hosting[link]

[edit] The Jerry Springer Show

The Jerry Springer Show debuted on September 30, 1991. It was developed by WLWT to mimic the format and look of fellow talk show Donahue, all the way down to Jerry's haircut and glasses, making him look like Phil Donahue (coincidentally, both were produced by Multimedia Entertainment). It started as a politically-oriented talk show, a longer version of Springer's commentaries. Guests included Oliver North and Jesse Jackson, and topics included homelessness and gun politics.

In early 1994, Springer and his new producer, Richard Dominick, revamped the show's format in order to garner higher ratings. The show became more and more successful as it became more and more lowbrow, with an emphasis on infidelity. Its guests were typically lower class, minimally-educated, blue collar people confronted on a television stage by a spouse or family member's adultery, homosexuality, prostitution, transvestism, hate group membership, or other controversial situations. These confrontations often led to shouting, profanities, chair-throwing, fist-fights, pulling of hair by fighting women, and removal of clothing. Female guests also receive 'Jerry Beads' for exposing their breasts to the studio audience, in the style of Mardi Gras revelers. The show garnered huge ratings, and lots of attention. By 1998, it was beating The Oprah Winfrey Show in many cities, and was reaching more than 6.7 million viewers. (Waxman, 1998)

On July 10, 2002, the sons of guest Nancy Campbell-Panitz - who was murdered by her ex-husband after they appeared on a May 2000 episode with his girlfriend - filed suit in Sarasota County against Springer, his producers, and his distributor, claiming he created "a mood that led to murder."^[17] Ultimately, the estate of Ms. Campbell-Panitz dropped all monetary claims against The Jerry Springer Show and the show agreed to waive its claims for malicious prosecution against the personal representative of the estate of Ms. Campbell-Panitz and his counsel.

In 2005, a UK version was shown on ITV1 titled The Springer Show. It beat its talk-show rival Trisha Goddard five to one in the ratings, despite it being a subdued and more tongue-in-cheek version of the U.S. show.^[18]

The VH1 "celebreality" series The Springer Hustle, which took a look at how The Jerry Springer Show is produced, premiered in April 2007.^[19]

Other[link]

Springer in January 2011

Springer hosted America's Got Talent on NBC in the U.S. for two seasons, replacing Regis Philbin,^[20] before leaving to concentrate on other projects.^[21]

From January 17, 2005 to December 5, 2006, Springer hosted Springer on the Radio, a liberal talk show on Cincinnati's WCKY-AM. He did the show from the Clear Channel studios in Kenwood on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and in Chicago (where his television show tapes) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.^[22] Air America Radio syndicated the program for most of the show's run.

In the UK, Springer has hosted The Wright Stuff and 2001's Greed on the UK's Five network as well as 2007's Nothing But the Truth, the UK version of Nada más que la verdad. He also had a late-night talk show. On April 16, 2006, Springer was the guest host for the opening show for the third series of The Friday Night Project for Channel 4 and guest hosted Have I Got News for You on December 12, 2008. Springer has also co-presented UK daytime programme This Morning on ITV. In 2009, Springer appeared as a guest on the long-running British game show Countdown and hosted Miss Universe 2008. He was also the guest host for WWE Raw on February 15, 2010 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Springer has also hosted the live stage show version of The Price is Right.

Since April 19, 2010, Springer has also hosted a dating game show called Baggage, which airs on on GSN.^[23]

Acting career[link]

Springer portrayed his own talk show host character in the 1998 movie Ringmaster,^[24] using the name Jerry Farrelly. Ringmaster offers a behind-the-scenes look at would-be guests who apply to a Springer-like show. The same year, Springer also released an unrelated autobiography named Ringmaster. He quipped, "I can only think of one title a year."^[24]

In 1996, he appeared on an episode of the ninth season of Roseanne and on The X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus". In 1998, he voiced a cartoon version of himself in the Halloween episode of The Simpsons titled "Starship Poopers". In 1999, he appeared in the episode Mrs. Kraft of the third season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch with his talk show. In 2004 he was the president of United States of America in a straight to DVD "c" movie "The Defender" directed by Dolph Lundgren. In 2007, he appeared on episode #1301 of MADtv as himself.

