Interview at Steve Albini's Basement Studio, Winter ‘89/‘90.
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- This is an interview that I did with Steve Albini in his basement studio in Chicago. Recorded in the Winter of 89/90 for an audio engineering class I was taking at Columbia College Chicago.
Steve had recorded my band, Squelch, that past summer and was kind enough to help me with a guided tour of his studio. This is, of course, digitized from a VHS tape. The audio in the control room is from Urge Overkill's, "Your Friend Is Insane".
Thank you to Steve for allowing me to post this.
Please ask me for permission before using any portion of this video, if you would be so kind.
Added comment, June 2024: Thanks for all the interest and comments regarding this video. I never thought so many people would view this.
I was so nervous that day of the shoot. I was young and intimidated, and Steve took his humorous and hurtful shots at me as I sometimes clumsily got through the interview. Steve was just being Steve. I knew what I signed up for.
I was very lucky to be in the Chicago area while such amazing music was just starting to be created in the city. Going to see some of the earliest shows of Bastro, Tortoise, Gastr del Sol, the Jesus Lizard, Slint, Shellac, and to befriend some of those people (and still call some of them friend) was an absolutely inspirational time. Steve contributed so much to the Chicago sound and helped out so many of us. There will never be another Steve Albini.
Requiescat in pace
![Recording Drums With Steve Albini [Third Circle Recordings]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kmP9z-xTRz0/mqdefault.jpg)
I helped Steve build that for recording while we were in Rapeman together. The neighbors still said we were too loud. RIP buddy. This is how I will always remember you.
Rey, big fan of your drumming on ‘two nuns’ and all of your work. Hope you’re okay. Sorry for your loss. Do you have any other anecdotes, stories, or even photos you would share from this time period?
@@Johnathan1995 So many, but not here.
@@petradichavich i was born 2002 so all of this I’m finding out now after hearing of his passing. I listened to all of rapeman on UA-cam yesterday. Really amazing work steve and all of you guys did on that. Its very sad to hear of his passing, i know so little about him but i’ve just been obsessed the last couple days. But your guy’s works transcended time and i hope you know that which you definitely do. We need more people like him in the culture
@@Johnathan1995 Antidotes? Like for malaria, or poisoning?
@@RockandrollNegromainly for overdoses
"There is always some loser that wants me to record his band", love it.
Steve Stoll ?
i love it too. so many people crying in the comments over a little abrasive humor. it's like they expect steve to act like santa claus. he was in a band called rapeman i mean come on
You know he’s thinking about playing poker !
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA best quote man
Lololololollo priceless 😂😂
RIP to the realest to ever fucking do it.
You know what’s crazy? This comment is how I found out about his death. I’m sure I would have found out very soon after, but this comment made me gasp and brought tears to my eyes.
"The best thing about effects is that by using them you can get a client to shut up." Steve Albini, broker of truth
"and what kind of material is this??"
"cloth"
"Filled with crap. By 'crap,' I mean fuzzy stuff."
Lol, ahhh beat me to it! 😆😆
I laughed at that too.
In other interviews, when people ask how he came to work with certain bands, his standard answer is "The phone rang".
Rest in peace Mr Steve Albini
Respect 🖤🔥
Rest in Peace, Steve. Your methods in recording those prolific albums will be remembered forever....
the sound of the 90s is a basement.
Early 80s but shure
Early 80s had very few basement recordings
Who had the real gear ?
That’s why we tracked at Peel studios in seattle
@@kodykindhart5644Jack Endino had a lil bit yeah late 80’s early 90’s
Even back then Steve knew his way around shit. Every time he opens his mouth and talks about something audio-related, it is absolute gold. Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
That’s a good way to put it, he seems so sure about what he’s saying, it almost seems distant or unengaged
Fascinating to see how Albini was working before he was at Electrical Audio. Inspiring for other people trying to build the best studios they can on-the-cheap.
Not really on the cheap in this case, all his gear was in the thousands XD
But yeah overall it is very inspiring, I don't have much money so I have to use DAWs and cheap amps/microphones/guitars but this stuff by Albini gives me so much more drive to do my own recordings
@@Tomversal shellac is the musical version of an inspiration to me making music with cheap shitty gear. I swear he mixes the instruments to heighten it’s shittyness. A true inspiration for diy engineers and musicians!
19:45 He's been sayin that for 30 years. I respect a man show sticks to his guns like. He'd seen enough engineers try to micro manage the band and decided to be part of the solution to that problem than to perpetuate it. Bravo Steve. Thanks for uploadin this man. Good questions
My old band recorded there in "94. Basement was much nicer. Attic control room was done, & upgraded to 24-track. There was a secret door to get up there, opened by a button, hidden behind a picture, in the 1st floor hallway - no joke !! The TAR guys BBQ'd for us the last day we were there. Good times.
