The pinnacle of metal in the 1990s may have been reached by Peter Steele, the vampiric, witty, and sardonic leader of…
There is no denying that the 1990s were crazy. It was a decade that produced some of the most strange, outrageous, and downright comical events in the long and illustrious history of rock music, whether it was Nirvana and Faith No More wrecking Top Of The Pops, the mayhem of the iconic Guns N’ Roses and Metallica tour, or just plain old nu metal.
The pinnacle of metal throughout the 1990s could have been reached by Peter Steele, the vampiric, sardonic, and sharp-witted leader of gothic metal pioneers Type O Negative, when he made an unexpected guest appearance on the iconic and controversy-loving The Jerry Springer Show in 1995. The since-posted YouTube video of Steele’s odd TV spot shows that it is still a really enjoyable watch.
Amidst a segment devoted to rock groupies, Steele emerges from the rear and takes a seat on the stage, evidently causing some of the females in the studio great pleasure. Answering Springer’s question about whether he is delighted to be on the show, he immediately displays the wry, sardonic melancholy for which he was renowned. He says, “I am less wretched.”
Steele begins by acknowledging that he thinks it “strange” that female fans pay him attention. He then shares a humorous story about an especially forward fan who shows up at his house, in which, well, his mother is involved. You should look it over for yourself since we will not give anything away.
Many of the things that are happening here, in our opinion, would not be acceptable on today’s mainstream television. And as Jerry Springer himself points out, Steele was featured on the cover of Playgirl that same year, as if all of this was not enough. As already stated: the 1990s.
Up to his passing on April 14, 2010, due to sepsis brought on by diverticulitis, Peter Steele was the frontman of Type O Negative. The surviving members of Type O Negative officially announced that they will not be carrying on with the band after Steele passed away. Dead Again, their last album, was released in 2007.
