This video has influenced my approach to music, art and creativity more than perhaps anything else I've ever encountered. Rest easy Steve.

@buddhull

Ай бұрын

Have you read The Problem With Music or his letter to Nirvana? If not, Albini penned them in the 90s and both are easily available to read for free online while offering similar insight, just in longer form. Steve lived as he preached and he’ll be missed.

@HT0o0

Ай бұрын

Love the channel! As a game dev he's also influenced so much of how I approach my craft within the confines of a greed fuelled industry

@Mraquanetchris

Ай бұрын

​@@buddhull He definitely starts referencing Nirvana and other points in the interview.

It’s like they locked him up in a basement and forced him to give this interview

@briansmith9455

2 жыл бұрын

"THE CAMERA IS OFF, PUT YOUR PANTS BACK.ON, ALBINI!!" 😆🤣😆

@elevateaudioengineering4892

13 күн бұрын

Is the the green room at Metro??

R.I.P. you legend, your legacy will never be forgotten 🖤

@tonywatson9765

Ай бұрын

His legacy of looking at images of children being sexually abused.

@danielryan8319

Ай бұрын

@@tonywatson9765say what?

@tonywatson9765

Ай бұрын

@@danielryan8319google steve albini pure fanzine or look up his 1987 tour diary.

@OmaeWaMoShindeiRYU

Ай бұрын

@@danielryan8319 he was a pedo

@Xythantiops

Ай бұрын

Yep... And being a total COVID CUCK/Fascist. Those tweets lambasting anti vaxxers don't seem so smartarse this week.

No wonder Geffen Records and the music industry in general tried to ruin Steve Albini's career.... I think he's a legend.

@pumas222

2 ай бұрын

@bytesurfer8651well he’s off spotify

@pumas222

2 ай бұрын

@bytesurfer8651 i want you

@jlouis4407

Ай бұрын

@bytesurfer8651He was blacklisted by major labels when he did In Utero, it affected his work for a few years

4:00-4:30 Albini defines the fine line between selling out and maintaining artistic integrity.

@Alianger

4 жыл бұрын

If you're comfortable, you're not selling out

This video was uploaded on my 15th birthday 🎂 May 9th 2010 RIP 🪦 Steve Albini

"We don`t have to use music as a tool to generate money" Steve Albini

@JohnSmith-su3ze

10 ай бұрын

How else is a musician meant to generate money for themselves?

@caprise-music6722

7 ай бұрын

@@JohnSmith-su3ze he’s not talking about the musicians/bands. He’s talking about the corpo f***s

@californiadaze

2 ай бұрын

@@JohnSmith-su3ze Well, if I'm understanding Steve correctly, the whole idea of musicians needing to generate money for themselves doesn't necessarily need to be tied to the art they're making. In fact, earning money elsewhere is a way to stay true to your artistic values and integrity, because the decisions you make to earn money to live and be comfortable, won't have any bearing on your art. He says: “[…] we’ll just carry on working at our day jobs for a while and make money and pay rent. we don't have to use music as a tool to generate money. i think that's an option that's open to everyone. i think everyone could treat music that way. in fact, earning money elsewhere is a way to stay true to your artistic values and integrity. its in a way, a heuristic presumption to think that you can be purely a musician and that the rest of the world will pay you for the privilege hearing your music. i think that's, a little bit naive in some cases and grossly overstating your importance in other cases. in any case, it makes it harder for you to do things that you’re comfortable and happy with if you have to use your art as a way of generating your income... then your inexorably linking your lifestyle and your personal comfort with the decisions you make for your art.” “[...] very, very few people should expect to do it professionally. very few people should expect to do it as a career. and most of the tension, within any artistic endeavor comes from the mistaken presumption that anyone who wants to, can be a professional artist.”

@jl9205

Ай бұрын

7:48 "If it's a passion first and foremost, you will enjoy it and it will be valid."

