Steve Albini's "Conditions" For Becoming Nirvana's Producer | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

[@jaredbarber5823]

Nirvana chats are always fun, but Steve's insights/view into the industry and ethics was a unique treat.

[@suburbanindie]

You should read Steve Albini's semi-famous article The Problem With Music. It discusses everything about why artists will always be taken advantage of

[@jaredbarber5823]

@@suburbanindie I have to admit that I wasn't aware of Steve, prior to this interview, and less-so, his article, so I very much appreciate your recommendation. Given the current, evolving, industry model, I am looking forward to the read. Thanks, so much !

[@eyehatescott]

@@jaredbarber5823check out his band Shellac

[@wendelgee01]

Maron’s interview with Albini is a must listen.

[@jaredbarber5823]

@@wendelgee01 Thank you for that recommendation. I will most definitely make time to listen to that, as Mark is a stellar interviewer, and I'm sure he and Steve would make for an interesting and enlightening chat.

[@ETILHK54]

That is weirdly unexpected, huge props for bringing in Steve.

[@gavinhicks3474]

Well he produced Surfa Rosa and Nirvana are big Pixie fans

[@kutnersuicide]

@@gavinhicks3474 I think he/she/they was talking about Steve being invited by either Dave or Krist or Conan to the podcast.

[@ismaelbelda1]

It’s a bit unreal

[@kutnersuicide]

@@ismaelbelda1 It's great. Steve should get more recognition. But he never seemed interested in fame and that's why I love him.I think Conan genuinely like this music scene, as surprising as it might seem.

[@marca4443]

But did he ask him about his "blues," specifically? kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5awn4WgeN2ea9k

[@ws4jb]

I love Conan for many reasons, but his ability to let guests talk and not make the interview about himself is just A+

[@G_Gr00v3]

Such a rare trait for a talk show host, for sure

[@fluffytoaster427]

@@G_Gr00v3 *glares at Bill Maher*

[@condemned1982]

I love Conan, but he's always had that issue - just listen to his usual podcast, he's constantly turning discussion back to himself. I do like that he's more restrained in this setting, but probably because he's not trying to make everything into comedy here.

[@crungefactory]

Norm taught him to listen

[@kmlgraph]

Unlike Howard Stern, always about himself (usually by constantly interrupting his guests).

[@Strepite]

Can’t believe he died. RIP Steve and thanks for all the knowledge and wisdom shared…

[@Banquet42]

I only saw this clip a week or so ago and was gutted to see the news today. RIP Steve.

[@TonyJuanPailos]

This is a sad day 😞

[@not-pedka]

what the hell man

[@raptorrsr5817]

Rest in peace Steve 🙏

[@AI-Consultant]

rip kurt

[@EthanS1481]

Never guessed that Conan would be the one to do the best post Nirvana interview. Huge props to him

[@JJONNYREPP]

Steve Albini's "Conditions" For Becoming Nirvana's Producer | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend 0746am 21.11.23 conan needs a drinking buddy, dunno about a friend.

[@detroitfunk313]

Conan is a guitarist and he knows what he is talking about in these interviews. He also interviews Dhani Harrison and got to play Georges guitar collection.

[@imtryinghere1]

I'm kind of shocked at the depth of conan's knowledge. I'm sure he had some staff prep help, but still very detailed to a level that surprises me

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@imtryinghere1 Comments on ‘Steve Albini's "Conditions" For Becoming Nirvana's Producer | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend’ 20.12.23 2108pm mike yarwood's on...

[@Ohgeeznah]

Coco knows good music! ✨

[@dropkickpherby6994]

I actually love Steve's honesty of "no I wasn't a fan until I heard them work" instead of the flowery "oh I knew they were going to be great" jargon so many play a false beat to.

[@mattrock12]

Nevermind was already the biggest album in the world at this point. I think he’s being a little disingenuous in this regard. And also a bit rude, if unintentionally, while trying to be “cool”, stating he was familiar with the bands in and around Nirvana at that time, but not them in particular. Just my opinion.

[@alexanderlouelllopez5860]

@@mattrock12 He already had an established rap sheet with Big Black and Rapemen.Being a record producer was just like a day job to pay the bills for him.

[@xwexarexbulletsx]

Steve has always being extremely brutally honest, an amazing human being but someone who suffers absolutely no fools.

[@ivaerz4977]

Steve - Nirvana who

[@alvareo92]

That is because he talked smack about Nirvana at the time. Back in the day, he enjoyed publicly mocking the bands he worked with in an unquestionably mean-spirited way. It would be foolish of him to pretend he always loved them when he called them "an unremarkable version of the Seattle sound" and only took the job out of pity (and the paycheck). Thankfully he later changed his mind and also grew out of that sort of behaviour. Lucky for him COnan didn't bring it up!

[@binxboi7156]

Albini and Vig are two masters of their crafts. It’s always neat to hear Albini talk about Butch.

