The two main influences on the band are the Beatles and Black Sabbath, and keyboardist Josh Silver has expressed a love of Pink Floyd--evidence of which can be heard in the atmospherics of his production techniques.
The band arose from the ashes of the band Carnivore and gained popularity with their songs "Black No. 1" and "Christian Woman" from the Bloody Kisses album. The album was the first in Roadrunner Records' catalog to go both gold and platinum. They have successfully toured with Pantera, Life of Agony, and dozens of other established and up-and-coming bands, as well as taking part in Ozzfest. The band had VHS and DVD documentary releases in addition to their CD releases and contributions to movie soundtracks and compilations.
Steele died of sepsis caused by diverticulitis (initially reported as heart failure) on April 14 2010 at the age of 48.
Singles and video-featured songs
Black No. 1 - 1993
Christian Woman - 1993
Cinnamon Girl - 1996
Everyone I Love Is Dead - 1999
Everything Dies - 1999
I Don't Wanna Be Me - 2003
Love You to Death - 1996
My Girlfriend's Girlfriend - 1996
Profits of Doom - 2007
September Sun - 2007
Summer Breeze - 1993
Discography
Slow, Deep and Hard - 1991
Origin of The Feces - 1992
Bloody Kisses - 1993
October Rust- 1996
World Coming Down - 1999
Life Is Killing Me - 2003
Dead Again - 2007
Members
Peter Steele - Vocals, bass guitar and songwriting (1990-2010)
Josh Silver - Keyboards (1990-2010)
Kenny Hickey - Guitar and backing vocals (1990-2010)
Johnny Kelly - Drums (1994-2010)
Sal Abruscato - Drums (1990-1993)
Black Rainbows
Type O Negative Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unbridled minds you see are so much worse
Too much pity spent and wasting time
Irresponsibility not my only crime
Obsessive thinking, depressed drinking
The person I once was, he's dead
Exhume the past this time or be my last
This is my final quest to remove my mask
Don't be afraid as she pulled down the shade
Said there's nothing to fear but the monster is here
So just tell me the time, be it quarter of nine
Since the sun's gone away, now the creature will play
Ice blue eyes follow me everywhere I go
Making my heart appear as lead
I hate to wish it but I'll tell you though
That I'm quite ready 'cause I'm already dead
Type O Negative's "12 Black Rainbows" is a haunting and introspective song that showcases the band's unique blend of goth, doom, and metal. The lyrics touch upon themes of fear, despair, and the struggle against one's own inner demons. The opening lines "Idle hands may be the devil's work, unbridled minds you see are so much worse" suggest that the singer is aware of their own destructive tendencies and has a fear of their own thoughts and emotions. The lines "Too much pity spent and wasting time, irresponsibility not my only crime" hint at a sense of guilt and regret that the singer feels for their past actions.
The chorus is equally bleak, with the lines "Obsessive thinking, depressed drinking, the person I once was, he's dead. Exhume the past this time or be my last, this is my final quest to remove my mask." Here, the singer seems to be searching for redemption and closure, perhaps through confronting their own dark past. The somber melody, the heavy use of keyboards, and Peter Steele's distinct baritone voice all add to the song's sorrowful and introspective atmosphere.
The second half of the song is more focused on fear and paranoia, with the lines "Don't be afraid as she pulled down the shade, said there's nothing to fear but the monster is here. So just tell me the time, be it quarter of nine, since the sun's gone away, now the creature will play." The ice blue eyes that follow the singer everywhere he goes add a sense of dread and unease. The final lines "I hate to wish it but I'll tell you though, that I'm quite ready 'cause I'm already dead" suggest a willingness to face whatever horrors lie ahead, as the singer feels that they have already lost everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Idle hands may be the devil's work
When one has nothing to do, they become vulnerable to sinister thoughts and activities
Unbridled minds you see are so much worse
A mind with uncontrolled thoughts can do more harm than a body without work
Too much pity spent and wasting time
Time is a valuable resource that shouldn't be squandered by misplaced sympathy
Irresponsibility not my only crime
My actions go beyond carelessness, I have committed larger faults worth confessing
Obsessive thinking, depressed drinking
Being overly preoccupied with negative thoughts that result in destructive actions such as drinking
The person I once was, he's dead
I no longer recognize the person I used to be; they are merely a shadow of who I used to be
Exhume the past this time or be my last
I must confront my past and the burdens it carries or never be able to move on
This is my final quest to remove my mask
I am on a journey to reveal my true self; to shed any masks or facades
Don't be afraid as she pulled down the shade
Despite the darkness, there is no need to fear, villainous forces are already present
Said there's nothing to fear but the monster is here
A warning that the biggest threat is already present and not to fear any other actions or individuals
So just tell me the time, be it quarter of nine
The time is meaningless to me as darkness has consumed every aspect of my life
Since the sun's gone away, now the creature will play
Without the light of the sun, malevolent forces are free to roam and unleash havoc
Ice blue eyes follow me everywhere I go
An ominous feeling of being constantly watched and monitored by a mysterious individual
Making my heart appear as lead
The fear and unease caused by the constant surveillance weigh heavy on my chest
I hate to wish it but I'll tell you though
Although it pains me to do so, I must reveal the truth
That I'm quite ready 'cause I'm already dead
I am not afraid of death because I am already consumed by the darkness and malevolence around me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER THOMAS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind