Steve Albini Remembered: Pixies, Cloud Nothings, and More React to Death of Legendary Rock Figure
Figures in the music world and beyond are reacting to the death of Steve Albini. Michael Azerrad, the author of the 1993 biography Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, wrote on X of the In Utero producer and engineer, “He had a brilliant mind, was a great artist and underwent the most remarkable and inspiring personal transformation.”
Albini produced Cloud Nothings’ beloved 2012 album, Attack on Memory, and the Cleveland rock band’s Dylan Baldi paid tribute to the musician on X. “steve touched countless lives and changed mine and many others for the better,” he wrote. “a genuine, singular, principled person. spent the last 40 years helping people make art. there’s no reason for him to be gone and the world is less interesting without him. just a really sad day.”
“grateful to have seen steve albini play, to have my taste in music shaped by the incredible records he performed & engineered, & for his thoughts on recording and its business, which changed my worldview,” Speedy Ortiz and Sad13’s Sadie Dupuis shared on X. “getting to meet him & check out electrical was a top 10 moment for me. RIP.”
Lee Spielman worked with Albini on the self-titled debut from his hardcore band, Trash Talk. “RIP Steve Albini,” Spielman posted on X. “The Trash Talk S/T LP was a very raw time for us as a band. You welcomed us in with open arms for that session. I’ll never forget that week. 👑🔊.”
Drew Daniel, of the Soft Pink Truth and Matmos, posted: “I’m saddened to learn of the death of Steve Albini. Like so many, I loved his firebreathing Big Black records as a teenager. I met him briefly at Jason Noble’s memorial service and found him to be a kind and thoughtful person. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.”
Starchild & the New Romantic’s Bryndon Cook also posted a memory of Albini on X: “i once snuck into First Avenue to borrow a keyboard stand, only to stumble on a Shellac soundcheck. Watched Albini, Bob Weston & Todd Trainer rip it. Last year we got to do a bunch of Primavera Fest shows w them & spend some time. Sending love and prayers to Albini Fam & Friends.”
Jon Wurster, the comedian and longtime Superchunk and Mountain Goats drummer, also posted a good Albini story: “Steve was such a good, caring, and funny guy. I will always treasure the night in ‘99 when he took me to Second City to see a show. I walked into the Electrical kitchen at the agreed upon departure time and he looked at my head, smiled and said, ‘Your hair is peak Mellencamp.’ ❤️.”
“Ugh man, a heartbreaking loss of a legend. Love to his family and innumerable colleagues,” the actor and indie music fan Ejiah Wood shared. “Farewell, Steve Albini.”
The Polyvinyl X account shared, “An unfathomable loss, impossible to fully trace the profound impact he made on all of us, on the sound of music itself.”
Primavera Sound, where Albini and his bands performed regularly, posted, “We have lost a legend, a friend, a member of our family. What are we going to do without you, Steve?” The festival’s account added, “After having welcomed them at 15 editions of the festival, it is impossible for us to imagine a Primavera Sound without him, because no band explains us better than Shellac.”
“RIP to the legend Steve Albini,” the band Health wrote. “Hero to all of us.”
Robin Hatch, who’s toured with Porno for Pyros, Fucked Up, and more, posted: “Steve Albini greatest producer of alternative rock.. the original edgelord. Poker star par excelence & fan of various local vernaculars. Rip king.”
Fucked Up added, “you hated our band and made fun of us while we were recording at your studio but you stood for something honest and fair in music and tried to make it a better place in everything you did and there will never be another one like you.”
Experimental guitarist Bill MacKay wrote, “I so much enjoyed his trail-blazing bands & talent, and recording songs at his great studio. I admired his fierce fight for justice and fairness, and had one unforgettable & hilarious Ramen dinner together. He’ll never be forgotten.”
Nick Zanca, the Queens-based producer, composer, and writer known for his work as Mister Lies, also shared kind words for Albini. “his prolificacy, his musical fluidity, his prioritization of equity and staunch opposition to industry status quo are aspirational,” he wrote on X. “us producers should all aspire to the standard he set. time to lift weights to Big Black.”
“Love this man’s recording and all of his bands,” the Ataris posted of Albini. “Sonically his drum sound was one of a kind.” The band also said, “Thank you for your undeniable mark on music and recording.”
And Liturgy shared simply, “Extremely saddened to hear of Steve Albini’s death 💔.”
Tad Doyle, an early Albini collaborator with his band Tad, also kept his tribute brief: “RIP Steve Albini.”
Pixies said the same, “RIP Steve Albini.”
