Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Brian Fox, an engineer at Albini's studio, Electrical Audio Recording, said Wednesday that Albini died after a heart attack Tuesday night.
In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as 鈥榮 鈥淚n Utero,鈥� the Pixies鈥� breakthrough 鈥淪urfer Rosa,鈥� and PJ Harvey鈥檚 鈥淩id of Me,鈥� Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac.
He dismissed the term 鈥減roducer,鈥� refused to take royalties from the albums he worked on, and requested he be credited with 鈥淩ecorded by Steve Albini,鈥� a fabled label .
At the time of his death, Albini鈥檚 band Shellac were preparing to tour their first new album in a decade, 鈥淭o All Trains,鈥� which releases next week.
Other acts whose music was shaped by Albini include Joanna 51黑料om鈥檚 indie-folk opus, 鈥淵s,鈥� and releases from bands like , the Jesus Lizard, Hum, Superchunk, Low and Mogwai.
Albini was born in California, grew up in Montana, and fell in love with the do-it-yourself punk music scene in Chicago while studying journalism at Northwestern University.
As a teenager, he played in punk bands, and in college, wrote about music for the prescient indie zine 鈥淔orced Exposure.鈥� While attending Northwestern in the early 鈥�80s, he founded the abrasive, noisy post-punk band Big Black, known for its mordant riffs, violent and taboo lyrics and drum machine in lieu of a live drummer. It was a controversial innovation at the time, from a man whose career would be defined by risky choices. The band鈥檚 best-known song, the ugly, explosive, six-minute 鈥淜erosene鈥� from their cult favorite album, 1986's 鈥淎tomizer,鈥� is ideal evidence 鈥� and not for the faint of heart.
Then came the short lived band Rapeman 鈥� one of two groups Albini fronted with indefensibly offensive names and vulgar song titles. In the early 鈥�90s, he formed Shellac, the ferocious, distorted noise-rock band 鈥� an evolution from Big Black, but still punctuated by pummeling guitar tones and aggressive vocals.
In 1997, Albini opened his famed studio, Electrical Audio, in Chicago.
鈥淭he recording part is the part that matters to me 鈥� that I鈥檓 making a document that records a piece of our culture, the life鈥檚 work of the musicians that are hiring me,鈥� last year, when asked about some of the well-known and much-loved albums he's recorded. "I take that part very seriously. I want the music to outlive all of us.鈥�
Albini was a larger-than-life character in the independent rock music scene, known for his forward-thinking productions, unapologetic irreverence, acerbic sense of humor and criticisms of the music industry鈥檚 exploitative practices 鈥� as detailed in his landmark 1993 essay 鈥淭he Problem with Music鈥� 鈥� as much as his talents.
Later in life, he became a notable poker player for his past indiscretions.
鈥淯gh man, a heartbreaking loss of a legend. Love to his family and innumerable colleagues," wrote actor . 鈥淔arewell, Steve Albini.鈥�
Author Michael Azerrad, who included a chapter on Big Black in his comprehensive history, 鈥淥ur Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981鈥�1991,鈥� also 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what to say about Steve Albini鈥檚 passing," Azerrad wrote. "He had a brilliant mind, was a great artist and underwent the most remarkable and inspiring personal transformation. I can鈥檛 believe he鈥檚 gone.鈥�
Albini is survived by his wife, Heather Whinna, a filmmaker.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
