4.15.2011

Old Fans ... New Friends


We are eternally grateful for the support, love, devotion, sentiment bestowed on Peter (and to the family) during this horrible year. But, yesterday, on the anniversary of losing him, every word you wrote and photo you posted made the day so much more liveable.  You may be old fans of Pete's but we feel like you've become new friends to us.

SO, SOME THANKS ARE IN ORDER:

~ Thank you for all those who gave us a shoulder to cry on, accepted phone calls in the middle of the work day or late at night when we needed to talk through some emotions, angers, frustrations, sorrows.

~ Thank you to the long-time family friends who reconnected and stayed present in our lives throughout this ordeal. We love you. We thank you for everything

~ Thank you to our new friends who have spent the last year emailing us on Cathy's FB page, leaving snippets of songs, posting gorgeous artwork, and letting us know you are out there, feeling just as badly as we do

~ Thank you to the amazing artists, the bouncers, musicians, producers, managers, publicists, radio hosts, roadies, songwriters who have made us smile with tributes, messages, dedications -- you are all so important to us and have been a huge family to Pete. We will never forget you.

~ Thank you to Peter's TON brothers during the latest tribute interview:  Josh for eloquently descibing your working and playing relationship with Peter. Thank you for putting aside the jokes and telling the public about Peter's intense creativity and work habits. It was so good to hear it from someone else. To Kenny for being able to putting aside your own fears and doubts about the music industry and being able to acknowledge the amazing working relationship you had with Peter. Without too much sarcasm, your true feelings came through your words, and seeing that in b/w this week, was the greatest honor you could give him. To Johnny for being the partner in crime in the videos and a gracious friend and longtime supporter of helping Peter overcome his demons. We know your love for him is deep and profound.

Did I miss anyone? Oh yeah, my family ... it's been a hard year and half with first losing Nancy and then 4 months later, Peter (oldest and youngest). But, we are making it though by helping each other with the grieving process. It's a long haul, but if Peter had anything to say about it he'd tell us to keep the drama to a minimum and listen to the Jerky Boys and laugh a little.

25 comments:

  1. And thank you again for opening to use and giving us a space to show love for Peter and his family

    Love

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  2. I'm still awake...celebrating his life:)

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  3. i want to thank you the family for making us the fans feel important and worthy.peter touched everyone he or his music came in contact with,he changed us all in some way or another.we miss him and will forever hold him high in our hearts.god bless the family and may you all stay safe.
    wih much love and respect,
    erik hernandez

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  4. Thank you so much for pouring your hearts out and sharing your stories and pictures of Peter. Always so handsome. :)

    Your post about how Peter's passing affected you guys just broke my heart. I think fans in general of Peter (& other artists apply as well), we forget that they have families too and hurt more because you guys were the ones that REALLY knew Peter. He was your brother/uncle/cousin/friend. When I heard of Peter's passing a year ago I had two regrets: I DID own The Least Worst Of since I was about 16 or 17 but I never REALLY got further into the band event though I meant to cos I loved that compilation. And the 2nd regret was never going to see ToN play live when I had a couple of chances in the past 10-12 years. But that's ok. Peter lives on through all these great storis, photographs and memories. I hope you continue to keep this blog going. But mostly, I hope the pain gets easier. God bless the Ratajczyk family, ToN and everyone that personally knew Peter. And thank you again for sharing all of this with us. <3

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  5. Dear Ratajczyk Family!
    Thank you for Peter, a wonderful man who grew up in a great family.

    Agnes

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  6. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
    Much love

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  7. I think some of us feel strange about being so profoundly connected to someone we've never met but has been our 'ear' for well over a decade. Why are we? There's a million reasons. Love him as much as possible, admire, maybe even idolize somewhat. His words made sense and pulled me through times of death, despair, and torment.

    Learning about his life and achievements has been a gift, thank you.

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  8. Thank you all for everything much love goes out to you all.....Windy

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  9. thank you so much for graciously and generously sharing your memories of Peter with us and for giving us this space to express ourselves. I am deeply sorry for both your losses and pray that your are healing and finding peace and comfort. I agree with the commentator that said that Peter was a wonderful man who obviously grew up surrounded by caring, loving people. I wish you all the best.

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  10. THANKS FOR YOUR POSTS. A big hug from Italy

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  11. Thanks so much for letting the fans be a big part of everything. Peter would have loved to see so much support being shown from everyone. You truly are an amazing family. I miss you Peter....Love you to death and beyond <3

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  12. ...just knowing you guys crack up as much at the Jerky Boys as we in my house do makes me smile a little more. My shadow..it's scaring me!!! Now go listen to the Egyptian musician bit in the eye by his cobra and giggle for me. You all deserve to smile. *HUGS & love*

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  13. Thank you for making this site. Wish you all the best. This one is for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoxXq_lX1aY
    Love xoxo

    Alice

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  14. Dear Ratajczyk Family,

