Dave Grohl: “Steve Albini was smarter and funnier and better at everything than everyone else in the world”

9 May, 2024

Dave Grohl and Steve Albini

An interview with Dave Grohl hailing Steve Albini has resurfaced following the late producer’s death yesterday (May 8).

Albini who worked on Nirvana’s final album ‘In Utero’ died following a heart attack while at Electronic Audio – his recording studio in Chicago.

Speaking in an interview with BBC 6 Music’s Matt Everitt in 2015, Grohl said that despite being well aware of his reputation, the first time he ever met the legendary producer was during the recording sessions for their 1993 record.

“He was the smartest, most cynical producer/music critic/band leader/pundit, everyone was scared of him. Then you see pictures of him and he just looks like this skinny little guy. He’s just smarter and funnier and better at everything than everyone else in the world,” Grohl said.

“And he had made so many records that we loved, he’d made Pixies records and Breeders records and Jesus’ [Lizards] records. So when we went to record with him I know I was nervous because I knew what kind of dude and I just thought he would hate me because I’m such an idiot. I think he treated me like a pet so we got along great because I was the drummer.

“But yeah he’s one of a kind and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to tell his story because I think he set’s a great example for not only musicians but also for the industry and how to think outside just conventional business. He lives to do things that are real and passionate and his level of integrity is unwavering, he just won’t bend and he’s stubborn for all the right reasons so I love him to death, I think he’s amazing.”

Recalling working with the producer, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic also previously told NME how Kurt Cobain was a big admirer of the late producer.

“Kurt was a fan of Albini. I remember being in a tour van in 1989 and Kurt was listening to Pixies. He raised his finger and said, ‘This shall be our snare sound!’ He wanted to do it with Steve for a long time,” he said.

Albini also previously spoke of how he was more of an “engineer” than a producer to Nirvana, and recalled how Cobain came to him as a vocal admirer of his work with previous band, Big Black.

“When my band Big Black did a farewell tour years before the ‘In Utero’ sessions, the final show was in some industrial space in Seattle,” he said. “It was in a weird building with a makeshift stage. It was a cool gig and at end we smashed up all of our gear. I distinctively recall some kid asking me if he could take a piece of my guitar off the stage and me saying ‘go ahead its garbage now’.

“Many years later when we were working on ‘In Utero’ at the studio in Minnesota, Kurt showed me this little piece of this guitar that he had saved. He had brought it with him after all those years. He had been that kid.”

Meanwhile, earlier today (May 9) Nirvana’s social media accounts shared the four-page letter Albini sent to them, proposing that he produce ‘In Utero’.

Following the news of Albini’s death, Pixies, Benefits and more have paid tribute to the late producer – you can read them here. Jarvis Cocker also recalled the impact that working with the producer during ‘Further Complications’ had on him, and The Cribs shared their fond memories of the icon. PJ Harvey also said he “changed the course of my life” during sessions for her 1993 LP ‘Rid Of Me’.

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