Hugely influential musician and alt-rock engineer Steve Albini is dead at 61.
He died from a heart attack in his Chicago recording studio Tuesday, staffers at Electrical Audio told Pitchfork. Albini is known best for working as a producer on monumental albums including Nirvana’s “In Utero,” The Pixies “Surfer Rosa” and The Breeders “Pod.”
He also performed as a musician in bands including Big Black and Shellac, the latter of which planned to tour in support of its new album “Calling All Trains.” Due out May 17, it will be the band’s first new album in a decade. The release will not be available on streaming platforms, as Albini has been critical of platforms like Spotify in recent years.
Albini famously said he thought of himself as an engineer who records music more so than a record producer. His contributions to the indie rock movement also include Urge Overkill’s “Jesus Urge Overkill” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me.”
The California native’s death was confirmed by the Hollywood Reporter too.
