Singer-Bassist Peter Steele Renounces Atheism

Gothic metal band Type O Negative's bad boy Peter Steele has long been known for blaspheme and/or ridicule of God in the lyrics of the band's music. However, in April 2007, Peter revealed that he began identifying as a Roman Catholic after decades of self-professed atheism. In an interview with Decibel magazine, Steele explains

 "I’m a devout Roman Catholic, actually. There are no atheists in foxholes, and I was a foxhole atheist for a long time. But after going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly, it made me realize my mortality."

With a change in worldview, the band's message changed somewhat as well. The latest album "Dead Again", although maintaining minimal colorful language has positive references to faith in God and warnings against drug abuse and of the future judgment of hell for God's enemies.

"When you start to think about death," said Steele, "you start to think about what's after it, and then you start hoping there is a God. For me, it's a frightening thought to go nowhere. I also can't believe that people like Stalin and Hitler are gonna go to the same place as Mother Teresa."