Steve Albini, legendary indie rock producer who hated the titular producer, has died aged 61

CNN
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Steve Albini, a recording engineer who influenced the sound of legendary indie and alternative rock musicians such as Nirvana and Pixies, died of a heart attack in Chicago on Tuesday evening at the age of 61, according to his recording studio Electrical Audio.

The studio said it had no further comment but planned to post more details on its website later this week.

In addition to being the founder and owner of Electrical Audio, Albini was the sound engineer behind releases by musical groups such as the Breeders, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai, the Jesus Lizard, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom, Superchunk, Low, Jawbreaker, Neurosis, Cloud Nothings, Bush, The Stooges, Jarvis Cocker, Cheap Trick, Slint, Veruca Salt and even Jimmy Page and Robert Plant much more .

A biography of Albini on his recording studio’s website states that he was “known for his naturalistic recording philosophy and meticulous analog working methods.”

Albini has been outspoken about the music industry, writing for The Baffler in 1993 that he believes major labels take advantage of young bands.

“Once a band signs a letter of intent, they will either eventually sign a deal that suits the label or they will be destroyed,” Albini wrote.

Albini also dropped the title producer.

“To be a full-fledged ‘producer,’ all you need is the audacity to claim to be one,” Albini wrote. “Therefore, few self-respecting engineers will allow themselves to be called ‘producers’.”

He preferred the title of sound engineer.

The author was Rough Trade Records, which released several of the records he contributed to in a post on X that he “always brought an intangible brilliance to the studio, as the records he made for us with Jarvis, Low and Black Midi attest.”

In a 1993 interview with Tracking Angle, supplemented by publication after Albini’s death, Albini explained his views on his job.

“Most recording engineers are not fans of recorded music in the first place. They are fans of technology first and foremost,” he told the publication.

He later added: “If I make a record with a band, the band is responsible. I’m essentially there as a technician to make what they do every day a part of their normal life and make sure it comes across over the speakers to someone listening at home.”

A gifted musician in his own right, Albini was the frontman of the groundbreaking noise rock band Shellac and the punk rock band Big Black.

Shellac recently announced a new album, the band’s sixth studio LP, which will be released on May 17th.