@californiadaze

Ай бұрын

@@jl9205 So many great nuggets of wisdom

The man had a sharp mind and integrity, only Frank Zappa could speak with such presence of mind about the industry. RIP Steve Albini

@aburaiqun6742

Ай бұрын

that makes no sense. might wanna loosen the chinstrap on your helmet

@diment0857

Ай бұрын

@@aburaiqun6742 oh yeah? Which part exactly of the "an artist who says "it's a hubristic presumption that you can be purely a musician and the rest of the world will pay you for the privilege of hearing your music (4:40)" shares the same iconoclastic views and work ethic with an artist who names his albums "We're Only In It For The Money" don't you understand, maybe you want me to draw it for you?

@stevenhenry5267

Ай бұрын

Exactly

@stevenhenry5267

Ай бұрын

He had a lot of experience dealing with various aspects at various levels of the business.

@swampshack1018

Ай бұрын

@@aburaiqun6742imagine not understanding his comment and then being an ass about it. He’s here to pay respects to Steve too, stop being a dick

There is a shitload of wisdom in this. almost everything he said is what changed our band experience from a good one to a bad one, and what changed a love to a chore.

Steve has an easy listening voice and very insightful approach to any subject. Way too young to have passed on. RIP.

One of the wisest people in music. I'm not a musician but I saw this video ten years ago, and I like to think it helped me make smarter decisions than I'd have made otherwise. It still resonates strongly.

It hurts to know he's gone, rest in peace legend

Steve Albini is the kind of guy who puts periods at the end of his sentences!

@mick5137

6 жыл бұрын

And he's the kind of guy who uses obliged instead of "obligated."

@TheMentalblockrock

6 жыл бұрын

You're saying Steve Albini is the kind of guy who has periods???

@MasterWilczu

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheMentalblockrock His guitars kinda bleed doe

@TheMentalblockrock

3 жыл бұрын

@@MasterWilczu Well he wanted Elizabeth Warren for EL Prezzidente so it would not surprise me if he was a guy who is happy to "have periods".!

True the house always wins! R.I.P(retty sure heaven is an analogue domain!)

This guy talks pure sense - How many genius artists in the last 80 years have been fucked over because they didnt know what the word "industry" means- Resource(Artist) goes in one end, and gets spat out once the machine has used all its energy -Your signed to the industry to keep the machinery of the industry going -not your career .

Big Black was the sound track of my 80s. rest in peace Steve.

I feel like Albini could be a character in the movie Slacker.

One of my favorite Steve Albini interviews to come back and listen to every so often.. Such a big loss to music and just an interesting human being in general. RIP 🥀🔥

Remember...Taylor Swift's parents were rich. She didn't get huge virtually overnight cuz she's particularly talented. She does write her own material, which differs from many other pop artists, but her material is also seemingly all the same shit.

@leighfoulkes7297

7 жыл бұрын

Her work is super shallow on top of that and as well as personal attacks on former lovers (for not being perfect humans, probably).

@DS-ff6ze

7 жыл бұрын

why do ppl feel the need to bash artists to promote their own. can't ppl just listen to music without all this identity politics.

@LSD123.

3 жыл бұрын

@@leighfoulkes7297 It was people like her who killed music.

@specialsnowflake9097

2 жыл бұрын

Max Martin writes for her

@asentientroomba8054

2 жыл бұрын

@@LSD123. oh fuck off with that nonsense. Nothing has “killed music”. It’s still very alive and she’s no worse than popular acts from decades past.

Steve Albini keeps it realer than anyone else I know of. All DIY, refuses to take royalties for the records he *engineers*, says fuck the "big" record companies/contracts/yes men...Nothing but respect man, we should all try and stick to our morals/ethics/whatever the fuck, always.

Words of wisdom, for sure. The most important thing about creating Art or Music is to bring beauty into this world. It must be the essential reason for doing your Art. If it brings money, fine.. just don't let that be a motivating factor.

rest in peace legend

I'd like to have a drink with Steve Albini, he is a wise man!

