Steve Albini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Albini
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Albini in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Frank Albini |
| Born | July 22, 1962 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Missoula, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | May 7, 2024 (aged 61) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1981–2024 |
| Labels | Touch and Go |
Steven Frank Albini ( July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024) was an American musician and audio engineer. He was the founder, owner, and principal engineer of the Chicago recording studio Electrical Audio. He recorded thousands of records, collaborating with acts including Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, the Jesus Lizard and Page and Plant.
Early life
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Steven Frank Albini was born in Pasadena, California, to Gina (née Martinelli) and Frank Addison Albini. His father was a wildfire researcher. He had two siblings. In his youth, Albini's family moved often, before settling in the college town of Missoula, Montana, in 1974. Albini was Italian American, and some of his family are from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.
While recovering from a broken leg, Albini began playing bass guitar and participated in bass lessons in high school for one week. He was introduced to the Ramones by a schoolmate on a field trip when he was 14 or 15. He felt it was the best music he had ever heard and bought every Ramones recording available to him, and credits his music career to hearing their first album. He said, "I was baffled and thrilled by music like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, Pere Ubu, Devo, and all those contemporaneous, inspirational punk bands without wanting to try to mimic them."
During his teenage years, Albini played in bands including the Montana punk band Just Ducky, the Chicago band Small Irregular Pieces of Aluminum, and another band that record label Touch and Go Records explained "he is paying us not to mention".
After graduating from Hellgate High School, Albini moved to Evanston, Illinois, to attend college at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University where he earned a degree in journalism.
Performing career
After discovering the Ramones as a teenager, Albini 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.
Following the dissolution of Big Black, Albini opened Electrical Audio and focused on engineering. In 1992, he formed Shellac with Bob Weston and Todd Trainer, 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.
Personal life
Albini was married to the film director Heather Whinna. They lived in Chicago. Albini maintained a food blog, documenting meals he had cooked for his wife. The Los Angeles Times described him as a "good food writer" with a "laconic, dry wit". Since 1996 the couple committed charity drives during the Christmas season, responding to letters in the Chicago post office.
Albini was an avid poker player, particularly in mixed games. He won two World Series of Poker bracelets: in 2018, Albini finished first in a $1,500 Stud event for $105,629; and won a $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event in 2022 for $196,089.
Death
Albini died from a heart attack at his home in Chicago, on May 7, 2024, at the age of 61.
Discography
Images for kids
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Albini in 2008
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Studio B in Electrical Audio
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Albini (right) with Ani DiFranco and RZA at The New Yorker festival in September 2005
See also
In Spanish: Steve Albini para niños
