Big Black were a highly-influential, critically-renowned noise rock band active from 1981 to 1987. They were infamous for their signature caustic, hyper-aggressive sound, notably achieved through bandleader Steve Albini’s use of sheet metal guitar picks and heavy, extremely loud distortion.

The group began as Albini’s solo project, mainly because he had an extremely hard time finding like-minded musicians while studying journalism at Northwestern University. During his sophomore year, Albini bought a Roland TR-606, borrowed a four-track tape recorder from a friend and spent his spring break recording Lungs in his living room. He passed this tape around to musicians, hoping to find willing collaborators. The drum machine remained a constant, frequently credited on their albums under the name “Roland”.

Two years later, he found his bandmates in Naked Raygun’s lead singer and guitarist (respectively): Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango. They quickly coalesced as a unit, recorded an EP, toured the Midwest in an old van and built their reputation, growing more and more infamous (especially in their native Chicago). The band’s lyrics and stage banter betray a darkly satirical view of the more unseemly sides of humanity: racism, chauvinist sexism, rape, drug addiction and domestic violence were all fair game, often leading unknowing audience members to believe Albini was a virulent bigot.

As their acclaim grew, they soon began performing on the East Coast and in Europe. In 1984, they signed with legendary indie punk label Homestead Records in a unique arrangement: the band’s recordings were licensed to the record for a set amount of time, the band accepted no advance, paid their own way and signed no contracts. As a result of their bare-bones, no-administration ethos, the band was able to perform quite cheaply, frequently profiting from their tours (no easy achievement).

Soon after the recording of the Racer-X EP later that year, Pezzati left the band to focus on Naked Raygun. He was replaced several months later by ex-Parliament/Funkadelic engineer Dave Riley. Durango subsequently quit Raygun to focus on Big Black. One year later, their debut album Atomizer was released to great critical and public acclaim. Homestead capitalized on their success by releasing a single of the song “Big Money”, coupling it with several exclusive live songs. The band agreed to press the single, but with one serious stipulation: it had to be issued for free as a promotional bonus for radio stations – they couldn’t sell a single copy (and, in the band’s opinion, bilk their fans). When Homestead began selling these singles behind the band’s back, the group severed all ties and jumped ship for local indie rock label Touch and Go.

Despite the success of Atomizer, the band felt they were creatively running on fumes, effectively re-purposing the same ideas, having said everything they wanted to say already. Hence the sticker on their first Touch & Go EP proclaiming, “Not as good as Atomizer, so don’t get your hopes up, cheese!” Riley’s alcoholism also became a problem- he’d once drank to the point that he destroyed Roland in a violent fit during a show at CBGB. When Riley and Durango both made plans to attend universities, Albini made the decision to officially end the band, effective once Durango entered law school.

After announcing the breakup, the band, relieved to know that everything truly was ending, recorded their final album, the infamous Songs About Fucking (which would become their most successful record by far). They also embarked on a world tour, playing across Europe, Australia and America, finishing once and for all with a performance in Seattle on August 11, 1987. The group smashed their instruments and went their separate ways.

Albini continued recording with the noise rock bands Rapeman and Shellac, additionally pursuing an impressive career as a recording engineer. Durango also continued recording, releasing several EPs under the name Arsenal and playing with Jon Spencer’s group, Boss Hog. He is currently a practicing lawyer. Riley performed until he suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995 which left him unable to walk. He’s since published a book and released an album with his group Miasma of Funk.

Big Black has reunited only once, to perform four songs at the Touch & Go 25th Anniversary Festival on September 9, 2006. Albini has in no uncertain words assured that there is no further hope for a reunion.