R.I.P. Steve Albini

Details here.

That's a shock. 61 is way too young for someone who's not ill.

Even if I didn't always agree with his philosophies, I'm glad he was around - he could be just the right shock to the system when things got overwrought in the alternative/indie rock world.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! The only producer for whom I was almost guaranteed to love every album based on the sound alone.

If I see one more obit leading off with "In Utero," I am going to scream. Were the people writing these obits even alive during Big Black's heyday? It's not right that such a prominent figure's legacy is already be spun and re-written. Huge loss.

I'd always respected him as a producer, but really grew to respect him as a person over the last few years as he became - to use his own words describing the Insane Clown Posse - "a model for owning your shit." Seeing him acknowledge that some of his past behaviors were harmful, make no attempt to justify them or pass the blame to anyone else, and become what seemed to a much happier and contented person, while still not compromising his principles, was pretty inspiring. Ten years ago, I doubt that the news of talented asshole Steve Albini dying would've had me sitting at my desk at work with misty eyes. But the passing of the good man Steve Albini definitely does.

A few months back he did a great interview on the Three Questions with Andy Richter podcast. If you've not heard it, it's worth seeking out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2024 02:27PM by breno.

DAMN, wow yeah, total shocker for me too. Not expecting this.

Totally agree, BCE. "Atomizer" was huge in the rock underworld. An earlier EP was also great, but that album pretty much blew Albini up to the point where he COULD be asked to produce albums like "In Utero" (or Plant/Page, etc). Hearing songs like "Kerosene" on mid-'80s college radio, in between friendly REM or Camper Van Beethoven sides was like, "What the hell am I listening to?!?" An 800lb gorilla had just entered the room, with an unflinchingly brutal, yet utterly compelling mood that those industrial groups wished they could summon.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2024 02:35PM by MrFab.

This one really hurts.

I always kinda appreciated his asshole persona, but like Reno, my appreciation of the man increased a lot over recent years. I saw him a bunch of times with Shellac over the last 15 years or so and he could for sure still bring that "funny asshole" vibe to his live shows. But last time I saw him a year or so ago, he was still double-masked when not on stage and made an impassioned plea from the stage to respect other people's choices and try to look out for one another.

And in addition to creating some incredible music over the years with his own bands (that Rapeman album is a desert island disc for me), he helped other bands create some of their best music too. I still say that the drum sound on PJ Harvey's Rid of Me is the best ever put to wax. And like nosepail, I could pretty much assume I would like anything with his name attached.

RIP, Steve - you will really be missed.

You nailed it Rhett. When the drums fully kick in on Yuri G, I pretty much orgasm every time. And then he ups the ante during the bridge with that absolutely incredible cymbal / percussion sound. Its breathtaking. And we haven't even gotten to Jesus Lizard yet. This band could be your life.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2024 07:46PM by nosepail.

This was a complete gut punch, I just played his stuff all day. When I was still in Chicago, I lived within walking distance of Electrical Audio, and even though I never had a reason to go in, much less record anything there, I loved the idea that it was around.

I've read enough to know the antagonistic relationship he had with so many back in the day, but I didn't really know who he was until the '00s, and by that time I think he had matured quite a bit, something he would continue to do until the end. He was incredibly principled but he wasn't above questioning himself and evolving either. For that reason, he was one of the rare individuals I could actually look up to - goes without saying he made and shepherded so much great music, but he was also an incredible human being who gave back to the community ALL the time. If you're from the Chicago area and follow whatever was written on him in the papers, you'll know what I mean. The city's going to feel emptier without him.

For those who haven’t seen this, how Steve Albini spends Christmas:

[www.huffpost.com]

Anybody know anything about this?

https://medium.com/@MoonMetropolis/now-that-steve-albini-is-dead-lets-reflect-on-his-admitted-love-and-promotion-of-child-fadf5072288e

I've seen this pop up a few times in the past couple of days. First I've heard of it. I would assume this was part of his dumbshit edgelord persona back in the day, but none of the folks posting about it seem to think so.

I assume this was one of the many things Albini was referring to when he apologized for his edgelord days, but I never saw anyone bring it up specifically. I hope it was just a dumb attempt at being provocative, not a reflection of his actual desires.

God, that's horrible. Impossible to separate his self-caricatured persona with him as a real person, but those excerpts are awful.