@matteframe

9 жыл бұрын

he doesn't drink... lole

@yeahyuh6580

5 жыл бұрын

He's a healthy guy

@davethehostage

5 жыл бұрын

I'm always curious as to what people think their subject would get out of this hypothetical "drink". What would you two talk about beyond you vocalizing your admiration for him or probing him for details about his work? Not (just) trying to be an ass; genuinely curious about how you think this conversation would go.

@buddhull

4 жыл бұрын

davethehostage *glug glug glug* . . . * braaaaap* “Steve! Steve? NIR-VANA!!! What was did it to Kurt is to when it even do happen to things?”

@stickymeat88

3 жыл бұрын

I mean, it was probably a lot different in the fuckin 80s and 70s. I'm sure with rent control/cost of living at that time, it was easier to make a living off of even being an "artist" or even a debutant. He is right though, making expression into a paying job would basically contrive it, albeit to a certain extent.

Big Black is a great band. 

I agree with Albini on not having the hubristic entitlement that you are going to make a living from your art but when one is deeply passionate about anything artistic, whether it be music, literature, film, or whatever, it is very difficult to separate artistic passion with realistic outlook. Maybe it gets easier with age. That's my two cents youtube.

@GregLopesArt

7 жыл бұрын

Steve will have my respect forever, a lot of insightful remarks and a true lesson here! But on your comment. You know, been doing art my whole life. Be it with a guitar, ink or improvising words like a mad poet. The only moment I cared about money, was at 27 when my grandma died, my mom got sick, and I finally entered the college. Still, can't imagine my life without art, just look at my channel. Money? Well, I wish I could pay a five stars suite hotel in Chicago, one night, me and the girl I love if she cared. And pay the health insurance plan monthly not for me, but for my parents and her (yeah, poor dreamer here). I try to be realistic. But every artist carries the weight of a billion possibilities every time he wakes up in the morning. The reality is too bland, sometimes. I keep fighting, maybe someday...

@supak108

7 жыл бұрын

Greg Lopes The weight of a billion possibilities is a great way to put it. The burden acts as the salvation

@GetOffMyLawnRecords

7 жыл бұрын

That's a healthy outlook. We had a good conversation on our podcast.

@stargazer4146

5 жыл бұрын

@@GregLopesArt ❤️❤️ what about now?

@GregLopesArt

5 жыл бұрын

Star Gazer Hey. Well things didn’t change that much :) Still thinking about the health insurance. Lol. It’s very important. About that girl I mentioned before, I wish her happiness. As always doing my “art” or whatever it may be... still can’t imagine my life without it. Life always finds a way of forcing you to be realistic, though. But as I said, there’s always possibilities. Maybe one of them will make it possible for me to change things for the better. Thanks for asking 👍

I could listen him/it for hours

This isn't just good advice for musicians. It's great advice for life for an artist of any medium. "If it's a passion first and foremost, you will enjoy it and it will be valid. And if you expect it to be your job as well, eventualy I think you will come to resent it.. in the way most people resent their job." People do jobs so they can have a life, including creativity, in their free time. The only drawback is that when art is your job, you have nearly unlimited time to perfect your craft. However, the tragedy is that professional artists very often do work they do not find fulfilling, but they must do for commercial reasons. And then, on their own time, they are too taxed to do the art they truly want to do. Very few professional artists get to do exactly what they want as their profession, whithout restraint or expectation.

Sei stato la colonna sonora della mia gioventù, le emozioni che mi hai fatto provare sono state uniche ed irripetibili, mi hai mostrato tutto lo schifo della vita e hai aumentato il mio disprezzo per il prossimo, e di questo non potrò che ringraziarti. Speravo solo che fossi immortale ... Grazie di tutto ...

fantastic life advice for any endeavour. Thank you so much for this... it's easily 'ported' to other areas of life...

I cried so hard when I found out the news. Steve Albini cared so much about doing things authentically and being realistic. Truly one in a billion in work ethic, knowledge, and precision in work. Rest in peace brother. Thanks so much for the amazing music productions. Nobody will ever care like you did

@user-xj8yl2dh4p

Ай бұрын

Google him a bit you might change your mind 🤮

Steve cares not whether anyone approves of him. That's a rare gift and the secret to his success I think.

