Died On This Date (May 7, 2024) Steve Albini / Legendary Alt Rock Producer

Steve Albini
July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024

Steve Albini performs at ATP vs. the Fans, Minehead, England, May 2007 via wikimedia

As reported by Nina Corcoran and Jazz Monroe in Pitchfork, Steve Albini, a true rock legend, passed away from a heart attack at 61.

Born in Pasadena, California, Albini’s musical journey began in high school when he learned to play bass, inspired by bands like the Ramones, Pere Ubu, and Devo. In 1981, he co-founded the influential band Big Black, followed by Shellac, both leaving an indelible mark on the underground rock scene.

Transitioning from performer to renowned recording engineer – a title he preferred over producer – Albini amassed an impressive portfolio of over 1500 albums. He famously recorded seminal works including Nirvana’s In Utero, PixiesSurfer Rosa, PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, among others.

Outside of music, Albini pursued diverse interests. He maintained a cooking and food blog and was a skilled and highly ranked competitive poker player.

Steve Albini’s impact on the music industry was profound, not only through his groundbreaking recordings but also as a vocal critic of exploitative industry practices. His untimely passing comes as Shellac was preparing to tour their first album in a decade, To All Trains.

Died On This Date (November 26, 2023) Geordie Walker / Killing Joke Guitarist

Kevin “Geordie” Walker
December 18, 1958 – November 26, 2023

Photo by Tuomas Vitikainen via wikimedia

As originally reported by Ben Beaumont-Thomas in The Guardian, Kevin “Geordie” Walker, the influential guitarist of industrial rock band Killing Joke, whose distinctive and textured guitar tones resonated across generations of musicians, passed away at the age of 64, having succumbed to a stroke.

Walker’s guitar style was a complex tapestry that bridged the shoegaze movement with the urgency of punk, the melodic sensibilities of pop, and the weight of heavy metal. Alongside frontman Jaz Coleman, he stood as the only constant member of Killing Joke since its inception in 1978.

Born in County Durham in 1958 and raised in Buckinghamshire, where he earned the affectionate nickname “Geordie,” Walker responded to Coleman’s advertisement in the music press, proclaiming himself as the greatest guitarist despite having only played in his mother’s bedroom. Coleman recalled their first meeting, noting, “When he did play, it was like a fire from heaven.”

The band’s self-titled debut album, released in 1980, garnered critical acclaim and cracked the UK Top 40. Following a period in Iceland, where they dabbled in unconventional activities, including hashish dealing, Walker and Coleman returned to London, refining their sound and achieving commercial success with the 1985 album Night Time, featuring the hit single “Love Like Blood.”

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