Steve Albini, 61, a well-known music producer and two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, passed unexpectedly on Tuesday night following a heart attack.
During his career, which began in the early 1980s, Albini worked out of his Electrical Audio studio, producing albums for a variety of artists including Nirvana, Pixies, Bush, PJ Harvey, the Breeders, Chevelle, Joanna Newsom, and more. He also continued to perform with his bands, Big Black and Shellac.
Steve Albini was well known for his opposition to traditional record industry contracts, refusing to take royalties from the artists he produced for. He engineered the recording of more than 3,000 records overall, most notably Nirvana’s In Utero.
The Chicago resident also had a passion for poker and accrued more than $370,000 in live tournament winnings in a career stretching back to 2010, while playing in a regular home game for many years.
Diverse Career & Interests
As a producer, Albini worked with a wide range of artists from alternative rock to Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to folk acts and singer-songwriters.
“The recording part is the part that matters to me — that I’m making a document that records a piece of our culture, the life’s work of the musicians that are hiring me,” Albini told The Guardian last year. “I take that part very seriously. I want the music to outlive all of us.”
Poker was a big part of Albini’s life as well and he played in a home game for years with top mixed game pros such as Brandon Shack-Harris, Eric Rodawig, Jason Gola, Matt Ashton, and Matt Grapenthien.
In 2018, Albini grabbed his first WSOP bracelet in a $1,500 Seven Card Stud event for $105,629. Four years later another bracelet came his way in a $1,500 H.O.R.S.E event for $196,089.
“Everything in my life comes in pieces, in parts,” he said after the second win. “Poker is one part of my life. So when I’m playing poker, I try to commit to it. I try to take it seriously. I try to make sure I devote the attention to it that it deserves as an occupation. But it’s only part of my year. I only play tournaments at the World Series of Poker. I play cash games informally in Chicago. It’s a part of my livelihood, but it’s not my profession.”
Albini is survived by his wife, film director Heather Whinna.
In 2020, Albini was interviewed for an episode of Card Player’s Poker Stories Podcast.
Steve Albini’s legacy as both a renowned record producer and a skilled poker player will continue to resonate with admirers and enthusiasts across the globe. His contributions to the music industry, marked by his commitment to maintaining artistic integrity and his unyielding passion for sonic innovation, have left an indelible mark on countless artists and listeners alike. Beyond the studio, Albini’s strategic prowess and cunning intellect at the poker table earned him respect and admiration among his peers. As we bid farewell to this multifaceted talent, we reflect on the profound impact he has had on the worlds of music and gaming, celebrating his remarkable achievements and the enduring influence of his work. Steve Albini may have passed on, but his spirit and legacy will forever reverberate through the realms he so passionately inhabited.
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