MetalGodZradiO’s “The Mighty Z” recently sat down for a deep and personal conversation with Kenny Hickey, guitarist of Silvertomb and former member of the legendary Type O Negative. What followed was a journey through music history, personal loss, and emotional resilience—punctuated with honesty, humor, and a dose of East Coast grit.
Early Influences and the Birth of a Musician
Kenny’s love for music started young, thanks to rock radio and WPLJ in New York. Hearing Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road as a child was the first spark. “I was maybe six or seven. Elton John was the first rock star who really blew my mind,” he recalls. But it was the iconic image of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley—complete with a smoking guitar—that sealed the deal. “I saw that and said, ‘I gotta buy a guitar.’”
His first axe? Not a Gibson Les Paul, but a PV T-60—affordable, loud, and just what an 11-year-old kid needed to blast power chords in his living room.
The Cover Band Years and Lessons from the Stage
Hickey’s teenage years were spent in the local cover band scene—grinding it out in clubs with his band Power Surge. One of his first live shows as a fan was seeing TT Quick cover AC/DC at Lamour in Brooklyn, a formative experience that showed him the raw power of a live performance.
“Back then, it was all about how accurate your cover band was. You had to deliver,” Kenny says. “That’s how Twisted Sister made it. That’s how AC/DC made it. They played every night. That’s apprenticeship.”
Growing Up Rock ‘n’ Roll—With Mom’s Approval (Eventually)
Kenny’s mother wasn’t thrilled about his musical aspirations at first. “She’d say, ‘It’ll never get you anything but a free drink and a whore,’” he laughs. But once Type O Negative gained traction, she became proud. “She was a first-generation Elvis fan,” he adds. “I grew up with her blasting Elvis and Roy Orbison on Sundays while cleaning the house.”
On Grief, Depression, and Healing Through Music
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation delved into mental health and grief—especially in the wake of Peter Steele’s passing and the end of Type O Negative.
“I struggle with anxiety and depression. It’s always been part of my life,” Kenny admits. “Medication never worked for me, so I face it day by day. Music’s been the strongest coping mechanism I have.”
He grieves openly, not bottling things up. “I do cry. I let it out,” he says. “Grieving is necessary. If you don’t, it’ll eat you alive.”
The Birth of Silvertomb: A New Chapter
Silvertomb’s debut album, Edge of Existence, released on November 1st, marked a raw and emotional new era for Kenny. “The songs started simple, but as we kept going, it turned into an exploration of the past 10 years—dealing with Peter’s death, life changes, and trying to figure out my next move.”
He acknowledges the darkness in the music but insists it’s just one side of who he is. “I love to laugh, hang out with family, party with friends. I’m not always depressed—it just comes out in the music.”
That Famous Swiss Cheese V
Fans of Type O might get a laugh (or a cringe) at this memory: In the early days of the band, Kenny was playing a black Gibson Flying V. One day, Peter Steele “customized” it by drilling inch-wide holes into it and painting the insides green. “He made Swiss cheese out of my V!” Kenny says. He still has the guitar, though it's likely not playable.
Legacy, Loss, and the Future of Type O Negative
Would Kenny ever consider a Type O Negative reunion with a hologram or tribute act?
“I have no interest,” he says candidly. “Josh is a paramedic now. He’s out of music. It’s just me and Johnny left. I don’t want to be in a wedding band. It would feel like a cover band.”
Still, he doesn’t rule it out completely. “Never say never. If you see me up there one day, just know I needed the money,” he jokes.
Final Thoughts: What Keeps Kenny Going
Despite the ups and downs of the industry—and life—Kenny remains committed to music as a form of expression and survival. “All I want to do is create something worthwhile,” he says. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
And with Silvertomb, he’s doing just that—channeling years of emotion, history, and heartache into something beautifully heavy.
Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.
Want more? Follow Silvertomb on [Instagram/Spotify] and catch them live this summer.
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