I would assume that despite the fact he was spewing this shit publicly in a published article but as far as I know never ended up on the same sort of registry as Pete Townshend is the best indication that this was intended as a "joke" and there's no there there. (Or Chicago cops really dropped the ball, which ain't out of the question.) The fact that some people might not recognize it as such is because jokes usually tend to be funny. Unless it's an edgelord edgelording, then it's dismaying, irritating, stupid and pointless - just a jackass trying to shock the normies for no one's edification but their own.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2024 03:36PM by breno.

FWIW, the guy who wrote that Medium article is a notorious internet troll who was convicted of terrorist activities.

This actually came up when Albini was making pro-trans statements and left my head spinning then, but IIRC he did apologize for it and discussed it as part of his regrettable “edgelordism” of that time. What he wrote was terrible, no denying that, but (like the “diary” extracts that came out at the time) it was a complete work of fiction. Embarrassing and tasteless, he also seemed to see it as such in maturity.

As for the Sotos connection, I do not know his work at all but music journalist Phil Freeman wrote this elsewhere:

“I am not defending Sotos' decision to include actual child porn in Pure, but reading about his work (I have never seen any of his books or listened to the sound collage Albini worked on) makes it impossible to believe that he's not involved in a very serious, apparently lifelong project. This interview is worth reading. He compares his work to that of Andrea Dworkin and David Wojnarowicz.

“Having read that interview, having read Sotos' Wikipedia page and the linked news articles, I feel that I have enough of an understanding of his work to satisfy myself that he is not a mere pervert and not a child pornographer. (FTR, Sotos appears to be gay and interested exclusively in adult men, to the extent that he's ‘interested’ in other humans at all.) I will not read his books, because the subjects that interest him do not interest me. But what he's doing — the extremely deep and apparently clear-eyed analysis of male psychology, criminalized urges, victimization, cruelty, and society's response to it all — is worth doing, and worthy of serious consideration by others. And that's all I'm going to say about Peter Sotos.”

“the guy who wrote that Medium article is a notorious internet troll who was convicted of terrorist activities. ” Just looked him up. Wow, what a piece of work this guy is. Quite a lot of nerve for him of all people to be judging anybody’s morality.

This thread is the first time I've encountered the term "edgelord." Digging deeper into the term and its examples makes me glad I'm a pretty dull guy.

I didn't realize Electrical Audio had an online shop where you could buy equipment and merch, but they do and from what I can tell from their social media posts, it's been a much appreciated source of revenue for them. Albini famously would go into debt to keep EA afloat, even going deep into debt to keep the staff employed during COVID lockdown, and now that he's gone, some are concerned whether it'll be an unsurmountable blow to their future.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2024 08:36PM by belfast.

This was posted by Touch and Go's Facebook account:

We would like to share an important message from Heather Whinna, Bob Weston and Todd Trainer with you:

Dear Friends, Fellow Music Fans, and Respected Venues,

Though we tragically lost Steve Albini on May 7, 2024, his indelible influence on music remains. Let's turn his birthday, July 22nd, into a worldwide celebration to honor his life and legacy.

The Plan:

On July 22nd, flood Instagram with stories and photos that capture the essence of Steve's impact. Share pictures of his albums that shaped you, concert memories, or even handwritten notes that resonated deeply. If you were lucky enough to meet him, let's see those photos!

The Important Part:

Tag your posts with #ThankYouSteveAlbini. This will create a digital archive of our collective gratitude, ensuring Steve's influence remains vibrantly visible.

Spread the Word:

Invite everyone you know to participate. Share this message, or craft your own, to rally the music community. Let's make this a worldwide tribute!

Why It Matters:

Steve Albini dedicated his life to preserving music's raw integrity. His legacy continues inspiring artists and fans alike. This is our chance to demonstrate the immense impact of his life's work.

Let's Do This:

Make sure to mark July 22nd on your calendar! Unearth those cherished photographs and precious memories. Let's come together to honor Steve in the most fitting way possible.
…………

With immense gratitude,
Heather Whinna, Bob Weston & Todd Trainer
Photo: @danielbergeronphoto (the Facebook post was accompanied by a photo of Steve, hence the credit)
#ThankYouSteveAlbini #SteveAlbini