Type O Negative - Studio 1 in Newark, NJ, on April 3, 1993

 


Gothic Doom in the Garden State: Type O Negative's Pivotal 1993 Show at Studio 1, NewarkOn April 3, 1993, the industrial underbelly of Newark, New Jersey, pulsed with a dark energy as Type O Negative took the stage at Studio 1. This concert, occurring just months before the release of their breakthrough album Bloody Kisses, captured the band at a transitional moment—blending their raw, sludge-laden origins with the gothic allure that would soon propel them to cult stardom. For the assembled crowd of metalheads, goths, and curious locals, it was a night of crushing riffs, sardonic humor, and atmospheric intensity, set against the backdrop of a venue that defined New Jersey's underground rock scene in the 1990s. Studio 1, located at 88-90 Verona Avenue in Newark's north end, was more than a mere nightclub; it was a beacon for alternative music enthusiasts across the tri-state area. Originally evolving from a dance club in the late 1980s, it featured a two-floor layout: the ground level housed the main stage for live acts, complete with a booming sound system and dim lighting that amplified the raw grit of performances, while the upstairs provided a lounge for mingling and drinks. By the early 1990s, Studio 1 had become synonymous with the burgeoning metal and alternative scenes, hosting a diverse array of genres but excelling in rock and heavy metal. Notable acts like Warrant (May 3, 1989), Warrior Soul (July 10, 1993), and later Type O Negative again in 1995 graced its stage, drawing crowds eager for unfiltered live energy. The venue's peak aligned with the post-grunge explosion, where flannel-clad fans and leather-jacketed metal purists converged in a haze of cigarette smoke and amplified distortion. Though it closed in the late 1990s amid industry shifts and financial pressures—its final show on October 16, 1999, featuring Sister Machine Gun and Hanzel Und Gretyl—Studio 1's legacy endures as a cultural touchstone for New Jersey's music history, later repurposed as Tequila Joe's.
Type O Negative, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, were on the cusp of transformation in 1993. Formed in 1989 from the ashes of Peter Steele's previous thrash outfit Carnivore, the band—comprising Steele on vocals and bass, Kenny Hickey on guitar, Josh Silver on keyboards, and Sal Abruscato on drums—had released their debut Slow, Deep and Hard in 1991 to underground acclaim. This album's misanthropic lyrics, drawn from Steele's personal heartbreaks, fused doom metal's plodding heaviness with gothic atmospheres and punk irreverence. By early 1993, they were road-testing material for Bloody Kisses, which would drop on August 17 and catapult them to platinum status, thanks to hits like "Christian Woman" and "Black No. 1." However, in April, the band was still grinding through club dates, building a loyal following in the Northeast. Abruscato's tenure was nearing its end—he'd depart after the album's release, replaced by Johnny Kelly—but his powerful drumming anchored the lineup during this era. Their shows were known for Steele's towering 6'8" presence, dry wit, and thematic explorations of love, death, and societal critique, often laced with black humor.The April 3 bill at Studio 1 kicked off with local death metal act Revenant, a fitting opener whose brutal, technical riffs set a aggressive tone for the evening. Formed in the late 1980s in Bergenfield, New Jersey, Revenant had gained regional notoriety with albums like Prophecies of a Dying World (1991), blending thrash and death metal in a whirlwind of speed and complexity. Their set likely primed the crowd with high-energy moshing, drawing from their catalog of apocalyptic themes and shredding solos, before yielding the stage to the headliners.
Type O Negative's performance, captured in a bootleg CAMRip video that's circulated among fans for decades, clocked in at about 57 minutes and showcased a raw, unpolished energy reflective of their pre-fame days. The setlist drew heavily from Slow, Deep and Hard, interspersed with Carnivore covers and an early rendition of "Black No. 1," hinting at the gothic evolution to come. Opening with the epic "Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity" (split into parts), the band plunged into themes of betrayal with Steele's baritone growl reverberating through the venue's walls. A cover of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" followed, injecting a dose of classic metal homage that surprised and energized the audience. Carnivore staples like "Sex and Violence" and "Jesus Hitler" brought thrash ferocity, while "Kill All The White People" and "Gravitational Constant: G = 6.67 × 10⁻⁸ cm⁻³ gm⁻¹ sec⁻²" highlighted the band's satirical edge and doom-laden grooves. The set closed with a truncated "Kill You Tonight," leaving fans in a sweat-soaked trance. Video quality, in MPEG2 format with PCM audio, reveals a dimly lit stage, Steele's imposing figure dominating, and a crowd surging in the pit—typical of Studio 1's intimate yet chaotic vibe.
Fan recollections paint a vivid picture of the night's impact. One attendee, reflecting years later, described it as their first Type O show, occurring in spring 1993 at Studio One, where Steele's unexpected "Paranoid" cover blew them away, igniting a lifelong obsession with the band. The atmosphere was electric, with the venue's proximity to New York City drawing a mix of urban goths and Jersey metal fans, many discovering the band's unique blend of melancholy and menace for the first time. In an era before widespread internet fame, word-of-mouth and fanzines fueled the buzz, and this gig exemplified the underground's raw authenticity—far from the polished tours that would follow Bloody Kisses' success.
This Newark performance was part of a sparse 1993 itinerary, with dates like April 2 at Hudson Valley Skate Park in Newburgh, NY, and May 15 at Club 490 in Fitchburg, MA, showing the band's regional focus before embarking on a two-year world tour post-album release. It marked a bridge between their debut's aggression and the sensual goth-metal of their impending hit record, which would go platinum and cement their status. Tragically, Steele's death in 2010 from heart failure ended the band's run, but bootlegs and memories keep nights like this alive.
In retrospect, the April 3, 1993, show at Studio 1 encapsulates the 1990s underground: a convergence of genres, a venue fostering community, and a band on the verge of redefining gothic doom. For those who were there, it wasn't just a concert—it was a communion with the Drab Four's dark world, echoing through Newark's streets long after the amps fell silent.
Type O Negative - Studio 1, Newark, NJ, USA, 3 Apr 1993 Set list 01 - Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity (Pt1) 02 - Paranoid (Black Sabbath cover) 03 - Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity (Pt2) 04 - Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All) 05 - Sex and Violence (Carnivore cover) 06 - Kill All The White People 07 - Jesus Hitler (Carnivore cover) 08 - Are You Afraid ? (brief cut at start) 09 - Gravitational Constant: G = 6.67 × 10⁻⁸ cm⁻³ gm⁻¹ sec⁻² 10 - Kill You Tonight (Cuts)

