Peter Steele was an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the frontman and bassist for the gothic metal band Type O Negative. Born Petrus Thomas Ratajczyk in Brooklyn, he was renowned for his towering stature, deep bass-baritone voice, and a dark, self-deprecating sense of humor. Before Type O Negative's success, he founded the bands Fallout and Carnivore, developing a unique sound that blended doom metal, hardcore punk, and goth rock. Steele's lyrical themes often explored romance, depression, and death with a signature sarcastic wit, leaving a lasting and influential legacy on the metal genre.