This week Steve Albini passed away. For someone of my generation an icon so a shock.

In addition to musician (Big Black, Rapeman, Shellac) and producer (Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, you name it), he was a music industry critic. He explained how the big record labels abuse musicians but also explained to musicians that they should make the music they want and not let the record companies push them around. Musicians should make music they think is cool and perform.

He explained that in plain language, as square and hermetic as his music.

A striking person I will miss.

In 2017, I took these photos at Shellac’s performance in Vera, Groningen.