7.12.2011

Peter's Inner Circle

It's no secret that when bands form, it's usually made of a group of friends who liked each other, enjoyed jamming and decide to do something with their extraordinary connections. In most cases, early on in a band's life, it's friends who are the basic members.

In Northern Lights, Hot Ice, Fallout, Pete's bandmates were his closest friends. It was the guys who he ate with, played ball with, picked up girls with, hung out with, etc. In early Carnivore, Pete's first guitarist was Stan Pillis, a HS friend who Pete had shared a class with. Later, TON was comprised of a combination of his closest friend, and then friends of friends, which eventually led to a long-term partnership that we know as The TON years.



If you look at the later incarnations of Carnivore, Pete hired his friends to do the tours with him. When he had a new project or an idea, he looked to bring people into the mix with him --  in many cases to help them with a new career aspirations --  or just because he knew they needed the money. Then, he would do his best to align those friends with other business associates so that they could make their own connections in his world, which he was happy to help pave the way for these important introductions.

It's no wonder that roadies of his early bands where the bandmates' friends ... many of whom Pete kept with him through all the other bands.

It was no different for me. After jail and through the sobriety era, when Pete had an idea for a new project or an aspiration of something bigger, he reached out to those closest. For several years we discussed a couple of project ideas - with me giving him my advice from my side of the publicity world - to him sharing his music world knowledge and us discussing the possibilities of collaborating. When he wanted a personal assistant, he came to me first and I tried to hook him up with some ideas (then he hired his other neice Marie). When I was laid off after 9/11, he wanted to hook me up with some band managers he knew to help me get a job in his world. And when a variety of his friends wanted to publish books, he sent them along to me for advice ...

I was lucky to meet Jenn Rose, a talented writer and photographer who has been a friend for many years because of Peter making the connection for me.  I love her Gothic photography, which I hope to be able to show sometime soon on this site. She is just one of the caring, creative inner circle people I've gotten a chance to meet and befriend.

14 comments:

  1. Wonderful, love the connection process. Thank you for this particular insight.x

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  2. What a kind heart. It must have given Peter so much pleasure to be able to help friends and family in that way. I suppose he felt like he could trust the people he was close to, so many musicians get ripped off by others around them. I have been around the band scene for a very long time and yes it is essential that the band members are friends. When you see the Type O Negative guys in a interview they have so much fun together and really know each other. I'm sure they fought at times but they were a family. I cant even imagine what they felt on the 14th april 2010, their brother, friend and TON career all gone instantly.

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing this! Peter was such a wonderful and amazing person. I'm sad I only ever saw TON live once back in 1996. I wish I had met him. What a blessing he was to us all. :)

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  4. Very nice read. Thank you for sharing :)

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  5. Thank you for sharing :)

    Amy Wigle

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  6. Pretty cool Peter providing himself as a stepping stone to help others out. Mr. Steele was a class act through and through, thanks again. (-)

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  7. I totally relate to the idea of making connections. You never know when other people can open doors for you at a later stage.

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  8. Rosemarie from NY12:55 PM, July 12, 2011

    the more I read about Peter the more I miss him. The world needs more people like this. Please everyone take these stories to heart and change yourselves. Be more like this. Don't think about negativity, take what Peter left us and use it to be positive, compassionate, caring. The Beatles were all about Love and I know Peter admired them. I wonder if he ever had the chance to meet any of the Beatles...can someone answer that question please? Thank you. This is so New York too of Peter, I am from there. I would bend over backwards for my friends, family. I would help the needy, I always usually was drawn towards people who had mental or physical disabilities when I was a kid. Peter was the same, he helped even though he was going thru his own issues. He found that place inside to be compassionate. I miss him so much. But reading these stories gives me pause to smile. I will be more like him with each story. Thank you for sharing once again.

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  9. Hi girls--

    Interesting story/insight. Shows yet another side of Peter--the businessman. How he made his connections, helped others connect and how he didn't let it all go to his head like I've heard about so many other artists. He truly wanted to help others and see them succeed, but I think he was trying to stay grounded himself. This was neat to read. Thanks for sharing.
    Love & Gratitude--Patty P

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  10. Rosemarie from NY3:21 PM, July 12, 2011

    I'm listening to a CD of songs inspired by Bob Dylan...Warren Zevon's version of Knocking On Heaven's Door. Zevon recorded this song shortly before his death. I knew him, he was a magnificent person. I'm reminded of all the dearly departed who have lived on that edge. What would I change to not lose a wonderful person like Peter or my son's best friend David who died almost 4 yrs ago (7/14/07) I'd give anything. if you look into someone's eyes and you see that far away look and I'm sure you know what I'm saying...please reach out to them, tell them you love them and they need to stay here. They are valued they are important. Maybe they will hear that. If they still don't hear you, get others in the picture that love them too...get in their face and don't let go..don't let them go. We learned the hard way when we lost David. I was not there when Peter passed and I know it's a private matter. I only want to let survivors know that I understand what you're going thru. You have regrets, survivors guilt....what if I had done this or said this. Don't ever feel that you wanted this for your loved one, we didn't. But I've changed. I'm not going to stand by if I see someone struggling, I'm going to get in their face now if I see someone with that faraway look. Heaven is peaceful, no pain, no sorrow. That helps us cope better because I know it's a beautiful place. We wanted you here to bring us joy each day. I'm sorry in a way that we let you down. But we're smarter now, we know now. Show those you love you love them more now. If they are knocking on Heavens door reach out and try to keep them here for a little longer. I'm sorry I get emotional and thanks for listening. We will be gathering again 7/14/11 to remember David....I will also be thinking of Peter. He's where David is, just beyond our view. Maybe they are playing music. We miss you both and we love you both. We won't forget you.

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  11. It seems like Pete's physical characteristics likely put him in the position of proving that he was much more than just some big beautiful lug, that he had not just talent but kindness and intelligence. Glad to see that he consistently managed that in his business decisions. We all knew his bandmates were long-time friends. One can only imagine how devastated losing Pete has been for those of you who were so close, working with him, taking care of business, collaborating when possible. Thank you for your generosity, for not just shutting the door, for sharing with us.

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  12. Hi from Brazil!

    Beautiful blog... Exciting. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  13. Thank you Darcie for the kind words...Peter was and will always remain very special to me and in my heart. To say i MISS him is an understatement. There's a emptiness there (that's all I will say as I'm a very private person as you know.) Much love always to you and the family.

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