Steve Albini, a legendary producer and engineer who worked with the likes of Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey and more has died from a heart attack, Pitchfork reported. He was 61.
A staff member at Albini’s Electric Audio Recordings studio in Chicago told Billboard that Albini died of a heart attack Tuesday night, May 7.
“Ugh man, a heartbreaking loss of a legend,” actor Elijah Wood said on X. “Love to his family and innumerable colleagues.”
Albini had a hand in engineering works like Nirvana’s In “Utero,” Pixies’ “Surfer Rosa,” PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me” and many more indie rock classics in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Albini was also a performer in his own right, fronting underground rock bands like Shellac and Big Black, according to Pitchfork.
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English guitarist and singer Ginger Wildheart said he “wouldn’t be the person I am now without Steve Albini,” in an emotional X post regarding the producer’s death.
“I used to try to song like him, I even tried to adopt his ‘no love songs’ policy at the start. Big Black were/are huge for me. The world will miss his uncompromising stance on art and commerce. We lost a beautiful original,” Wildheart said.
Albini was known for calling out the music industry for financially exploiting and stylistically homogenizing artists. He often refused to take ongoing royalties from multiple artists and bands, stating as well that it is unethical.
“I consider the band the most important thing,” Albini said according to a 2013 article from Spin. “I think the very best thing you could do at this point is exactly what you are talking about doing: bang out a record in a couple of days, with high quality but minimal ‘production’ and no interference from the front office bulletheads. If that is indeed what you want to do, I would love to be involved.”
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
