Former Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly recently addressed criticism surrounding plans to celebrate the late frontman Peter Steele. He shared his perspective on Sh!t Talk Reviews.
Kelly emphasized the importance of honoring Steele’s legacy despite online opposition. While some fans express skepticism about continuing without the original lineup, others have shown strong support for the tribute.
“I think it’s time to do something in terms of celebrating Peter’s life and his music,” Kelly said. “You go online and you see a bunch of people, a bunch of haters and stuff, [saying stuff] like, ‘Oh, no. You can’t do it. No Peter, no Type O Negative.’ And then there’s other people who’ll, be like, ‘I’ll be there.’ I’ve watched it with [the current touring lineup of] Pantera, for instance. Everybody complained all the way to the arena. They bitched all the way to the arena.”
Kelly drew parallels to Pantera’s successful reunion tours. He pointed out that the band is now selling out larger venues than they did during their original run. He highlighted that Type O Negative is not alone in continuing without all original members.
“We toured with Pantera when they were at the height of their popularity, when the [classic] band was active. I saw what they’re doing now, and I went to see them play two months ago in Dallas. All the touring that we did with Pantera never resulted in rooms that big being sold out like that,” Kelly explained. “When we played with them, we played at Nassau Coliseum. Nassau Coliseum was the smaller arena at the time, and it wasn’t sold out. This was the ‘Far Beyond Driven’ era. At the time, Pantera was huge.”
“But now they’re filling up sheds all over the place. Seeing the success that a lot of bands have had without all of the original members, Type O Negative is naturally getting thrown into the conversation,” Kelly continued. “It works with all these other bands, and everybody out there—the sharks are out there now saying, ‘Who else can we get? Who else can we resurrect?'”
While Kelly’s comments suggest momentum toward a Peter Steele celebration, it’s important to clarify what such an event would actually entail. Metal Injection reported that Kelly has emphasized any event would be a tribute, not a true reunion, since Peter Steele cannot be replaced. The surviving members have consistently maintained this distinction, recognizing that Steele’s unique contributions—both as a vocalist and bassist—are irreplaceable.
The logistics of such a tribute present significant challenges. According to Metal Sucks, Kelly has acknowledged that Peter Steele’s bass playing would be the hardest element to replicate in any tribute performance. This technical difficulty underscores why surviving members have been cautious about committing to a full-scale event without proper planning and the right musicians.
As of late 2025, Metal Injection noted that no official tribute show has been announced or scheduled, despite ongoing discussions among surviving members Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hickey. Both have expressed openness to the idea if the conditions were right. Significant financial backing and logistical planning would be required to make such a tribute a reality.
The interest from the surviving members appears genuine. Kelly’s recent comments suggest that the time may be right to move forward. However, any Peter Steele tribute would likely involve guest musicians rather than attempting to recreate the original lineup. This approach would ensure that the celebration honors Steele’s legacy while acknowledging the impossibility of truly replacing him.