@jlouis4407

Ай бұрын

That’s how anybody who is worth a 💩 thinks

"Keep our heads above water"

@Tijuanagenius

7 жыл бұрын

S P I D E R L A N D

Nothing but love and respect for Albini.

this is a precious lecture

5:00 is something a lot of people need to hear, but also I slightly don't agree. Becoming a professional in art is like tricking the world into believing that you are important enough, and if you successfully do it then you are important enough.

@JamesDeWeaver

4 жыл бұрын

Well said.

@juvedoo99

Ай бұрын

The issue is when you begin to lack the self awareness to realize you’re not really that important. Staying grounded is essential for being artistically genuine .

Lots of musicians need to hear this!!

dang, thank you Steve Albini. Great thoughts.

"..wiggled in front of me like a severed head..." Ok, this dude is a genius.

...and also, the expectations come from us seeing so many non-talented people being praised and showered with money and fame, that makes people who know they have talent expect just as much if not more.

He's pretty insightful. I was surprised, however, that he stated that many artists overvalue their importance by thinking the world will simply pay them for their service of music. After working in studios for awhile, you begin to resent the megalomaniacs known as musicians. Not all of them, of course, but enough...

And I believe it was Scott Litt, REM's main producer while on Warner records, that was brought in by the company to remix All Apologies and Heart Shaped Box, coincidentally, the album's biggest singles. Also to that other guy who made the initial comment, the band was relatively pressured to this process that created the rift between Cobain and Albini. Sad since Cobain was a big fan of Albini to even ask him oversee the recording process. Then that shit happens... I stand by Albini 100%

Love the skiing analogy!!

requiescat in pace

Fucking genius. I’m beyond humbled to have found out about him. .

DIY was the motto of the punk generation, which Steve came out of.

Watching this video again today, I really feel that the world isn't as good without him...

excellent sound advice from someone who knows thanks

that is some pro-level lighting lol

that was interesting from start to finish

what a goddamned legend.

RIP, Steve.

brilliant! :)

Very sound advice. Making music is a wonderful thing. Making a living making music is hell on earth. There are exceptions once in a great while, but how does one go about being an exception?

"Those who speak the truth will be hated."

wise words

He was a journalism major in college and it shows

Wow this guy HATES the music industry, rightfully so!

@LSD123.

3 жыл бұрын

Who doesn't?

this man is a Pure Genius.No one took any of his money and No one was ever in the position to tell him what to do. I think underground rapper Immortal Technique put it best...I'd rather keep a LOT of a little money than a little of a lot of money. 5:00 Grossly overstating your importance.Exactly,I see music as My release, it's for me and the very few people that enjoy my shit! damn, He's smart.

I keep this attitude we play free gigs & don't even stay together all the time. We just play when we feel like it. At times we suck and sound ok but always get loaded and have fun with friends.

Genius!

He’s right and this is why he ended up changing his mind about the digital format. Anything to decrease the hold that greedy interfering music labels have over musicians is a good thing and gives more autonomy to the creators of the music

WORD!

He'd be a great guest speaker at colleges

@GetOffMyLawnRecords

7 жыл бұрын

He was a tremendous interview on our podcast.

@neilefc877

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ill give it a listen

@ImNotGregGraffin

2 жыл бұрын

He does do college appearances, normally on the topic of sound engineering

Capo de los capos

I never went to the store (I'm much to young). I think I first heard about the label when I got the Pailhead 12".

So based.

LOL!! you just had me on the floor laughing with that comment!!

ahhh the pain

Sheer genius!

solid dude, backed hard.

wow

I don't agree with everything Steve says, (mostly sampling and related stuff) but he had many good points and spoke many truths... RIP Steve

RIP

Wisdom from an older time.

