Steve Albini

Steve Albini
Albini in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Steven Frank Albini[a]
Born	(1962-07-22)July 22, 1962 Pasadena, California, U.S.
Origin	Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Died	May 7, 2024(2024-05-07) (aged 61) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock noise rock industrial rock alternative rock math rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter musician record producer audio engineer music journalist
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass drums
Years active	1981–2024
Labels	Touch and Go
Formerly of	Big Black Rapeman Flour Pigface Pegboy Shellac

Steven Frank Albini (/ælˈbiːni/; July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024) was an American musician and audio engineer who was a member of the influential post-hardcore and noise rock bands Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989) and Shellac (1992–2024). He was the founder, owner, and principal engineer of the Chicago recording studio Electrical Audio. He recorded thousands of records, collaborating with such acts as Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, the Jesus Lizard and Page and Plant.

Albini was born in Pasadena, California, and raised in Missoula, Montana. After discovering the Ramones as a teenager, he played in a number of punk bands. He earned a degree in journalism at Northwestern University, Illinois, and he wrote for local zines before moving to Chicago, where he immersed himself in the punk scene. He formed Big Black in 1981, with whom he released two albums and four EPs. Following the dissolution of Big Black in 1987, Albini opened Electrical Audio and focused on engineering. In 1988 he formed the controversially named band Rapeman with David Wm. Sims and Rey Washam, releasing one album and one EP. He formed Shellac with Bob Weston and Todd Trainer in 1992, with whom he released several albums, including At Action Park (1994) and 1000 Hurts (2000).

Noted for his outspoken and blunt opinions, Albini was critical of local punk scenes and the music industry, which he saw as exploitative. He refused to take royalties on albums he worked on, operating on a fee-only basis. Albini died of a heart attack on May 7, 2024.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).