Larger than life metal bassist/singer
Pete Steele got his start as the frontman for Brooklyn's hardcore metal trio
Carnivore (which also included members
Louie Beateaux on drums, and two different guitarists -- first
Keith Alexander, then
Marc Piovanetti) in the mid-'80s. Much more straight-ahead thrash metal than
Steele's future goth outfit
Type O Negative,
Carnivore created some controversy among timid listeners with such song titles as "Jesus Hitler" and "Angry Neurotic Catholics." But unlike most other similarly styled bands of the era,
Carnivore didn't take themselves as seriously: just check out the gross-out album opening track, "Jack Daniels and Pizza," from their sophomore effort. The trio issued a pair of recordings during their brief career -- 1986's self-titled debut and 1987's Retaliation (both issued on the Roadrunner Records label) -- before splitting up.
Steele was able to retain
Carnivore's following (as well as vastly expanding on it) with
Type O Negative, a group that he launched in the early '90s. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide