Type O Negative vocalist / bassist Peter Steele passed away at 6pm EDT on April 14 of apparent heart failure. He was 48 years old.His surviving bandmates - guitarist Kenny Hickey, keyboardist Josh Silver and drummer Johnny Kelly - paid their respects to Peter in a statement on the band's official website, www.typeonegative.net."[He] was one of the most brilliant and funny personalities in music and it was all for real," says Hickey. "Part of me died with him.""We went on one hell of a ride together and sadly, the ride has come to an end," adds Kelly. "Whether it was talking about The Beatles, power tools or calling me at 3am asking me to drive to your house to have a fistfight with you, you always kept it interesting. It was a privilege to have been your bandmate.""I will miss you, but at this moment your premature departure seems surreal and has pissed me off to no end," says Silver. "Goodbye my friend."A number of stars have also paid tribute to the late, iconic musician."RIP Pete Steele - a nice (and very funny) man," writes Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor in a Twitter post. "I'm smiling recalling a funny story involving Pete, a microphone, an all-girl lipstick-lesbian band and a can of tuna. Ah, the good old days...""I haven't heard such bad news in a long time," adds Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia. "I am appalled, speechless. I will miss you, brother, my influence and adorable giant.""[He] was one of the nicest guys," says DevilDriver vocalist Dez Farfara. "We have all lost a legend - a voice that will never be duplicated!""Peter and company took us out for a little spin in Germany a few years ago and we became mates with 'em," said Opeth guitarist/vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt. "Peter was always very kind to us. From the get-go he went up to [Martin] Mendez and offered him his bass guitar if he wanted to borrow it. I mean, things like that simply don't happen in the rock business anymore, but I think he had a different view on things.""Rest In Peace, my friend, brother, and mentor, Peter Steele," said Biohazard bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld. "I fucking miss you so much already... I love you, brother. I hope you are in a better place."