I never liked the Albini sound tbh but he was the most refreshingly intelligent/ analytic person, would have loved to met him

I always enjoy listening to Albini's input on stuff like this. He was a real maverick. However, one thing that I think that often gets overlooked when viewing commercial success within the music industry is how random a lot of it can seem to be. Hence the never ending discussions about why this band should have made it and why that band didn't deserve their success etc. The truth is that it is a shit business. But if you are a real musician and really live and breathe it then none of this should bother you.

this guy' knows his shit

Pure game

@Jojos25 Are you serious? Kurt was obviously joking, did you not see Dave and Krist laugh? I have NEVER heard of a producer being paid a flat rate of $2 million to produce one album. Steve Albini was a moderately-known indie producer in 1993, there's no way in Hell a record label would give, or even loan, that kind of money to him. Albini told Charles Cross in Cobain's bio "Heavier Than Heaven" that his producer fee was $100,000 to record "In Utero" with no mechanical royalties. So THAT's it.

Albini's dada worked at NASA!

rip

My best friend toured Europe for 2 weeks. His net paycheck? $270.00.Twelve shows; $270.00.

he good

Hes basically explaing punk rock diy culture...rip...

@Jadesocket Haha, I didn't even think about that.

@6x7Grimmylover101 Right on. I see what you're saying. I watched it again. Don't get me wrong. I really like Albini's views on the music business, however, I feel like he's reacting mostly to people who want to be rich/famous more so than artists. I think a real artist doesn't need to be told why they should be doing art, they just do it. Anyone who does art for what they might get from it, is more of a manufacturer than a "real" artist.

Autodidact personified!

Solo lo conozco por su versión de Heart Shaped Box de Nirvana. Mi versión favorita por cierto. Algún día debería ver más de su trabajo.

@Justeatmytoast His recording studio has a website with a message board that he posts on all the time. The guy isn't sexist at all. Check out the site and you will get an even better impression of the guy.

@johngoff There's like maybe a 100 acts in the States that can make a living out of it, provided the Pitchfork geekdom hails them. Otherwise they never pass the $1000-per-gig-mark. Not everyone turns out to be Wolf Parade or My Morning Jacket. Most peeps can scrape by if on intensive tour 3 months a year in Europe, but only if they don't get sick. Steve Wynn's wife had to go $4000 in debt only to provide him with dental (you know, maintain his instrument?) So yeah, it's pretty rough.

Funny, I just bought that 12" for like $5 a couple days ago. I also would have loved to have seen it continue but, i assume the lifestyle differences might have made much more impossible.

@Justeatmytoast All and good, but Steve is personal friends with Kim Deal and the Breeders. On his website he started a thread about his then girlfriend (now wife) Heather playing marching cymbals on stage with The Breeders. This post is dated from June of 08. Kim Deal doesn't personally hate Albini.

Wherever this was filmed, I hope Albini got his pack of coffee and cigarettes for it.

Does anyone know what size underpants Steve Albini wears? There's a special offer on at Debenhams, buy one 3 pack get another one half price and I was thinking of buying some for him.

@householdrecordings

8 жыл бұрын

What? Hahahaha

@bonmot7850

8 жыл бұрын

Steve doesn't trust corporate underwear, he makes his own.

@GetOffMyLawnRecords

7 жыл бұрын

email him and ask.

@patriciagullickson9591

7 жыл бұрын

Idon'twanttochangemynameOK ??????

@marcuswellby1

3 жыл бұрын

Just buy some with plenty of "shellac "

the industry is really a shark-tank

@jlouis4407

Ай бұрын

They are slaves to the man, they may be lucky enough to be high paid slaves for a while, but still slaves

No nonsense Steve

4:28

He is Harry Potter - MAGIC!!!

@Soundeagle3456

5 жыл бұрын

grow up, his mind and lifestyle matter more then his quirky glasses

You worked at Wax Trax? That's pretty cool. What did you do there?

@zbs28 That's not what I get from this. You can take it as far as you can go. Some people just have more ambition than others. But I think the main point he's selling is control....you lose that, then you are stuck....