I guess its not a secret anymore. Nice one.
What city is that? Is it SF and if so what part?
@@TheHappys Chicago. The house studio no longer exists, but was moved to Electrical Audio, as Studio B.
the look of this video has a snuff film quality to it
lmfao it is
Hunt down Albini's Forced Exposure magazine issue 12 (?) short story... you'll be even more convinced of the 'snuff' vibe! But really, he's a cuddler!
Hey it was the VHS we got this cam from the school..how else could one make vids back then except join community access channel and use there gear.
it an Adobe premier filter .
Fisher Price color model.
“Records sound good when the band sounds good.” 🙌
As somebody who is currently building a shitty 8-track studio in his bungalow, I'm loving this video.
Thanks for the comment! Good luck with your build!
“Put a bunch of deadening shit” lol. You must have had fun interviewing him. I remember meeting him at an Unsane show in 92 he talked my ear off in a good way. Nice guy.
the interviewer seems like he knows hes good af but is skeptical about his setup
its like in the movies when a character or group of characters meet a hero and hes not at all what they expected lol
RKTologist on the contrary, I was and am still in awe of his skills. I just wanted a step by step tour and discussion of what it took to do what he did (and still does). I have deep respect for Steve.
This is pure gold.
What's cool is starting about 12:35 when they go into the dead room, the talking sound audio really cleans up! 12:35
His setup doesn't look like much today but back in the day it was HUGE if somebody was doing this in your local punk scene. So many bands wouldn't ever have recorded songs that are considered classics now without people like Steve with a basement studio.
Thank you for posting this. An old band I drummed for named Grabankles was supposed to record there during the Summer of '90 but Steve had the flu and had to cancel, was too booked to reschedule. Either that or he thought our music sucked or that the guitarist that setup the session was a stuck-up rich douchebag. Damn,,, that close to recording with Steve.
Fedorable
Jordan he was very good looking
Agreed
This is quite brilliant. A sonic education that is eye opening...and if you're into sound recording, pretty mind-blowing. I've learnt more in 30 minutes watching this than in 20 years recording my own guitar music, mixing from trial and error.
pretty sad
I also much appreciate the permission to post this, as it is an invaluable document of the pre-Electrical Audio days many of us have heard about but did not witness first hand.
Ryan McMaster this dude has a solid name in the history books
Thanks Ryan. That's why I posted it since many never saw what the studio looked like. I appreciate the comment.
Could it be that by pre-electrical you actually mean pre-digital? As far as I can tell, Albini is using electrical-powered equipment in this video.
his present studio is named Electrical Audio
fun fact - all the equipment seen in this video is running off of steam
Steve Albini running a clinic. Great interview.
Thank you!
This documentary was good. The interviewer asked detailed questions and Steve gave detailed answers.
This is truly an important document. Nash Kato's stack next to David Wm. Sims' bass and amp? Amazing...
he said people need shitty 8 track studios laughingly, but what the world really needed was steve albini.
@GG7000 much respect to you Sir for this video...I have been watching this since 2019, like twice a week, until today! steve is a real iconoclast to his last days. You're awesome too GG7000!
I appreciate your kind words! Thank you! I was very nervous the day I interviewed him since he was a BIG part of my life in my later teen years, and still loomed large long after that.
@@GG70 Do you still play with your band Squelch? Do you have any music we could listen to? If I'm not wrong, Steve Albini recorded your band too right?
@@rawxrarerecording5266 Squelch disbanded around 1990. Our entire demo that we did with Steve is available on my page. Let me know what you think!
Pretty brilliant! I had no idea he passed. I’m binging out on Albini content.
Wow, great video! My band recorded there around this time; the main piece of equipment I remember was the Osterizer with a switch labeled "Rocks/Fingers"
You should post some of those songs or link them here.
ua-cam.com/video/6zPoLASMsMQ/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/JFkbg8jT5R4/v-deo.html
nice!
Man, that's good shit. I love the sound of that, and would prefer this over the sound of much of the "rock" music today. I think it sounds great. I have built my own basement studios over the years and it's great fun.
Sandy Duncan's Eye was freakin' great!
I've got this album on cassette in my collection waiting to be digitized.
Might to scrap that idea and just by the CD!
Amazing piece of history. Love the DIY spirit and punk "shitty 8 track studio" aesthetic.
Steve was an expert 30 yrs ago ..... that's why he's so popular NOW.
I see David Wm Sims bass rig. Rapeman or Jesus Lizard. I recall hearing that GK head and those 1x15 cabs live. What a killer sound.
