Steve Albini dead at 61

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/arts/music/steve-albini-dead.html

He was highly controversial, politically incorrect, and a self-described asshole early in his career before mellowing out, but he's an absolute icon of music engineering/production (although he disliked the label of "producer").  He recorded Nirvana's In Utero, Surfer Rosa by the Pixies, and countless other artists including The Breeders, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Helmet, The Stooges, and so on.  He famously refused to take residuals on albums he recorded, passing up what would have been millions of dollars because he considered the practice unethical.  His own bands Big Black and Shellac were also influential in their own right.

His later efforts focused on running his studio in Chicago, Electrical Audio, which catered to both independent and major label bands and artists until his death.

 

[rayzor]

whoa...one of the great producers. 

thanks for helping good albums great.

[pamlicopanther]

Heard a conversation with Dave Grohl on the radio today about the recording of In Utero and working with Steve.  Interesting discussion.