(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicagoan Steve Albini, who helped create great music for some of the world's best bands, died on Tuesday at the age of 61.
“It’s a great loss to music, to underground music and to Chicago,” said WXRT morning host Marty Lennartz.
Lennartz called Albini’s death shocking and said he was “just a giant in the underground Chicago music scene”
Albini, who refused to call himself a producer, was one of the creative forces behind albums for many musicians, including the Pixies and for Nirvana's “In Utero.”
“He did bring his own attitude, and what he thought Nirvana was, I guess,” he said. “Maybe he thought Nirvana had gotten away.”
Albini refused to take royalties for his work on Nirvana's album “In Utero” and accepted only a flat fee.
Lennartz said Albini, whose studio Electrical Audio Recording was located on Belmont Avenue, was known worldwide — but his talents weren’t limited to music.
“He was a very successful poker player,” Lennartz said. “He won two World Series of Poker Championships; he won, like, close to $200,000 a couple years ago.”
Music and Chicago, though, were Albini's true calling cards.
“Kind of a dark day for Chicago,” Lennartz said.
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok