Thank You "Anonymous" For A Peter Steele Reminder
I usually thank the readers of this blog on Saturdays for their amazing contributions of art, song, poetry, personal stories. I'm breaking my own pattern for a moment to thank "anonymous" for posting the link to a Times Union piece that reminded me of the compassion of Peter Steele.
When you think "rock star" an image arises in your mind of a priviledged musician who would shake your hand as you are buying their cd, but may not look you in the eye or acknowledge your existence. I've been to hundreds of 'meet & greets' for various rockstars and have witnessed this phenomenon. The 'meet & greets' are a necessary evil -- esp for newer bands who are trying to connect to their audience. It's rare that a star will make eye contact ... it's even more rare when they look in your eye, shake your hand, ask you about your life and hand you their phone number. But this was Pete. Many a tour, he'd come home with scraps of papers with notes that he took while on tour. Notes about interesting people he met. Phone numbers of artists he talked with or saw their work. I know, because he'd ask me to write it up for him.
For the people who never met Peter, I want to say that the link to the article about Peter hugging a wheelchair bound fan is not an unusual thing for him. He wasn't the type of guy who was only concerned about a person while the camera's were rolling. He was the type of guy who graciously thanked his fans for supporting him. When he met people, he asked about THEIR life and THEIR job. Whether the person was an artist, fellow musician, construction worker, soldier, writer -- he was genuinely interested in knowing about who that person was and was appreciative that they took time from their lives to buy a ticket to see him.
In fact, during these chance meetings, there were many people who would say that they were unemployed, or that they had career aspirations that they couldn't accomplish. In those cases -- and I've heard, seen and witnessed thousands of times -- Peter offering his heartfelt advice or help to them. If you became friendly with him, he'd include you in his circle of business associates. From AA mentors to friends of friends to family members, if Peter felt something for you, he wanted to help bring you into his circle. He wanted you to be successful.
How many rockstars have you met that offered you their phone numbers and gave you their home addresses so you could "pop by" when you are in town? That's the kind of guy he was ...
(My apologies to referring to Peter as a "rockstar" in this blog. Pete would have rolled his eyes & ordered me to take this out of the posting if he was here. The problem is, I can't figure out another title for him. Maybe artist extraordinaire? )
http://blog.timesunion.com/marshall/a-lighter-side-of-peter-steele-1962-2010/410/#comment-12141
I believe this is a promotional photo done of Peter.
I found it on TON memorial site
When you think "rock star" an image arises in your mind of a priviledged musician who would shake your hand as you are buying their cd, but may not look you in the eye or acknowledge your existence. I've been to hundreds of 'meet & greets' for various rockstars and have witnessed this phenomenon. The 'meet & greets' are a necessary evil -- esp for newer bands who are trying to connect to their audience. It's rare that a star will make eye contact ... it's even more rare when they look in your eye, shake your hand, ask you about your life and hand you their phone number. But this was Pete. Many a tour, he'd come home with scraps of papers with notes that he took while on tour. Notes about interesting people he met. Phone numbers of artists he talked with or saw their work. I know, because he'd ask me to write it up for him.
For the people who never met Peter, I want to say that the link to the article about Peter hugging a wheelchair bound fan is not an unusual thing for him. He wasn't the type of guy who was only concerned about a person while the camera's were rolling. He was the type of guy who graciously thanked his fans for supporting him. When he met people, he asked about THEIR life and THEIR job. Whether the person was an artist, fellow musician, construction worker, soldier, writer -- he was genuinely interested in knowing about who that person was and was appreciative that they took time from their lives to buy a ticket to see him.
In fact, during these chance meetings, there were many people who would say that they were unemployed, or that they had career aspirations that they couldn't accomplish. In those cases -- and I've heard, seen and witnessed thousands of times -- Peter offering his heartfelt advice or help to them. If you became friendly with him, he'd include you in his circle of business associates. From AA mentors to friends of friends to family members, if Peter felt something for you, he wanted to help bring you into his circle. He wanted you to be successful.
How many rockstars have you met that offered you their phone numbers and gave you their home addresses so you could "pop by" when you are in town? That's the kind of guy he was ...
(My apologies to referring to Peter as a "rockstar" in this blog. Pete would have rolled his eyes & ordered me to take this out of the posting if he was here. The problem is, I can't figure out another title for him. Maybe artist extraordinaire? )
http://blog.timesunion.com/marshall/a-lighter-side-of-peter-steele-1962-2010/410/#comment-12141