Kenny Hickey Turns Down Type O Negative Reunion
The former guitarist rejected a lucrative offer to reunite the band for a show without late vocalist Peter Steele.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Metal
Kenny Hickey declined a lucrative offer for Type O Negative to reunite for a single show without Peter Steele, who died in April 2010. The band broke up almost immediately after Steele's death and has not performed together since.
Why it matters
The decision underscores how central Steele was to the band's identity, with Hickey saying a reunion would require re-learning the music, building a new visual show, and finding a vocalist and bassist. It also reflects ongoing questions among fans and musicians about whether legacy metal acts can continue without their founding figures.
Type O Negative released seven albums together, and Bloody Kisses has been certified Platinum in the US while October Rust has been certified Gold. The band's final album, Dead Again, arrived in 2007, and it is unclear whether any reunion material would be recorded.
The players
Kenny Hickey
Guitarist and founding member of Type O Negative, who now plays in the doom band Silvertomb.
Peter Steele
Founding vocalist and bassist of Type O Negative, known for the band's gothic doom sound, who died in April 2010.
Johnny Kelly
Drummer who replaced Sal Abruscato in Type O Negative in 1993 and now performs with Hickey in Silvertomb.
Steamhammer
Record label releasing Silvertomb's second album, The Interpretation Of Nightmares.
The details
Guitarist Kenny Hickey said the band was offered one show for a substantial sum, which it turned down. Hickey also plays in the doom band Silvertomb with drummer Johnny Kelly, whose second album, The Interpretation Of Nightmares, is due next week via Steamhammer.
Timeline
April 2010: Peter Steele died at age 48 of sepsis caused by diverticulitis, and the band split almost immediately.
1989: The original Type O Negative lineup was formed.
1993: Johnny Kelly replaced Sal Abruscato as drummer.
2011: Kelly told TV4 that Type O died with Steele.
Next week: Silvertomb releases The Interpretation Of Nightmares.
Season Trajectory
Type O Negative's decision mirrors the pattern of founder-led metal acts that have declined to continue after losing their central voice, rather than replacing the frontman. Hickey's rejection of a reunion without Steele places the band among those that treat the original lineup as irreplaceable.
Fans hoping to see Type O Negative live will not get a reunion show from Hickey's current position, since he has declined the offer. Those interested in the surviving members' work can hear Silvertomb's new album when it releases next week.
The takeaway
Legacy bands built around a singular frontman may face a choice between preserving the original lineup and continuing as a different act. Type O Negative's decision shows that some musicians consider a reunion without their founder to be a different project altogether.
What happens next
Silvertomb releases its second album, The Interpretation Of Nightmares, next week via Steamhammer.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Metal section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Loudersound.
