The bleak tale of the late goth metal icon's last album, marked by his deteriorating physical and mental state due to addiction, ultimately leading to disillusionment
In the year 2007, Type O Negative released their final album, Dead Again, an album that embodies the band's enduring struggles, anxiety, misery, and uncertainty throughout its creation.
Frontman Peter Steele, who had battled addiction to alcohol and cocaine, was eager and anxious to start work on the follow-up to Life Is Killing Me after its release in 2003. However, the four-year gap between the two albums was filled with hardship: the death of their parents, rehab, jail, hospitalizations, and a divorce disrupted the band's work on the album[3]. Keyboardist Josh Silver lost his father, Steele lost his mother, and these emotional challenges heavily influenced the album’s tone and creation[3].
The production process for Dead Again was different from previous albums. The band used live studio drums rather than programmed ones, a change that marked a shift from their earlier work[1]. Drummer Johnny Kelly played live in the studio for the first time on Type O Negative's album Dead Again.
Dead Again saw the band working under difficult circumstances, further compounded by the financial collapse of their record label SPV shortly after release and the later destruction of their rehearsal studio by Hurricane Sandy[3].
The album, released on March 13, 2007, is a sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustrating, and always intriguing piece of work, characteristics that mirror its late architect, Peter Steele. Steele was in a serious state of mental distress during the recording of the album, as indicated by the album's bleak themes of death, depression, infidelity, and obsession[3].
Lyrically, the album wasn't the most focused of Type O Negative's catalogue, with songs colored by frontman Peter Steele's then recent rediscovery of his Catholic faith and explicit anti-abortion sentiments in These Three Things. The recording sessions often degenerated into drunken arguments and were exhausting[3].
Sadly, instead of starting work on the follow-up, Peter Steele passed away from sepsis caused by diverticulitis on April 14, 2010, at the age of 48[4]. The remaining members decided not to continue without him, and Dead Again stands as a swansong, a poignant reminder of the band's turbulent history and the enduring power of music to capture and convey the human condition.
[1] "Type O Negative - Dead Again (2007)." AllMusic, All Media Network, www.allmusic.com/album/dead-again-mw0000862118.
[2] "Type O Negative - Dead Again." Discogs, www.discogs.com/Type-O-Negative-Dead-Again/release/315881.
[3] "Dead Again (2007)." Type O Negative, www.typeonegative.org/discography/dead-again.
[4] "Peter Steele." Type O Negative, www.typeonegative.org/peter-steele.
[5] "Peter Steele Dies at 48." Rolling Stone, Penske Business Media, 15 Apr. 2010, www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-steele-dies-at-48-20100415.
- Amidst the challenges of rehab, jail, lost parents, and a divorce, the band moved forward with the recording of their next album, a follow-up to Life Is Killing Me.
- Type O Negative kicked off the production of their new album with a shift from programmed drums to live studio drums, a change that would set Dead Again apart from their earlier works.
- Drummer Johnny Kelly was contributing live for the first time on Type O Negative's album Dead Again, a significant factor in their creative process.
- The financial collapse of their record label SPV and the destruction of their rehearsal studio compounded the hardships faced during the recording of Dead Again.
- The album's release on March 13, 2007, showcased a mix of brilliance, frustration, and intrigue, a reflection of the artistic journey and mental turmoil of frontman Peter Steele.
- Steele's personal struggles were apparent in the bleak themes of death, depression, infidelity, and obsession evident throughout Dead Again.
- During the album's recording, Steele's then recent rediscovery of his Catholic faith and his explicit anti-abortion sentiments manifested in the lyrics, particularly in the song These Three Things.
- The recording sessions were marked by drunken arguments and exhaustion, indicative of the emotional strain endured by the band.
- In a tragic turn of events, Peter Steele passed away on April 14, 2010, from sepsis caused by diverticulitis, leaving the remaining members to decide against continuing the band without him.
- Dead Again now stands as a remarkable swansong, a poignant testament to Type O Negative's tumultuous history and the enduring power of music to encapsulate and convey the human condition.
- Steele's passing opened the door for interesting ventures within the entertainment world, as many sought to honor his legacy, exploring areas that ranged from science and mental health to health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and even the use of CBD in various contexts.