That rig has stuck with me for 30 years as well, just killer sound.
that desk is just a mixer and monitors with no screens. whoa. this video is so good, thank you.
Thanks for thank you! So many bands recorded in that basement and Steve did us all right and for CHEAP!
Why would there be a screen in 1990
Why would there be a screen in 1990
"screens" in front of the speakers. Grill cloth. Not computers.
This is a great video. Albini shows he had all the technical and psychological chops needed to make great recordings. All the lights need to be blinking for some clients. LOL Thanks for the video.
EPIC TIME CAPSULE VID!!! his practices are still so relevant in 2019!! just multiply all his prices by 10!
Lol, facts.
The sight of a young, lanky Steve waxing his brand of recording philosophy makes me feel warm and giddy. Although that may just be the carbs I've been eating all day.
RIP Steve you quirky bastard-
We’re all gonna miss you.
Some people have a no-bullshit attitude, Steve has a vacuum field state of no bullshit.
So cool, thanks for posting. I really enjoy Albini's intellect and the sounds on his records. That said, as a musician, I'm way to insecure to ever work with someone like him 😄😄😄🤙🖤
The whole thing with the door not shutting is hilarious. As soon as Albini failed to shut it the first time I was wondering how he would explain it. Drunk, in the middle of night and in the dark made sense.
I'm a carpenter by day. The door is what's known as hinge bound. The solution is undo the hinges and place 1-2mm packers between the door frame and hinge. Refix job done.
Rest easy mate.. you were brilliant 🙏🏻😞 in utero is one of my favourite records he worked on. He was absolutely awesome.
this is amazing. detailed questions with very thorough answers. super intriguing. great work!
Much appreciated!
I'm only halfway done with the video but I thought I'd thank you for posting this. I can't image what recordings exist that haven't been uploaded yet (if they ever are).
Thanks for your thanks!
The best simple explanation of what an expander is doing!
I would have loved to be there but simultaneously I would have been extremely paranoid that I would die somehow and never see daylight again... I say that as a fan of Steve for over twenty years. I admire and fear this incredible genius.
I feel the same way. I was an aspiring engineer in the 90's and never met anyone near the skill level of Steve. He truly is a master of the craft, and is living the life I so wanted to be in. Analog for life
dude thanks so much, this is a historical document
That Urge Overkill record sounds fantastic. It's a wonder what you can do with so little.
Steve did not mince words when he had a falling out with those guys.. Not sure if they ever made up.
@@rickg8015 Who cares. That band were a bunch of rock poseurs anyway,
@@matteframe yet strangely better and more important than anything you've ever done or will do.
Priceless, thanks so much for this..
This must have been done during Tweez sesseions. That's Britt Walford's drum set.
Tweez was recorded at StudioMedia in Evanston, 2 years prior to this interview. I am fairly certain those drums belong to Mike Greenlees from TAR.
That's weird. Britt used to hang his ride upside down just like the kit in the video. Same huge red Tama drums. Do an image search for Brit Walford drums to see what I mean. If Tweez wasn't recorded in Albini's basement, then I'm probably wrong.
I actually spoke to Britt about this video and he says that YES, those are his drums. He said that he thinks King Kong were either practicing or recording at that time.
GG7000 do u personally know Britt?
@@GG70 Wouldn't this have been about the time they were recording Spiderland?
Im so sad about how boring and shallow the world just became. Steve was so many things, a smartass, an asshole, a geek, a genius and a great guy in a band. Happy to have met him, but always expected another occasion, was thinking i had to look up tickets right before i heard the news. Did not see that coming. Late 50s early 60s is a mean age.
And we think gear is expensive now.😳 $5k for a small mixer that you can get on market place for $150 now. $6k for Klark Teknix? My Presonus Studiolive mixer has a choice of 7 eqs and 7 comps that i can use on every channel. Multiple reverbs, delays, and chorus for fx returns, and controls my DAW that has anything i need. That costs me $3k.😂 Wonderful times we live in.
Just watched this last week and learned so much. Farwell friend! Grazie mille
The great thing is he went from this, to where he is now !
And 3 years after this video, he is at Pachyderm studios recording Nirvana IN Utero album. Amazing.
Oh wow how cool is this! Thanks so much for posting.
A whole house utilizing every room as a different protectant to the bands sound. This is insane to me. I couldn’t imagine any time stepping into a producers room, and them guiding me to a different part as being vital to each players sound
I hope most of you understand this, if not we’re in deep trouble
Can anyone point me to a direction. Where a producer curates each band to this
I really need to know
A legend in the making....
ahh, just Steve living in the moment, not a cell phone or computer in sight
Makes sense that Cobain wanted to record with this guy, I approve 😝
42.50...."All you're doing is putting frosting on a turd" I laughed so much at his comment there. But he is so right!
You can't polish a turd but you may sprinkle glitter on it.
Great behind the scenes with a LEGEND
The bodies were hidden over there in the drywall
I've heard that bodies make excellent bass traps? lol
Dead cats. You know, fluffy stuff..
Lolololol dig it!
Was this the studio that was flooded by that guy from Slint? The one who was the inspiration for 'Mouth Breather'?
That is correct!
Britt Walford
What's the story here? The Jesus Lizard song, right? I want details, was the Slint dude annoying or dumb?
Jake Henders Steve left his home for a couple weeks, in the care of a friend (Britt). When he returned, he expected some sort of order. But such was not the case.
Jack You said that how I would imagine Steve himself would. Lol
I would love to get my hands on the original tape and do a restoration. This is great!
"we bought a bunch of doors" - Steve Albini
So glad you had the presence of mind to film this. Really cool you uploaded it. Very important document. subbed, etc. cheers.
Amazing how he didn’t change much RIP
Legend... this is so sad!
The real wizard behind the curtain.
superb! hard to find videolike this this days
Thank you for sharing this video!
“The world needs cheap $hitty eight track basement studios” - albini
Thank you for sharing!
1st thing I noticed was Wallford's kit
Those would appear to be The Mouthbreather's drums in the opening shot.
Here from the Britt Walford interview. He said this video shows Slint's equipment.
Yes, I think King Kong was recording at that time.
if this is the type of videos you have in your archive, please post more! Never know when those tapes will get too messed up to watch again.
Sorry Brendon, this is really the only video I have that would be of any interest to my new subscribers. I did not lug around a VHS recorder back in those days to shows around town haha!
@@GG70 no one did..the holy grail cam back then was a fisher price PL2000..that recorded vid on cass. tape.
Thanks for the upload
muy valioso material, muchas gracias. saludos desde Buenos Aires!
Steve wearing a fedora is such a vibe
Imagine being able to buy a house at 18-19. The American dreams last breath was that era, before it all got sold to corps for investment vehicles
Awesome video, great to see this studio and match it to the music recorded there. Been listening to Jesus Urge Superstar lately. Steve’s so sharp and dry, I would be pretty nervous interviewing him, but man he is always interesting to listen to.
Thanks for the nice comment, Alex. Yes, I was incredibly nervous when I was interviewing him back then and I was really young, too. He really did help me with this final project by allowing the tour and interview.
That horrible 80s snare came back to bite us, I guess it's a zombie now.
As shady as Mr. Albini seems in this video (maybe he's just socially awkward like myself), the quality of the information presented makes this an essential watch for any fledgling or even mid-level audio engineer. So glad I stumbled upon this. and I will have to +1 s. stoll, the "there is always some loser" comment cracked me up. The sternness with which he said it almost rubbed me the wrong way, as an audio engineer, because I was told when studying audio engineering, that you can't be too choosy if you want to be successful, for myriad reasons . . . But I guess he's at "that level" . . .
I think when he was talking about "some loser", he was taking a dig at myself and my band. It was fine. I was used to his "humor" at that point. He was nice enough to let me do this video so many years ago, I got an A, and he also gave me his blessing to post this video. What I should do now, is actually put the music here that he recorded for us back in 1989.
@@GG70 thanks for posting I was wondering to myself what marks you got for this. Nice direction btw. 👌
@@briankennedy1192 I got an A! Only one other person in my class knew who Steve was and was kind of blown away by the whole thing.
@@GG70 That's excellent brother. Great video. I was enthralled watching. Bit of humour there too which some ppl missed.
Thanks for this upload.
Lke being a fly on the wall - incredible
One of the most important persons in music. Ever. EVER.
thank you.
He’s the Jimmy Jam of the alt-rock set
getting extrmemly technical in this shitheap of a basement
Oh it's never the room, it's always the engineer.
He’s has a reason for the things he’s done in his “shitheap of a basement”. It sounded pretty good too!
fuck man this hurts.
“So like do u have a problem with his playing I mean do u ask him to turn down?”
‘Turn down?’
😂🤣
i’m steve albini and these are my doors
Man he was smart as shit as a young guy too. Basically the same person
he had a great sense of humor
Hilariously beautiful!
Steve, as always, on the money.
Were in Steve’s basement
Studio
We’re gonna go in the studio
Control room
15:17
- What is this material called?
- Cloth...
Fucking gold! XD
‘Thats 120 explosive watts of all English tube power’
Amen