Jerry Springer made a cameo appearance in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as himself during an episode of his show featuring Dr. Evil and his estranged son Scott Evil.

In 1999, he was in an episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

Springer appeared in an episode of Married... with Children as The Masculine Feminist, in which he was for women getting the men's bowling night and eventually taking over at a bowling alley. Al Bundy and his friends tie Springer to a chair and take over his show with a stripper who jumps up and down for the crowd's delight. He was in several episodes of George Lopez as Benny Lopez' ex-boyfriend Wayne and made a July 2007 guest appearance on Days of our Lives as "Pete," a high roller in Las Vegas who helped Nick Fallon win $50,000. On October 19, 2007, Springer made a cameo appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien as a "random" audience member. In June 2009 he appeared in Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre London as Billy Flynn for a short period of time, starring alongside Aoife Mulholland and Leigh Zimmerman.

Springer giving a speech at Emory University in 2007

Springer has been a guest in the following shows: the UK daytime programme The Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4 on November 12, 2007, Question Time on June 19, 2008, Saturday Kitchen on June 21, 2008 along with chef Theresa Griegson and Kristin Dawson, Verdict with Dan Abrams in June 2008, two appearances on Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2003 (from the same taping), The Jason Ellis Show on June 20, 2008 and Desert Island Discs on November 1, 2009.He was also in the Wayans Bros.as a cameo.

Springer also Starred opposite Dolph Lundgren in the 2004 film The Defender.

He was interviewed by satirist Chris Morris in his surreal radio series Blue Jam (Series 2, Episode 6). On January 23, 2004, Springer was featured in an episode of This American Life titled "Leaving the Fold".^[25]

Springer appeared in an episode of BBC One's Television Series Who Do You Think You Are? on August 27, 2008^[26] In the episode he traveled to Poland, where he discovered that his maternal grandmother had been sent to Chelmno extermination camp by the Nazis and killed. His paternal grandmother died at Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. He wept openly when he learned of how they died.

Springer appeared on the Chris Moyles Show in April 2009, along with Davina McCall and Alan Carr. On May 31, 2009, Springer was a guest on The Andrew Marr Show talking about politics and his upcoming projects.

Other projects[link]

In the mid-1990s, Springer recorded Dr. Talk, an album that mostly consisted of country music covers.

In late 2006, Springer was a contestant on the third season of Dancing with the Stars, with his professional dance partner, Kym Johnson. He wanted to appear on the show so he could learn the waltz for the wedding of his daughter, Katie.^[22][27] Springer and Johnson were eliminated in the seventh week of competition.^[28]

On May 16, 2008, Springer delivered the Northwestern University School of Law commencement address. Although many students had criticized the University's choice of speaker, he received a standing ovation from about half the audience and reviews of his speech were generally positive.^[29] In a March 2009 interview on Anytime with Bob Kushell, Springer said that in his speech he talked about "the ethical judgments we all have to make in whatever business we go [into].^[30]

Springer is the executive producer of The Steve Wilkos Show, which is hosted by Steve Wilkos, the long-time head of security on his own talk show.

In popular culture[link]

A musical by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, Jerry Springer: The Opera, is based on his show. It first became popular at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002. It has since played at the Royal National Theatre and the West End in London before embarking on a UK Tour in 2006. It has recently opened in Chicago, in the US, and will be moving onto regional productions throughout the United States. It was also screened on BBC 2 Television, causing some controversy.^[31] The televised version is now available on DVD.

Springer and his television program are mentioned in Mark Knopfler's song "Devil Baby". The songs "Jerry Springer" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Mr Springer" by Fascinating Aïda, "Jerry Rules in the Land of the Free" by the Dutch punk band De Heideroosjes and "Mr. Unfaithful" by the Swedish art-rock band A.C.T were inspired by him. On Jay Z's Blueprint 3 album, Kanye West says "I am never sprung but i spring her (Springer), Jerry" on the song "Hate".

"Dr. Talk" CD 1995 Fiddle Fish Records 8 tracks with 5 duets including "Let It Be Me" with Colene Walters

References[link]

The Jerry Springer Show has been notably denounced by Peter Gabriel in his video, 'The Barry Williams Show'.

Bibliography[link]

• Rebecca Johnson and Kathleen Powers, "Jerry Springer under Siege", Good Housekeeping, September 1998, pp. 114–119.
• John Kieswetter. "Springer ready to take radio show national". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 21, 2005. D1.
• Allison J. Waldman, "American Pie: The In-Your-Face Success of 'The Jerry Springer Show'", TelevisionWeek, May 8, 2006, p. 31.
• Sharon Waxman. "King of the Trash Heap; Jerry Springer Digs the Dirt On Television". Washington Post, January 20, 1998, p. D1.

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Jerry Springer

• Springer on the Radio
• Jerry Springer - the Opera
• Profile: Jerry Springer
• Campaign ad from Governor race
• Jerry Springer at the Internet Movie Database
• "Leaving the Fold", This American Life, January 23, 2004. "[P]roducer Alex Blumberg tells the true story of Jerry Springer's life before he was a talk show host."
• Text from Springer's address at Northwestern Law Convocation
• Mayor Springer

Peter Steele
Background information
Birth name	Peter Thomas Ratajczyk
Also known as	Peter Steele; Pete Steele; Lord Petrus Steele
Born	(1962-01-04)January 4, 1962
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	April 14, 2010(2010-04-14) (aged 48)
Genres	Gothic metal, doom metal, thrash metal
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards
Years active	1979–2010
Labels	Roadrunner, SPV America
Associated acts	Type O Negative, Carnivore, Fallout
Website	typeonegative.net

Peter Thomas Ratajczyk (January 4, 1962 – April 14, 2010),^[1] better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist, and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative.^[2] Before forming Type O Negative, he had created the metal group Fallout and the thrash band Carnivore.^[3]

As the frontman for Type O Negative, Steele was known for his vampiric affect, towering stature,^[4] rich bass-baritone vocals,^{[2][5][6][7][8]} and a dark, often self-deprecating sense of humor.^[9][10] His lyrics were often intensely personal, dealing with subjects including love, loss, and addiction.^[9] Steele credited Black Sabbath and The Beatles as his key musical inspirations.^[2]

Early life[link]

Steele was born in Red Hook, Brooklyn to a Roman Catholic family^[11] of Polish, Danish, Icelandic and Russian (his grandparents lived in Russia) heritage and was raised in the Bensonhurst and Brighton Beach neighborhoods of Brooklyn.^[12] Steele was the youngest of six children, with five older sisters.^[7] His father fought in World War II^[11] and later worked at a shipyard.^[13] Steele started taking guitar lessons at age 12, moving on to bass six months later.^[7]

Steele worked for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation up until he began touring with Type O Negative in the summer of 1994.^[11] He was based at Brooklyn Heights Promenade,^[14] where his job involved park maintenance,^[15] driving vehicles including garbage trucks and steamrollers,^[16] and eventual promotion to the role of Park Supervisor.^[11] Steele considered his days working for the Parks Department to be among his happiest.^[5]

Musical career[link]

Fallout and Carnivore (1979-1987)[link]

In 1979, Steele formed the heavy metal band Fallout. In 1982, after the split of Fallout, Steele formed the thrash metal band Carnivore. With Carnivore, Steele's lyrics were often harsh and politically incorrect, dealing with religion, war, race and misogyny. Carnivore released their debut self-titled album in 1985. In 1987 they released Retaliation, before splitting up later that same year.

