Type O Negative. The way they put the dark rumbling sounds of doom metal, and the heavy sounds of guitar, makes Type O Negatives’ unique sound a perfect dark spooky setting just in time for one of America’s most favorite holidays: Halloween.
Type O Negative has a very unique sound that differs from most bands in the late 80s. While most music in the 80s was filled with Madonna and Michael Jackson, the “King Of Pop” himself, Type O Negative does not fit into the “popular” category. In fact, bands like Type O Negative were looked down on for being “satanic” and the “devil’s music.”
In the band’s song “We Hate Everyone,” the band clearly says “we don’t care what you think,” and it’s evident that Type O Negative goes against the music norms of this era of music and never planned to change, and they didn’t.
The band was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1989 by Peter Steele, Kenny Hickey, Josh Silver, and Sal Abruscato, who was later replaced by Johnny Kelly. But even though this band was groundbreaking, Type O Negative still took inspiration from other prominent rockers of their era.
In an interview with Antihero Magazine Johnny Kelly stated, “the common denominators, for certain, were The Beatles and Black Sabbath. Those are the two bands that everybody agreed on. Those were the two that there was never an argument when one of their songs was being played.”
With Type O Negatives sound and their attitude, they gained millions of fans over the years. In the 21 years they have been together, they have released seven albums with 93 songs all together.
Even though Peter Steele passed away due to sepsis at only 48 years old in 2010, which unfortunately led to the disbandment of the band, Type O Negative will always have an impact on the music world today and will always be an influence for many bands who aspire to be like them.