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)
Pictures of Matchstick Men
Type O Negative Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I look up to the sky
I see your eyes in a funny kind of yellow
I rush to bed I soak my head
I see your face underneath my pillow
I wake next morning tossed and yawning
Oh no
Oh, Ah, Oh, Ah
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Images of matchstick men and you
All I ever see is them and... you
Oh, Ah, Oh, Ah
Windows echo your reflection
When I look in their direction
Gone
Yeah they're gone
When will this haunting stop
Your face just won't leave me alone
Oh no
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Images of matchstick men and you
All I ever see is them and you
Oh you're in the sky
You're with this guy
You make men cry, you lie
Pictures of matchstick men
Pictures of matchstick men
Pictures of matchstick men
Pictures of matchstick men
Pictures of matchstick men
Pictures of matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
I can see those matchstick men
The song "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by Type O Negative is a cover of the 1968 hit by Status Quo. The lyrics describe a haunting obsession with a person, represented by the images of matchstick men and the color yellow. The singer sees the person's face everywhere, even underneath their pillow, and describes a sense of desperation to escape the haunting. The lyrics suggest that this person is a liar and has made men cry, but the singer cannot escape their presence.
The repetition of "Pictures of matchstick men and you, images of matchstick men and you" emphasizes the obsession with this person and the way they are constantly present in the singer's thoughts. The use of the color yellow adds to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the lyrics. The description of the person as a liar who makes men cry adds a darker edge to the song, and the despair of the singer is palpable.
Overall, "Pictures of Matchstick Men" is a powerful exploration of the obsessive, haunting nature of infatuation and the sense of helplessness that can come with it. The surreal imagery and haunting melody make for a compelling piece of music that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look up to the sky
As I gaze above, I cannot help but envision your piercing eyes in a distinctive yellow hue
I rush to bed I soak my head
In a frantic state, I retire to bed and immerse my head, hoping to forget your presence
I wake next morning tossed and yawning
Despite my attempts to sleep, your memory keeps me restless and fatigued upon waking
Pictures of matchstick men and you
My mind is plagued with constant images of you alongside these representations of matchstick men
Windows echo your reflection
Every window I see reminds me of you and reflects your image back at me
When I look in their direction
Whenever I glance towards these windows, your presence feels almost tangible
All I ever see is them and you
With every passing moment, my perception is dominated by these matchstick figures and yourself, seemingly inseparable in my mind
You make men cry, you lie
You have a power over men, bringing them to tears with your deceitful ways
Pictures of matchstick men
My fixation on these images of matchstick figures is all-consuming, following me wherever I turn
I can see those matchstick men
These images have embedded themselves so deeply in my psyche that I cannot escape their presence
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Francis Dominic Nicholas Rossi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AcydDoomGrΓ€ve No Society- UndergroundΓΆΓΆm! Promotion
When I look up to the skies
I see your eyes a funny kind of yellow
I rush home to bed I soak my head
I see your face underneath my pillow
I wake next morning tired still yawning
See your face come peeking through my window
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Mirages of matchstick men and you
All I ever see is them and you
[guitar intro]
Windows echo your reflection
When I look in their direction gone
When will this haunting stop
Your face it just wont leave me a-lone
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Mirages of matchstick men and you
All I ever see is them and you
You in the sky you with this guy you make men cry you lie
You in the sky you with this guy you make men cry you lie
[guitar intro]
Pictures of matchstick men, Pictures of matchstick...
Dominic Blais
This would have fit perfectly on October Rust (favorite album ever)! I have many favorite TON songs, and this is one of them (Peter's version), which I've only recently discovered - and I've been listening to TON over 20 years.
JDStinner
You ain't lying October rust is a masterpiece beyond comprehension
Gonn Fishy
Methinks itβs an out take from the origin of the feces sessions when they did the βparanoidβ cover. It is sonically similar and as far as material goes...
Rachel Gonzalez
Can't go wrong with Type O Negative. I'm glad I got to see them several times in concert here in Corpus Christi. Love the song Awesome cover!
Matt Cantu
Yo Iβm from Corpus too!!
khold 75
Best band making covers...they don't only make a cover ...they mix it with their gloomy sound and they improve it make even better the all song lyrics and feeling ππ€π©. I can't Express myself about the best band ever walk this earth with some other bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica ππ π΅π€
Tom Loughlin Jr.
And dont forget the authors..,.the greatest BOOGIE BAND of all time STATUS QUO !!
3cs3hs
100% best cover band in the world!!
Christopher Gordon
I wish theyβd remix and release this version.
Christopher Gordon
@Wraith Sangreal This one