    I met Peter for the First time while in Huntington,WV attending college at Marshall University. He was on tour with Type-O-Negative through Slave 1 productions with Drain S.T.H. and Stuck Mojo. They played the Drop Shop. I was so close to the stage and Peter who has nothing short of an "AWE Inspiring" stage presence. He picked up a bottle of Jager at started strumming it across his bass(spilled it all over me) but I didn't care as it was Peter a man I had come to respect not only for his musical prowess but his intellect! After the show I talked with Petrus and he told me about his dreams of becoming a "Civil Engineer" and about the Song "Bloody Kisses" being about his cat he had seen get hit by a car(he was so emotional over this) and stated he chased the vehicle. Seeing a man of his stature chasing you I'd be scared too. He was a man of great intellectual capacity and marvelous song writing skill! I feel he had so much left to give the world musically. I feelcheated/robbed of a musician whose musical career I have followed since the "Fallout" days but most of all I feel I have lost a friend whose music I wish not to live without. May there always be a Halloween In Heaven Petrus:(

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  15. Thank you to the Ratajczyk family for allowing us to share in your emotions and tears in the loss of your brother (and your sister) ..Even though a lot of us never knew him personally, his words touched us like a hug or high five from an old friend...We all knew him in our heads and heart in our own ways along with our own translations of his words..It has been a year and the wound is still raw, it will ease in time, and in its place will be a voice that will forever be heard....hugs to everyone and let us be friends for ever more...
    Karen Sytek,NC

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  16. I thought the wounds had healed until I cried late last night. The heartache is still there, although nowhere near the level of what you, his family, share. We fans are honored to have known your brother Peter through his music. Thank you again for giving us this gift

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  17. I agree; it is such a tempest of emotion right now and yet there is a big help in knowing that we who mourn are not alone. Hopefully I'll get a chance in the coming months to head back to the gravesite.

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  18. Hello Ratajczyk's!

    There is nothing that I can say here that has not already been said, but I do give my own THANK YOU for sharing your memories, photos and heartache with all of us this past week. I can say that it has deffinately helped me get through it all.

    Much love & utmost respect to you ALL,
    Mare

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  19. I just wanted to thank you for choosing to share so much with us all. Reading your blog and all the wonderful memories and stories about Peter has made the last few days more bearable. My husband introduced me to Type O Negative 13 years ago when we very first met and he was living in Belfast and me in London. He used to make me Tapes of Type O and send them to me. We both loved Pete so so much, his musical genius is unparalleled and he was just this wonderful precious soul...he was magical....I was six months pregnant with our second son when my husband told me Pete he'd died.....I just couldn't take it in...I was devastated...I couldn't read anything about what happened and I couldn't listen to any of Pete's music for months...it was just to hard. As the one year anniversary came closer I started listening again..then I found your blog, my new source of comfort : ) Now it's time to celebrate Pete's life and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing so much. Sending all my love and bless you all. Melanie McAllister xxxxxx

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  20. Thank you, Ratajczyk family.

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  21. The first time I "met" Petar, he nearly stepped on me, literally!! That was (20?)years ago at what used to be the Pepsi Coliseum in Indy, they opened for Danzig with 1 or 2 other bands. Thought he was a roadie, he picked me up and sat me on a barrier, told security--She stays! Then the lights came on and he nodded to me from the stage and smiled his wickedness, I was hooked..that man saved my life!! I am so sorry for your loss...NeNe

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  22. Dear Ratajczyk Family,

    Thank you for sharing your lives and feelings with so many of us who, although we may have never met Peter, connected with him on a strong emotional level. As my brother (who I made a tradition of seeing Type O with as often as possible) said, Peter's death felt like "we can't see our friend Pete on Halloween anymore." We could always count on seeing Type O around Halloween, and every show felt familiar and welcoming (and amazing). Peter's larger than life presence mad a huge impact on thousands of lives. His humor, talent, kindness, and genius touched the hearts of countless people. There is much to be said about the overwhelming affect of Peter's magnificent and hugely encompassing personality and musical gifts on his loved ones and fans. Our hearts and thoughts are with you when we are reminded of of Peter and the times in our lives when his voice carried us through so many varied emotional points in our lives. Thank you.

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  23. Dear Ratajczyk Family,

    Words simply cannot express the loss the emptiness you the family,Kenny,Josh and Johnny,the fans must all feel, but do not be discouraged nor despair...rather remember all the good times spent with Peter(his rather dark sense of humor, his intellect and his love for not only family, but friends(he'd go above and beyond to help those in need.That was just Peter's way. A big man with an even larger heart. On that sad day gather and share tales of times spent together with Pete. You haven't lost anything you see. Pete's live was not spent in vane rather his 48yrs on this earth have provided not only you his family with fond memories, but Josh,Johnny and Kenny and we the fans with memories of the Man of Steele. You are not lost Peter Ratajczyk(Also known as Peter Steele) rather your music,your life has had such a huge impact on us all. Your music lives on in all our memories. May your forever rest in peace Peter. We miss you:(

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  24. we should be the ones to thank you for letting the millions of fans read these beautiful stories of your life and time with peter.... it truly makes us feel like part of the family.....

    R.I.P PETER
    We all miss and love you



    sending love all the way from Australia

    Kris xo

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  25. I co-own the vampirefreaks.com cult October_Rust my girlfriend(Jiliaya) and I cam across this video by Murder Blu-"Just Another Hero" enjoy...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7DgXAWItTc&feature=player_embedded

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