Steve Albini (1961- ) is a famed record producer, noise rock musician and audio engineer. He is highly renowned for his work in underground rock from the 1980s to the present day.

Born in Pasadena, Albini’s family moved around quite a bit, though they eventually settled in Missoula, a small college town in Montana. A friend introduced him to punk music around age 14 or so and he quickly grew obsessed, clinging tenaciously to outsider rock artists like the Ramones, Pere Ubu, Suicide, Throbbing Gristle, The Birthday Party and The Stooges. During his senior year of high school, he was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle; while recuperating from the broken leg that ensued, he taught himself to play bass guitar. Albini went on to earn a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, subsequently writing for a number of rock magazines.

At age 19, while studying for that degree, he bought a drum machine and recorded a handful of songs on a borrowed reel-to-reel recorder. A year later, they were released on a local punk label under the name Big Black. The name was soon attached to a full-fledged band and they quickly became renowned for their caustic, aggressive noise rock sound. The widespread critical attention grew to be too much for Albini, however, and he decided to break up the band in 1987. Later that year, he formed Rapeman with David Wm. Sims (formerly of Scratch Acid). The controversial group lasted only two years before ultimately dissolving.

In 1985, Albini began working as a recording engineer. He became a highly sought-after technician, producing albums for a widely diverse and influential range of bands including Slint, Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, The Breeders, Neurosis, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Joanna Newsom, Mogwai and The Stooges.

Since 1992, Albini has been active in the critically-acclaimed post-hardcore group Shellac. He has also owned and operated the Electrical Audio recording studios since 1995, and remains willing to work with just about any interesting artist who requests his help. He also remains quite active and outspoken in the public eye.