Ryan Malmstrom’s Blog

The loss of Peter Steele is flooding my head with memories.  I don’t even know where I would be without Type O Negative.

The video for “Christian Woman” came on Headbangers Ball one night in late 1993 and I could not have been more disturbed.  It was the most terrifying video I had ever seen.  I could not turn it off though.  I ran out to purchase “Bloody Kisses” the next day and was hooked.

I remember seeing them open for Queensryche in 1997.  As they were playing their last song, the crew starting breaking down the equipment.  Finally, the last piece of equipment was Peter’s bass and the stage was empty.  All Peter could say was “I guess 30 minutes means 30 minutes.”  There was always that humor with them. 

In my first semester at Hennepin Technical College for the Audio Recording program, I seem to remember sitting out in the courtyard and a dude walking by in a Type O shirt.  I may have actually had MY Type O shirt on too, but we instantly connected, as he was in the same program as i was.  Chris and I would chat about Type O and bands that sounded like them.  One day, we ditched school to go buy CDs from some guy at the Mirage.  I don’t remember what the CDs were, but the man we purchased them from was Don Decker.  He would later go on to take a shot on the band that Chris and I formed:  Lorde of all Desires.  Were it not for Type O Negative, Lorde of all Desires would have never existed.  Epicurean would not have existed either.

I saw Type O on the Ozzfest 1997 tour at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.  There was a period where Chris and I had lost contact between school and Milwaukee Metalfest later that summer.  The wheels were really set in motion with Lorde after that Metalfest meeting, but I do remember running into Chris at the parking ramp prior to Ozzfest.  I knew I’d run into him, since Type O would be there.  I don’t remember our conversation at all, but I remember it being brief.

Type O came to 1st Avenue on the October Rust tour.  I seem to remember showing up very early with Chris and Dinis.  Or it may have been Tony, I don’t remember.  But we got a chance to meet Kenny and Johnny before the show.  I remember them playing pool and Chris talking with them about tattoos.  I don’t think I said a thing. 

Again, in Minnesota, they came to town on the Life Is Killing Me tour.  I had seen them on the World Coming Down tour a few years earlier, but was rather disappointed that they didn’t play the title track off that record.  I nearly cried when they played it on this tour.  After hearing that song live, I could die a happy man.  I would never need to go to another concert ever again.

I am feeling such a loss right now, but I can say that I am grateful for the impact Type O Negative had on my life.  I think Peter would appreciate how many lives he changed.  He wouldn’t want it to be about himself. 

Peter, you will be missed.  Thank you for changing my life.  Thank you for disturbing me, making me laugh and making me cry.  Your impact cannot be measured.

Ryan Malmstrom