The idea of Type O Negative tribute shows refuses to stay buried, and now guitarist Kenny Hickey has thrown fresh fuel on it, saying he’d “absolutely” be open to honouring Peter Steele onstage.
Speaking in a recent interview (with Cassius Morris), Hickey made it clear this wouldn’t be a full blown reunion, that line still doesn’t exist without Steele, but a limited run of shows built around tribute and respect? That’s something he’s willing to entertain.
“A dozen shows” could happen
Hickey didn’t overcomplicate it.
“We would be into doing it in a tribute fashion, yeah. Yes. It would be cool to do maybe a dozen shows or something like that. Have some great stand-in singer — [or] singers — it would be a cool thing to do. Absolutely.”
It’s a measured approach, not a cash in world tour, but a contained run that gives fans a chance to hear those songs live again without pretending the band is whole (per Blabbermouth).
The missing piece remains Josh Silver
The biggest hurdle is still former keyboardist Josh Silver, who has consistently resisted the idea.
According to Hickey: “He doesn’t wanna do it. So maybe it’ll take some convincing…”
He didn’t push the point too far, though.
“He was always the kind of guy who’s 150% guy. If he’s not 150%, then he’s not gonna do it.”
With Silver stepping away from music for years to work as a paramedic, the gap between interest and reality is still pretty wide.
Peter Steele isn’t replaceable
That’s the line the remaining members haven’t crossed, Hickey has repeatedly shut down the idea of reforming Type O Negative outright, making it clear that Steele’s presence, both vocally and musically, can’t be replicated.
Even breaking down the logistics shows how complicated it gets:
“[Peter’s] bass playing was more unique than his vocals.”
It’s not just about finding someone who can hit the low notes. It’s about replacing a presence that defined the band from top to bottom.
A legacy that won’t fade
Sixteen years on from Steele’s passing, Type O Negative still aren’t fading into nostalgia, if anything, their audience is growing. Hickey acknowledged that shift, noting a new generation has picked up on the band’s catalogue, pushing their relevance further than it was even before Steele died.
There’s also movement behind the scenes, with a full-length concert recording currently in the works, potentially landing before the end of the year.
The tribute idea remains in limbo. Possible, but not guaranteed, if it happens, it won’t be about replacing Peter Steele, it’ll be about reminding people why he mattered in the first place.
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