Type O Negative[link]

Formation[link]

Steele formed the band in 1989 along with his childhood friends Josh Silver, Kenny Hickey and Sal Abruscato (later replaced by Johnny Kelly).^[9] The band originally used the name "Repulsion", but had to change name in 1990 due to legal issues with the German grindcore band of the same name. The band then used the name "Subzero".^[17] Steele had a tattoo of a minus sign contained within the number 0 that he originally intended to represent the Subzero band logo.^[17] After discovering that another band was already using the Subzero name, and with his tattoo in mind, Steele came up with the name "Type O Negative" after hearing a radio advertisement requesting donations of type O negative blood.^[17] When Type O Negative signed with Roadrunner Records, Steele signed his recording contract with a mixture of his blood and semen.^[18]

[edit] Slow, Deep and Hard and The Origin of the Feces (1991-1992)

Type O Negative's debut album, Slow, Deep and Hard, was released in 1991. The album incorporated the thrash elements of Carnivore merged with doom metal. Steele had written the music in the space of one night in the aftermath of a relationship break-up,^[19] and this was reflected in the lyrical topics of heartbreak, fantasies of revenge, and the contemplation of suicide; something Steele had himself attempted: “On October 15th, 1989. I slashed my wrists. All I can say is that I fell in love with the wrong person.”^[11]

Steele caused some controversy when touring in Europe to support Slow Deep and Hard, thanks to misunderstandings over his social and political views, with some critics going so far as to brand him a Nazi sympathizer,^[20][21] even though his bandmate, Josh Silver, is Jewish.^[5] Steele suggested that the European press had misunderstood his humor,^[19] and that his sarcasm was sometimes lost in translation to print.^[7]

In 1992, Type O Negative released the "live" album The Origin of the Feces. The album included a fictitious hostile audience and an evacuation of the venue after a bomb threat had supposedly been called in.^[21] This simulated some of the real-life response Steele and Type O Negative had recently received while on tour in Europe.^[21] The original album cover featured a close-up shot of Steele's anus.^[22]

[edit] Bloody Kisses, October Rust and World Coming Down (1993-2002)

In 1993, Type O Negative released their breakthrough album Bloody Kisses. The album focused primarily on romance, love, sex, and death. The song "Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare-All)" pays tribute to gothic subculture and is an ode to a goth girl Steele had once dated.^[19] Steele attacked his detractors with the songs "We Hate Everyone" and "Kill All the White People", which dealt directly with the band’s rumored racist ideology and served to erode any such accusations.^[21][23] Bloody Kisses eventually achieved Platinum status and established Type O Negative as one of gothic metal's most influential bands.^[8]

Type O Negative released the album October Rust in 1996. It featured a more multi-layered and melodic sound than its predecessor, though it retained similar lyrical themes. Steele penned the majority of the material on October Rust whilst on the road touring,^[24] though he had conceived some of the basic musical ideas during his early-teens.^[24] Steele designed the Vinland flag that first appeared on the October Rust artwork. It has since appeared on every subsequent release by the band. The flag encompassed a variety of Steele's interests, political beliefs and his heritage.^[25] Steele based the design on a Nordic cross flag that incorporates his favorite colors.^[25] The concept of Vinland is also referred to in the title of the track "The Glorious Liberation of the People's Technocratic Republic of Vinnland by the Combined Forces of the United Territories of Europa".^[25] "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend" is a tale about a ménage à trois^[26] that Steele based on a few true life experiences.^[7] The song "Green Man" had two meanings for Steele; it is written about the Celtic embodiment of nature, and Steele's time with the Parks Department, when young children used to call him "The Green Man".^{[citation needed]} The song introduction includes a sample of the garbage truck once driven by Steele.^[24] The song "Red Water (Christmas Mourning)" is about his father's death.^[14] October Rust eventually achieved Gold status.^[27]

Steele had been dealing with personal problems during the recording and mixing of 1999's stripped-down and heavier sounding World Coming Down.^[27] The themes of drug abuse and addiction appeared on the album, most notably on the song "White Slavery".^[28] Death also featured heavily on the album, with Steele mourning the loss of loved ones on the tracks "Everyone I Love is Dead" and "Everything Dies". Steele recounted his experience with psychiatric treatment on the song "Who Will Save the Sane?". On "Pyretta Blaze" Steele tells of his sexual fantasy involving fire.^[29] Steele noted the emotional strain caused by executing songs from World Coming Down in a live setting.^[2][13] The setlists for live shows performed since the initial tour to support World Coming Down usually featured very few selections from the album.

In 2000, Steele made a guest appearance on the song "Just Say No To Love" from Iommi, the first solo album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.^[30] In 2001, Steele made a guest appearance on the song "Cross the Line" from the Biohazard album Uncivilization.^[31] In 2002, he guest appeared on the track "Descent" from the Doro album Fight.^[32]

[edit] Life Is Killing Me and Dead Again (2003-2010)

Type O Negative released the album Life Is Killing Me in 2003. Lyrically the album dealt with issues including self pity, hatred, drugs, death and religion.^[27] On the title track Steele offers his criticism of the medical profession.^[5][33] The song “Nettie” centers around Steele's mother, while “Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things)” is about his father.^[27] "The Dream is Dead" refers to Steele finding it difficult to celebrate Valentine's Day as the date coincided with the anniversary of his father's death.^[32] Steele wrote the song "(We Were) Electrocute" about a "stunning" ex-girlfriend, and how they would attract the interest of passers-by when out together as a couple.^[34] Steele's favorite female television characters are the inspiration for the track "How Could She?".^[27] "I Like Goils" makes light of the attention Steele received from gay men, specifically after his photoshoot for Playgirl magazine.^[34]

Steele performing in Berlin with Type O Negative, 2007

In 2005, Type O Negative left Roadrunner Records. Steele had never been happy with the conditions of the recording contract and had described it as "a millstone around my neck".^[29] Steele revealed that Type O Negative's split from Roadrunner Records, aside from a poor offer, had to do with an allegedly unauthorized release of a Best Of compilation.^[35] Steele remained on friendly terms with the staff at Roadrunner Records and in October 2005 he appeared on the Roadrunner United album to help celebrate the label's 25th anniversary.^[36]

There were unconfirmed rumors at one point of Steele's death after the band website posted an image of a tombstone bearing his name and the dates 1962-2005.^[37] According to an article dated May 14, 2005, Steele was not dead; the gag was related to their fresh signing with SPV Records. The website discontinued the tombstone picture in October 2005.

In 2006, Steele reactivated Carnivore with a new lineup that included longtime Type O Negative collaborator Paul Bento.^[38] The band played at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006.^[39]

Steele made his final recording on the 2007 album Dead Again. He revealed on MTV's Headbangers Ball that the new alliance with SPV Records was probably his favorite thing about Dead Again from a production standpoint.^[40] Steele considered Dead Again to be less melancholic and more positive compared to the band's previous albums.^[41] The album cover depicts the Russian mystic Rasputin, a historical figure that Steele admired.^[5] The title track touches on drug abuse and Steele's sense of having killed part of himself after suffering a relapse.^[41] "Tripping a Blind Man" is a diatribe on how Steele felt after his involuntary commitment was brought about by his family.^[42] "Halloween in Heaven" is a song about dead rockstars that Steele was inspired to write by the death of his close friend Dimebag Darrell.^[41]

Further appearances[link]

[edit] Playgirl

Following the success of Bloody Kisses, Steele began to receive attention outside of music. He appeared as a nude centerfold of Playgirl in 1995.^[43] Steele later found out via bandmate Kenny Hickey's contacts that only 23% of the magazine subscribers were female,^[44] and after being asked by men to sign copies of the magazine, Steele somewhat regretted the decision: “After I did it, I thought, 'Oh my God, what did I do?'. It was more than upsetting that so many guys had it. Girls, OK, but there just seemed to be at least as many guys. Not that I'm homophobic, but it was certainly irritating.”^[29] In a 2007 interview, Steele reflected on the posing as merely a naïve publicity stunt.^[45]

Television and film[link]

Steele went on to appear as a guest on the talk shows Ricki Lake, The Jerry Springer Show, and The Howard Stern Show. In 2003, Steele had an acting role in the episode "Exeunt Omnes" of the HBO drama series Oz. Also in 2003 he appeared in the film Dirtbags (Armpit of Metal).^[46] He followed this with a role in the 2005 film Bad Acid.^[47] Steele is among the musicians featured in the 2011 documentary Living the American Nightmare.^[48]

Personal life[link]

Steele was widely known for standing 6'8" (203 cm) tall,^[4] giving him a famously menacing stage appearance. Despite this, Steele admitted to suffering from stage fright which he overcame by drinking alcohol before shows, and by drinking red wine when on stage.^[33][34]

Outside of music, Steele spent time lifting weights both at home and on his tour bus.^[7][18][49] Steele also enjoyed reading books on the subject of science^[7][18] and he had an interest in European culture.^[15][34] Steele liked working on his house^[7][13] and was interested in architecture and civil engineering.^[11][13] Steele also worked on his cars,^[7] including a heavily modified 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix he customized himself.^[50] Steele had a love for cats^[51] and kept several as pets.^[11][33]

Steele at an in-store signing in London, circa 1997

During 2005, Steele disappeared for an extended period with no explanation. Rumors of his death, terminal illness, and other speculations increased until the mystery was dispelled in an interview on the 2006 DVD Symphony for the Devil. In the interview Steele briefly mentions his incarceration in Rikers Island and "the psych ward at Kings County Hospital". Steele's family members had staged an intervention and insisted he check into a mental institution.^[4] Steele later confirmed he had been suffering from paranoia caused by his heavy substance abuse.^[4] Steele had been using cocaine since the age of 35, a decision he expressed great regret about.^[41][45] Steele then attended rehab for cocaine and alcohol addiction,^[45] and later served a 30-day prison term for assaulting a love rival.^[4][45] Steele made light of his incarceration by wearing a prison uniform on stage during live performances.

Steele stated in a 2003 interview that he was bipolar, and linked his mood swings to the types of songs he wrote.^[34] He also suffered from clinical depression for which he had received occasional psychiatric treatment.^[52][53][54] During a 2007 interview Steele explained:

“I’ve always been a very depressed person, but that’s only one side of me, you know. It makes me feel better when I can express my depression, my anger, my frustration through music...sonic therapy.”^[41]

In April 2007, Steele revealed that he began identifying himself as Roman Catholic in recent years, after decades of self-professed atheism.^[11] In an interview with Decibel magazine, Steele explained:

“There are no atheists in foxholes, they say, and I was a foxhole atheist for a long time. But after going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly, it made me realize my mortality. And when you start to think about death, you start to think about what’s after it. And then you start hoping there is a God. For me, it’s a frightening thought to go nowhere. I also can’t believe that people like Stalin and Hitler are gonna go to the same place as Mother Teresa.”^[45]

Death[link]

Peter Steele died of heart failure on April 14, 2010 at the age of 48.^{[55][56][57][58]} Prior to his death, Steele had been enjoying a long period of sobriety and improved health and was imminently due to begin writing and recording new music.^[59] His wake was held at Byrnes Funeral Home in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, and he is buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island. On November 21, 2011, an oak tree was planted in Prospect Park to commemorate Steele.^[60]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Peter Steele

• Official Type O Negative web site
• Peter Steele at the Internet Movie Database
• Peter Steele at Allmusic
• Peter Steele at the Notable Names Database
• Peter Steele at Find a Grave