World Entertainment News Network reports that TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele had to use his size to avoid violence in jail because fellow inmates made it clear they didn't approve of his long black hair and fangs.

Steele served a prison term in 2005 after beating up a love rival and threatening to kill him, and admits he feared for his life behind bars.

He tells Revolver magazine, "To be white in jail and to have long black hair and fangs is not an advantage. I was in maximum security, and there were some pretty scary people in there who are never gonna get out, so they had nothing to lose by f**king with me. Fortunately, I'm six-foot eight (inches) and I weigh 260 pounds, so I'm not exactly a target."

Steele's 2005 confinement didn't stop with his spell in jail. Upon his release, family members staged an intervention and insisted he check into a mental institution.

He adds, "I was suffering from drug-induced psychosis, and I was doing some pretty insane things, like putting cameras in light switches and in shower heads. All the paranoia was because of all the cocaine I was doing."