Today marks the first anniversary of the tragic passing of TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Pete Steele. He was just 48 years old when he died of heart failure on April 14th 2010.

Peter was infamous not only as the frontman for the groudbreaking band- one that brought Roadrunner it’s first Gold album- but also for his issues with depression and his dark and often self depreciating sense of humour, aspects of his personality summed up in a touching farewell posted by the band’s keyboardist Josh Silver on the band’s official website at the time of Pete’s death:

“Peter, My endless source of frustration, (as I’m yours) you have really done it this time. You have changed and touched countless lives through music, comedy and often brutal honesty. You’ve made life both interesting and irritating and I could not imagine not having known you for 37 years. It still isn’t true in my mind but in time I will miss you and the creating that we all endured together. We certainly disagreed constantly and I believe (and hope) we all learned from each other. Should I call you brother, friend or neighbor ? I can only call you Peter (and usually after 2 PM). We laughed at ourselves more times than I can count. knowing humans are preposterous creatures and I know we reveled in that fact. I will miss you in time, but at this moment your premature departure seems surreal and has pissed me off to no end. Though I never told you that I harbor a deep respect for you, I do. Goodbye my friend.-Josh“

Head to this location to read a touching tribute, written by his family yesterday. “Please remember these wonderful things about Peter“, they write, “His genius for writing music & lyrics, his gifted orchestration, his artistic design of album covers, performance backdrops, and inventive printing fonts and logos; his magnetic ways with the audience and fans; his talent for words and languages; his insatiable desire to study science, engineering and war strategy; his love of animals and children; his way of making everyone feel more important than himself; and his generosity and gentlemanly ways.”

As Monte Conner, the man responsible for the signing Of Type O Negative to Roadrunner for the early years of their carer, said at the time of Peter’s death, “Peter was a great, great guy…He was a tortured soul for most of his life and certainly for the entire time we all knew him. Let’s hope he is in a better place.”

Rest In Peace Peter. Gone but never forgotten.