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News of Steve Albini’s unexpected passing on Wednesday, May 8th, has been met with an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians, including those who had worked with him.
Cloud Nothings worked with Albini on their 2012 magnum opus, Attack on Memory. “steve touched countless lives and changed mine and many others for the better,” frontman Dylan Baldi wrote on Twitter. “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.”
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker collaborated with Albini on his 2009 solo album, Further Complications. “Working with Steve Albini was an education in many ways: the technical aspects of recording sound, for sure – but also lessons in how to live & work at making music without being destroyed by the Music Business,” Cocker remembered. “Listen to the music he was involved in & read what he wrote about it. It’s worth it.”
Comedian and musician Fred Armisen wrote, “I love Steve so much. We said it more often to each other in recent years. I’m so glad I got to tell him. He was so funny, all the time. He sent me this text a few days ago: ‘I shouldn’t admit this but I don’t get cymbals. Like I can tell the difference between this one and that one but if I’m honest they both sound like cymbals and I don’t care.” I always loved hearing him say ‘I don’t care.’ He was such a good friend to me, endlessly. I admired his work ethic and his warmth. And his opinions on national flags. On everything.”
Pixies, who worked with Albini on their classic 1988 debut Surfer Rosa, Jack White, Jeff Rosenstock, Speedy Ortiz, illuminati hotties, Fucked Up, Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie, Jon Wurster of Superchunk, Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine, and The Cribs are some of the other acts who’ve paid tribute to Albini.
See all of these tributes and more below.
steve touched countless lives and changed mine and many others for the better. 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.
— Cloud Nothings (@cloudnothings) May 8, 2024
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. getting to meet him & check out electrical was a top 10 moment for me. RIP
— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13) May 8, 2024
gutted…
rock was changed forever
the way we record was changed forever https://t.co/GCQpvPnPj0
— illuminati hotties (@illuminatihotts) May 8, 2024
rip steve
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
— Fucked Up (@FUCKEDUP) May 8, 2024
steve was so generous and good to me when i was young and new. i have so much to say but it’s gonna take a sec, i’m just tremendously sad. gawd i loved that guy.
— chris walla (@calculizer) May 8, 2024
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.” ❤️
— Jon Wurster (@jonwurster) May 8, 2024
Can’t believe this. Steve Albini was one of our heroes and one of the reasons we feel so proud of be a part of the Chicago music community.. sending love to his family and friends and holding his records close forever. Can’t believe it https://t.co/NbtpNhjX6a
— Ratboys (@Ratboysband) May 8, 2024
RIP Steve Albini. 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. 👑🔊
— Lee Spielman (@LeeSpielman) May 8, 2024
Don’t even know what to say about Albini. Wrote some of the most grueling stuff ever recorded (Jordan, Minnesota), disorienting cinema verite recordings that pulled focus from small/dry to huge/cavernous, volleyball hitting a chain link fence guitar burned in my brain since youth
— Boeckner (@d_boeckner) May 8, 2024
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.
— DREW DANIEL (@DDDrewDaniel) May 8, 2024
Later, Steve.https://t.co/75xQQfQyl6
FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Rob Crow 🧢 (@rob5d4) May 8, 2024
THE BEST EVER pic.twitter.com/pfR5zIAUZS
— The Cribs (@thecribs) May 8, 2024
albini’s realness, wisdom, and wicked wit will continue to guide me for the rest of my life
— Dave Bazan (@davidbazan) May 8, 2024
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.
Rest in Power, Steve Albini pic.twitter.com/EXaoCcFCGM
— Bill MacKay (@BillMacKay68) May 8, 2024
We’re deeply saddened to hear of Steve Albini’s passing and keep his family in our hearts. Thank you for all that you contributed to punk rock in our town and the reverberations of creativity you brought forth, felt the world over. pic.twitter.com/WkisQaMEpH
— Metro (@MetroChicago) May 8, 2024
RIP to Steve Albini, a wizard who would hate being called a wizard, but who surely made magic.
Here's the Electric Audio layout for 'Magnolia Electric Co', just sketched out simply, on paper, like it's not poised to shift time and space and all our hearts. pic.twitter.com/u1PRGrpi2M
— Secretly Canadian (@secretlycndian) May 8, 2024
English (US) · 