Steve Albini Biography: Age, Wife, Height, Career, Cause Of Death and More 2024

Steve Albini, born on July 22, 1962, and passing away on May 7, 2024, was a prominent American musician and audio engineer.

He played a significant role in bands like Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989), and Shellac (1992–2024).

Additionally, he was the creator, proprietor, and main engineer of Electrical Audio, a recording studio based in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Albini worked on numerous records for various artists, including Nirvana, the Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, the Jesus Lizard, and Page and Plant.

Dustin Moskovitz Biography: Age, Net Worth, Family Height, Wife, Education, Personal Life, Career, Awards and Nomination

Albini was born in Pasadena, California, and grew up in Missoula, Montana. His introduction to the Ramones during his teenage years led him to join several punk bands.

He obtained a journalism degree from Northwestern University in Illinois and contributed to local zines before relocating to Chicago, where he fully immersed himself in the punk music scene.

In 1981, he founded Big Black and released two full-length albums: Atomizer (1986) and Songs About Fucking (1987).

Throughout this time, he continued to write for zines, often offering critical perspectives on local punk scenes and the music industry in general.

After the disbandment of Big Black, Albini established Electrical Audio and shifted his focus to music engineering.

In 1992, he co-founded Shellac with bassist Bob Weston and drummer Todd Trainer, resulting in the release of six albums.

Related: Eduardo Saverin Biography: Age, Net Worth, Family, Wife, Height, Education, Personal Life, Facebook Co-founder and Career 2024

Known for his candid and direct viewpoints, Albini was highly critical of the music industry’s exploitative nature towards artists.

He opted not to receive royalties for his work on albums, choosing to operate solely on a fee basis.

Early Life

“[O]ne thing that I discovered that I think is unusual is that I had no stage anxiety. Coincidentally, around the same time I also realised that other people’s opinions of me had no power over me. As long as what I was doing was honourable in my own mind, then I could do it comfortably, and if other people didn’t get it or didn’t agree with it, that was okay – that didn’t have any effect on me. That’s carried through to this day, because I still don’t give a shit if I get judged.”

—Albini on early performing experiences

Albini’s birthplace was Pasadena, California, and his parents were Gina (née Martinelli) and Frank Addison Albini.

Interestingly, his birth certificate shows that his middle name was listed as “(None)” because his father refused to leave it blank.

His father worked as a wildfire researcher, and Albini had two siblings. During his early years, his family frequently moved until they finally settled in Missoula, Montana, in 1974.

Albini, being of Italian American descent, had some family members from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.

While recovering from a broken leg, Albini discovered his passion for playing bass guitar. He even took part in bass lessons during high school for a brief period of one week.

It was during a school field trip when he was around 14 or 15 years old that a schoolmate introduced him to the music of the Ramones. Albini was captivated by their sound and considered it the best music he had ever heard.

He went on to purchase every Ramones recording available to him and credits their first album for inspiring his music career.

He expressed his admiration for bands like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, Pere Ubu, and Devo, finding them both baffling and thrilling. However, he never aimed to imitate their style.

Throughout his teenage years, Albini played in various bands, including Just Ducky, a punk band from Montana, and Small Irregular Pieces of Aluminum, a Chicago-based group.

There was another band he was involved with that record label Touch and Go/Quarterstick Records preferred not to mention, as Albini apparently paid them to keep it under wraps.

After completing his studies at Hellgate High School, Albini relocated to Evanston, Illinois, to pursue a college education at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. He graduated with a degree in journalism.

Albini also studied painting in college, particularly under the guidance of Ed Paschke, whom he considers a brilliant educator and one of the few individuals who truly taught him something during his time in college.

In the Chicago area, Albini actively contributed as a writer for local zines such as Matter and later Boston’s Forced Exposure.

He focused on covering the emerging punk rock scene and gained recognition for the unconventional and rebellious nature of his articles.

Around the same period, he began his journey as a recording engineer, working with various musicians and producing his first album in 1981.

He co-managed Ruthless Records (Chicago) with John Kezdy of the Effigies and Jon Babbin (Criminal IQ Records). According to Albini, he maintained a “straight job” for five years until 1987, working in a photography studio as a photograph retouch artist.

Performing Career

From 1981 to 1987, Big Black was formed by Albini during his time as a student at Northwestern University.

Their debut EP, Lungs, was recorded on Ruthless Records in Chicago, with Albini playing all the instruments except for the saxophone, which was played by his friend John Bohnen.

The Bulldozer EP followed in 1983 on Ruthless and Fever Records.

Shortly after, Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango from the Chicago band Naked Raygun, along with live drummer Pat Byrne, joined Big Black.

The band, along with a Roland TR-606 drum machine, released the EP Racer-X in 1984 after touring and signing a contract with Homestead Records.

Pezzati was later replaced on bass by Dave Riley, and the group recorded their debut full-length album, Atomizer, in 1986. The recording of “Il Duce” was completed with Riley as the bassist.

The band also released The Hammer Party, a compilation of the Lungs and Bulldozer EPs, while signed to Homestead.

