Famed Chicago producer and musician Steve Albini suffered a heart attack Tuesday night, May 7, and died at age 61. An engineer at Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, broke the news Wednesday May 8 confirming the untimely death of Albini. As things often go in life, Albini was preparing to hit the road with his band Shellac to tour behind their new record, and first in over a decade, To All Trains, which gets released May 17.
Albini was a legend in not only the local Chicago music scene but the overall music industry as well. He was a maverick that bucked the system, shying away from the term “producer” and staunchly refusing to take royalties for his work at the expense of bands he collaborated with.
Although he worked with icons such as Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, Page and Plant, and Cheap Trick, Albini really carved out a name for himself with scores of indie bands such as The Fleshtones, The Membranes, Pixies, The Breeders, and Chicago rockers Veruca Salt. Any mention of Albini would be remiss without acknowledging his own work as a musician with Rapeman, Big Black, and, of course, Shellace which he formed in 1992.
Albini was never too far away from the studio at any given time. He bought Electrical Audio in 1995 and remained there as working “producer” and musician right up to his death. The world of music has lost a legend and an icon.
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