A street in Chicago has been renamed in honour of the late Steve Albini.
On Monday (July 29), Touch and Go Records shared an official letter of ordinance by the city council of Chicago, confirming that honorary street name signs are being installed along the 2600-2700 block of West Belmont Avenue to rename it Steve Albini Way.
The 2600-2700 block of West Belmont Avenue was carefully selected, seeing as the late Albini’s iconic Electrical Audio studio sits in that stretch of buildings.
The producer and engineer tragically passed on May 7, 2024 from a heart attack. He played in plenty of bands signed to Touch and Go Records, including Big Black, who signed with the label around late 1985/early 1986.
Last week, a number of musicians paid tribute to Albini on what would have been his 62nd birthday. Musicians who paid tribute included PJ Harvey, Mogwai, Shellac‘s Todd Trainer and more.
Albini – who was the mastermind behind iconic albums such as Nirvana‘s ‘In Utero‘ and Manic Street Preachers‘ ‘Journal For Plague Lovers’ – saw a speech from PJ Harvey at Primavera Sound this year, with the festival naming a stage after Albini in his honour.
A statement from Primavera read at the time: “Farewell, Steve. Although it will be the first year since 2007 in which he will not command the inimitable Shellac at his annual date with his favourite festival, the figure of the late Steve Albini will be more present than ever at Primavera Sound.
“The Steve Albini stage, situated opposite the Plenitude stage, will be a tribute to an irreplaceable member of the Primavera family, although he will, in fact, be honoured in every inch of the Parc del Fòrum, during every second of the festival.”
Meanwhile, Joanna Newsom dedicated ‘Cosmia’ to him and Foo Fighters dedicated ‘My Hero’ to the producer as well.
“Tonight I’d like to dedicate this song to a friend that we lost the other day, who I’ve known a long, long time,” Foos frontman Dave Grohl told the crowd. “He left us much too soon. He’s touched all of your lives, I’m sure. I’m talking about Steve Albini. For those of you who know, you know. For those of you who don’t know, just remember that name: Steve Albini. Let’s sing this one for him.”
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