Steve Albini, US alt-rock musician and producer, dies aged 61

Steve Albini, the talented singer, guitarist, and producer, who helmed some of the most respected records in the alternative music scene across America, has passed away at the age of 61 after experiencing a heart attack while in his recording studio. Personnel at his studio, Electrical Audio, have verified this news to Pitchfork.

In addition to being the lead singer of Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac, all of whom were at the forefront of post-punk and art-rock, Albini also worked as a producer, or, in his own words, an engineer, for Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. He was admired for his do-it-yourself and punk philosophy, rebuffing streaming platforms and declining any royalties for the albums he produced for other musicians.

Shellac had been getting ready to launch their debut album, To All Trains, which will be the first release since 2014. It is scheduled to be out next week.

Albini was born in 1962 in California and was heavily influenced by the punk movement. The Ramones were a major inspiration, but he also found interest in the more unusual bands like Devo and Pere Ubu. Later on, Albini relocated to the Chicago suburbs to pursue a journalism degree. He became involved in the underground music scene in the area, contributing to different publications and working for Ruthless Records, a punk label.

The musician created his own music project called Big Black which began as a solo pursuit but later developed into a four-member band. Their first album Atomizer came out in 1986 and their second album, Songs About Fornication, is well-known for its angry guitar sound and drum machine rhythms. It became a significant album in the punk scene in America during that time and even received recognition from Robert Plant. Plant went on to have Albini produce his album with Jimmy Page, called Walking Into Clarksdale.

By the time Songs About Fucking was released, the band Big Black had already disbanded. Albini reasoned that it was better to end things on their terms rather than turning into another spectacle of gross rock. Following this, he formed a new band called Rapeman in 1987. The name was inspired by a Japanese manga series and was seen as another example of Albini's desire to challenge and provoke. However, Albini later expressed regret for the name, which he deemed to be thoughtless and disrespectful.

Being cautious about not jumping from one musical project to another, Albini made sure that his next band would last. And indeed, Shellac, which was established in 1992, became a unique presence in the American art-rock music scene by delivering a simplistic yet musically playful sound that featured captivating chemistry between Albini, drummer Todd Trainer and bassist Bob Weston. Over the years, they have produced five albums and are set to release their latest one, To All Trains, in the coming week.

He not only worked on his music, but also honed his skills as a sound engineer. He gained recognition for his work on the Pixies' first album, Surfer Rosa, in 1988. During the early 90s, when grunge music was popular, he worked on many albums, such as the Jesus Lizard, Tad, and the Breeders. He also helped to create the rough sound on PJ Harvey's album Rid Of Me in 1993, which showcased his talent. One of his most notable accomplishments that year was producing Nirvana's album In Utero. Although the label, Geffen, wanted more mainstream production, Albini's dark presentation of the band's songs challenged their commercial interests. In the end, the album included only two singles that were produced differently from the rest of the tracks, causing clashes between Albini and Geffen.

Despite occasionally causing a stir with mainstream audiences, Albini gained a fan base among musicians due to his straightforward methods. He prioritized the intentions of each artist rather than imposing his own production style. Additionally, Albini favored analog techniques and even boldly declared his disdain for digital methods on the sleeve of Songs About Fucking.

After experiencing unprecedented triumph, he established Electrical Audio back in 1995. He was acknowledged in the acknowledgement pages for many significant American indie projects that transcended the raucous style usually associated with him. Some of these include Joanna Newsom, Low, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and more. British musicians such as Manic Street Preachers, Mogwai, and Jarvis Cocker also eagerly sought his knowledge and proficiency.

Albini had a sarcastic sense of humor that often offended artists and fans. For example, he once jokingly dedicated a Big Black single to fascist leader Benito Mussolini. However, as time passed, Albini became more remorseful for his past actions. In 2021, he wrote a viral thread on X (then Twitter) expressing regret for hurtful remarks made out of ignorance and privilege. He recognized that despite the rise of right-wing fascism, he had never been personally targeted. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, Albini acknowledged his responsibility and the need to understand the impact of his words and actions.

Albini was famous for his skills in poker. He managed to win a substantial amount of money amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars and two bracelets at the World Series of Poker tournament.

There were many people who honored Albini, but one of them was Elijah Wood, an actor who expressed sadness over the death of the legendary figure.

David Grubbs, who collaborated with Albini as a part of Gastr Del Sol, described him as an exceptional, extremely benevolent individual, and a unique personality. It is truly inspiring to witness his growth and acceptance of things he moved beyond.

Albini's spouse, filmmaker Heather Whinna, remains after his passing.