Geezer Butler's G/Z/R vocalist Pedro Howse has issued the following tribute to fallen TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele, who died on the evening of April 14th from apparent heart failure at the age of 48:

"Last night I got an email from Geezer with the very, very sad news of the death of Pete Steele. I met Pete a few times along the way and without a shadow of a doubt he was one of the nicest blokes I have met. He was intelligent, charming, extremely funny and well mannered. The last time I saw him was in 2007 in Copenhagen on the HEAVEN & HELL tour. He interviewed Geezer. He was his usual self, he had us all in stitches laughing and the interview he conducted was fantastic. I’ll never for get the first time I met him. It was G/Z/R’s debut gig at the Limelight in New York city. I was so fucking nervous I could have thrown up for days. We were standing on the stairway to go on stage and I told him I was shitting myself. He put his hand on my shoulder and handed me his glass of wine and said 'Drink' to which I did. How could I have possibly refused, ha!!!! I also think that Type O Negative’s version of 'Black Sabbath' was the best on the Nativity In Black album. I’m glad I met Pete Steele and I am very sad to hear of his passing. Another good one gone. God bless you Pete, I raise a glass to you."

Pedro Howse

GZR

Butler recently issued the following statement:

"I was so saddened to hear of Pete Steele passing away. He truly was one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever met. He came to the first G//Z/R gig, in New York, showing his support for us. I last saw him in Copenhagen, on the Heaven & Hell tour, where he interviewed me for a bassist to bassist piece. We had lots of fun talking together. I always maintained that the best Sabbath cover was Type O’s version of 'Black Sabbath' on the Nativity In Black album. I always looked forward to hearing what he’d come out with- he was always surprising, musically, and such a very special person. One of the truly great ones has now left the stage. R.I. P. Pete- Bog Blast yea."