About Peter Steele
Peter Thomas Ratajczyk (January 4, 1962 – April 14, 2010), known professionally as Peter Steele, was an American musician who was the lead vocalist, bassist, and composer of the gothic metal band Type O Negative. Before forming Type O Negative, Steele had formed the heavy metal band Fallout and the thrash metal band Carnivore. As the frontman for Type O Negative, Steele was known for his vampiric appearance, 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) stature, rich bass vocals, and a dark, often self-deprecating sense of humor. His lyrics have been described as "often intensely personal, dealing with subjects including love, loss and addiction." Steele credited Black Sabbath and the Beatles as his key musical influences. He has been listed among the "66 Best Hard Rock and Metal Frontmen of All Time" by Loudwire. == Early life == Steele was born Peter Thomas Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York City, to a Catholic family. His father was of Polish descent and his mother of Scottish-Irish ancestry. He was raised in the Bensonhurst and Brighton Beach neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Steele was the youngest of six children, with five older sisters. His father fought in World War II and later worked at a shipyard.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.