Steve Albini, the famed record producer and musician who worked with storied rock groups such as Nirvana, Pixies, The Jesus Lizard and others, has died at 61 of a heart attack, according to reports.
Staffers from his recording studio, Electric Audio, confirmed the rocker’s death to Pitchfork.
Albini is best known for producing Nirvana’s 1993 cult-classic album In Utero, in which he helped craft the record’s abrasive and metallic tones.
He is also credited as a pioneer who brought 80s indie outfits like Pixies to the mainstream, leading the way for other underground acts’ success.
More recently, the Chicago-based icon produced Foo Fighter’s “Something From Nothing” in 2014.
During Albini’s decade career, he recorded multiple underground rock classics, including The Jesus Lizard’s Goat, PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, Jawbreaker’s 24 Hour Revenge Therapy and dozens more.
In addition to his studio production work, Albini was the guitarist and frontman of Shellac — who are set to release To All Trains, their first album in a decade — next week.
He began his professional music career in 1981, founding the often-confrontational punk group Big Black, which influenced industrial rock with their use of drum machines and icy guitar riffs.
In his final years, the performer criticized exploitative music industry practices, according to Pitchfork.
Celebrities across the internet shared their condolences after the icon’s death.
“Ugh man, a heartbreaking loss of a legend. Love to his family and innumerable colleagues.
Farewell, Steve Albini,” actor Elijah Wood wrote on X.
“He engineered some of the greatest albums of all time,” Marc Maron posted.
