According to the staff at Electrical Audio, Steve Albini has passed away after suffering from a heart attack in his recording studio on Tuesday (5.07.)
Involved in some of the most respected North American alternative music, the late musician fronted such bands as Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac and also produced albums for Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Heavily influenced by the punk rock movement during his younger years, Albini founded his own music project called Big Black. Originally a solo effort prior to becoming a quartet, the group released their debut LP, ‘Atomizer’ in 1986. The band is now recognized as one of the most influential punk groups of the era but despite their success, the group split up and in 1987, Steve went on to form Rapeman.
Alongside drummer Todd Trainer and bassist Bob Weston, Albini subsequently formed Shellac in 1992 and together they released five full lengths before ‘To All Trains’ which was scheduled to drop next week.
In 1995, Albini opened his own recording studio where he worked with several high-profile acts such as Joanna Newsom, Low, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Manic Street Preachers, and Jarvis Cocker.
Outside of the music business=, Steve Albini recognized huge success as a poker player, winning two World Series of Poker tournaments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money.
Albini is survived by his wife, movie-maker Heather Whinna.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Joel Mills