Big Black signed with Touch and Go Records in late 1985 or early 1986 and released the EP Headache and the 7-inch single Heartbeat.

That same year, the live album Sound of Impact was released on the Not/Blast First label. In the accompanying booklet, Albini mentioned various bands that influenced him.

In 1987, Big Black released the album Songs About Fucking and the single “He’s a Whore / The Model,” both on Touch and Go.

The band disbanded shortly after an extensive period of touring that year, with Durango going on to law school and becoming a lawyer.

1987–1988: Rapeman

In 1987, Albini established the band Rapeman. The lineup consisted of Albini on vocals and guitar, Rey Washam on drums, and David Wm. Sims on bass.

Washam and Sims had previously been members of Scratch Acid. The band derived its name from a Japanese comic book.

They disbanded after releasing two 7-inch singles, “Hated Chinee b/w Marmoset” (1988) and “Inki’s Butt Crack b/w Song Number One” (1989), the EP Budd (1988), and the album Two Nuns and a Pack Mule, which also came out in 1988 under the Touch and Go label.

During a 2020 interview, Albini expressed remorse for the band’s name, acknowledging that he had not been held accountable for being part of a band called Rapeman.

He described the name as a thoughtless choice, deeming it unconscionable and indefensible. He compared it to having a regrettable tattoo.

1992–2024: Shellac

In 1992, Albini formed Shellac alongside Bob Weston (formerly of Volcano Suns) and Todd Trainer (of Rifle Sport, Breaking Circus, and Brick Layer Cake). They initially released three EPs: The Rude Gesture: A Pictorial History (1993), Uranus (1993), and The Bird Is the Most Popular Finger (1994).

The first two EPs were released under the Touch and Go label, while the third EP was released by Drag City.

Two years after their formation, the Japanese label NUX Organization released the live album Live in Tokyo exclusively in Japan.

This was followed by five studio albums: At Action Park (1994), Terraform (1998), 1000 Hurts (2000), Excellent Italian Greyhound (2007), and Dude Incredible (2014).

All of Shellac’s studio albums were released on both vinyl and CD. Tragically, Albini passed away on May 7, 2024, just ten days before the release of Shellac’s sixth album, To All Trains.

Musical Influences

Albini expressed his fondness for “good guitar” and compared it to the sensation of an orgasm.

He emphasized that playing notes is not difficult, but the real skill lies in making a guitar produce unconventional sounds that defy its traditional identity.

The objective, according to Albini, is to push the boundaries of what a guitar can do. In his praise for various guitarists, he commended Andy Gill for his exceptional guitar tone on Gang of Four’s Entertainment!, stating that Gill could create more beautiful and fragmented noise than anyone else.

He also lauded John McKay’s work on Siouxsie and the Banshees’ The Scream, noting that even now, people struggle to replicate the unique and seemingly purposeless noise that McKay managed to mold into cohesive songs.

Albini credited Ron Asheton for his ability to generate intense and screeching feedback, while describing John McGeoch’s guitar playing as a combination of majestic swells, scratches, buzzes, and dissonant noise.

Additionally, he admired Tom Verlaine for his remarkable talent in extracting a wide range of sounds from a guitar.

Poker

Albini, an ardent poker enthusiast, had a particular fondness for mixed games. He achieved remarkable success in the World Series of Poker, securing two coveted bracelets.

In 2018, Albini emerged victorious in a $1,500 Stud event, earning an impressive $105,629.

Additionally, he triumphed in a $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event in 2022, pocketing a substantial $196,089.

A glimpse into Albini’s profile reveals a cover photo showcasing his triumphant bracelet win. Reflecting on his connection to the game, Albini shared his thoughts in a 2022 PokerNews article, stating, “Poker is an integral part of my life.

When I engage in poker, I wholeheartedly dedicate myself to it, approaching it with utmost seriousness and devoting the attention it rightfully deserves as an occupation.

However, it is only a fraction of my year. I exclusively participate in tournaments at the World Series of Poker, while casually indulging in cash games in Chicago.

Although it contributes to my livelihood, it is not my primary profession.”

Personal Life

Albini tied the knot with Heather Whinna, a renowned film director. Their residence was in the city of Chicago.

He consciously steered clear of drugs and alcohol, as his father’s struggle with alcoholism had made him acutely aware of his susceptibility to addiction.

Albini also dedicated himself to maintaining a food blog, where he chronicled the delectable meals he prepared for his beloved wife.

The Los Angeles Times praised his culinary skills, describing him as a talented food writer with a subtle and dry sense of humor.

Death

Albini passed away due to a heart attack at his residence in Chicago on May 7, 2024, when he was 61 years old.

Musicians such as Joanna Newsom and Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl paid tribute to him.

Damon Locks from the Black Monument Ensemble expressed, “He was not only a human being (and a punk icon) who put in the effort, grew, and dedicated himself to a greater cause…

I respect his ongoing self-assessment and evolution. He had principles. He represented something. He was a commendable individual.”

Selected publications