  • Setlist.fm - Type O Negative Setlist at Studio One, Newark (April 3, 1993)
    https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/type-o-negative/1993/studio-one-newark-nj-2bd14462.html
    Detailed setlist from the concert, including tracks like "Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity" and "Black No. 1."
  • YouTube - Type O Negative - Studio One, Newark, NJ, USA 1993 (Full Show Bootleg)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWEYxbmSduA
    Video upload of the concert footage, approximately 57 minutes long, showing the performance in CAMRip quality.
  • Reddit - r/typeonegative Thread: "Curious, who saw them?"
    https://www.reddit.com/r/typeonegative/comments/1879gag/curious_who_saw_them/
    Fan recollections, including a user describing their first Type O Negative show at Studio 1 in Newark in spring 1993, highlighting the impact of covers like "Paranoid."
  • Facebook - Grungers United Group Post (January 14, 2024)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/GrungersUnited/posts/6893266964060642/
    Discussion on Type O Negative's 1993 era, with a comment from a fan who met Peter Steele at Studio 1 in Newark in the 1990s and called it one of their best shows.
  • Setlist.fm - Related Type O Negative Setlist at Club 490, Fitchburg (May 15, 1993)
    https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/type-o-negative/1993/club-490-fitchburg-ma-63d3e69b.html
    Nearby tour date setlist, providing context for the band's 1993 itinerary around the Newark show.
  • TourDateSearch.com - Type O Negative Tour Dates (Page 42)
    https://www.tourdatesearch.com/tourdates/artist/439/type-o-negative?p=42
    Comprehensive list of 1993 tour dates, confirming the April 3 show at Studio One in Newark, along with band bio snippets.
  • YouTube - Type O Negative Live, New Jersey 1993
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St9HA1UewaE
    Another video clip from the Newark concert, with fan comments affirming attendance and the band's NY/NJ area performances.
  • New-Team.org Forum - Type O Negative - Studio 1, Newark, NJ, USA, 3 Apr 1993
    https://smtp3.new-team.org/viewtopic.php?t=74309
    Forum thread with details on the bootleg recording, including the full setlist and genre tags (Doom Metal, Gothic Metal).
  • Concert Archives - Type O Negative Concert Details
    https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/type-o-negative--6836475
    User-submitted archive entry for the show, including potential photos, videos, and setlists from attendees.

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