Metal personality C.C. Banana was found dead in his New Jersey home Thursday (May 24) at the age of 43. While an official cause of death has yet to be ruled, it's suspected that he died of an apparent suicide.

NetworkedBlog.com reports that friends stated that the man whose real name was Anthony J. Confessore fell into financial problems of late while trying to finance a rock tribute album saluting plus-size women called 'Whole Lotta Love.' Confessore had also run into trouble with his living arrangements after the house he shared with his mother was foreclosed without his consent.

The industry vet offered his final words on Facebook earlier Thursday, stating, "Xanadu has been breached, my friends. Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the vultures and jackals. No more past. No more future. Both have been taken away." He added that he felt "too broken to be fixed."

Confessore created his character in 2001 while attending a Poison concert, and got the idea that it would be fun to wear the yellow banana suit and ask people to pay him for his autograph. The character began to take off as he started attending hard rock and metal based shows in the New York tri-state area. He would later expand his metal profile by doing interviews with members of such acts as Poison, Winger, Trixter and Cinderella.

A number of friends and family have been paying their respects via his Facebook page. He also had an official website where he posted pics of him posing with various metal artists.

Watch C.C. Banana Interview Winger's Kip Winger