[@Night5225]

I keep going back to Steve Albini videos. Every single time I hear him speak, I feel like I learn something, if only a small perspective shift. Didactic and straightforward. Rest in peace.

[@cloudbullets]

RIP Steve, your influence was so profound. Thank you.

[@fray3dendsofsanity]

Steve is a man of utmost principles. In how he records, and how he makes his living. He is as authentic as they come, and it's amazing how good the records he engineers sound without a bunch of treatment or heavy-handed mixing. The master of mic placement in a room.

[@gmzanatta]

9 out 10 times producers and bands spend mixing time fixing issues that never would've happened if they listened to the room and moved the mic 2 inches to the left

[@viciousattackvideo]

@@gmzanattayou honestly think that 2” matters if the song and band is good? It doesn’t. No one cares except autistic audio nerds.

[@kevinw712]

unless I'm slightly misunderstanding how he was explaining the compensation at the end... like, I agree that it's a poor and unethical business model for a music producer to be paid directly out of what would otherwise be the band members' proceeds for a record, but I also think that a producer is probably entitled to some degree of residuals from the future resales of that given album. It's not like he's just some PA for the studio for a couple weeks, he's a significant and obviously necessary creative component to the process. I'm not suggesting it's equivalent to the band themselves, but it's fair for SOME percentage. It seemed like Steve was saying he wasn't entitled even if those residuals would be coming from the label (not the band)

[@joemiller7082]

@@kevinw712he’d always been given money to produce, but he considered himself an engineer first. For most bands, he literally just charged a daily fee.

[@Huelogy]

Utmost principles you mean like admitting his love and promotion of child pornography. Look it up. Dead men cant defend themselves so im not about to vilify him here but its stoll good information to know. Search up those keywords in google. "Steve albini admits his love and promotion Of child porn"

[@auguststafford]

Conan is an incredible interviewer and moderator, but I love how Steve Albini respectfully identifies and challenges a couple of assumptions Conan makes when asking about Nevermind vs In Utero, goes on to praise Butch Vig, and then answers the question to the best of his ability. Steve's a stand-up guy, but man, I have so much admiration for the degree to which he lives his ethics.

[@mcspongeicus]

Conans a great interviewer, does his homework and lets the conversation flow. Amazing to hear Steve and Kris and Dave telling stories. I could listen all day.

[@loulouloulou2519]

For real, Conan understand he's not the protagonist, less and less interviewers understand that today, seems like they only want to talk about themselves

[@johnathanutahzio8474]

Absolutely. Howard Stern would’ve kept asking, “Do you remember this”? and played Heart Shaped Box.

[@edwinm2376]

RIP Steve ..thanks for the amazing contribution in music production ❤

[@AthanImmortal]

I say this often with recent Conan podcast clips, but this is one you REALLY need to listen to the whole thing if you're a Nirvana, or punk, or rock, or grunge or even just 90s fan of music. There's a *feeling* they convey really well, they talk about the music, but so much about how it felt at the time. This was a one of a kind interview with Conan, he's so good at just talking shop with musicians.

[@suburbanindie]

Well, because Conan IS a musician.

[@userman44]

Yes, Conan is excellent at talking shop with musicians. Best example I ever saw was an interview he did with Jack White.

[@criseriksonB0121]

Where is the whole thing?

[@alvareo92]

I wish they uploaded the full video!

[@ryansgr8]

Conan is a good interviewer. Nirvana was a lot of fun. Seattle bands of that era are so special. Will never be repeated.

[@solracrod]

Conan and Albini, two hero’s of mine, on a podcast together. It’s a good life.

[@billyjackoff]

We lost a real one. Maybe the realest one. RIP Steve.

[@dpclerks09]

Definitely the realest one, no question💔

[@chrisnealis4270]

RIP Steve Albini 1962-2024 😢

[@tonywatson9765]

Steve "likes looking at CP" Albini

[@LEMOnBRaINn]

@@tonywatson9765 source?

[@tonywatson9765]

@@LEMOnBRaINn his 1987 big black tour diary and his review of Pure fanzine. Google it.

[@Idiotsincarshere]

@@tonywatson9765don’t spread false rumors. What’s your source?

[@tonywatson9765]

Gooogle it

[@TWM2975]

I love so much that Steve is dropping proverbial bread crumbs to Touch & Go's mighty band roster. So great!

[@1928zxcv]

RIP Steve. not just an important figure in rock and audio engineering but after college stayed and set up shop in Chicago all these years as a native that was pretty cool. Say hi to Kurt man!

[@turdusmerula_]

Steve Albini is just amazing! So happy to see him here, easily one of my greatest heroes

[@garysiddons2157]

He is one of the greatest.

[@TheTwistedMystic]

Huge props to Conan for making this happen and getting these stories recorded before it was too late. Rest in peace Steve. You will be missed here.

[@X9523-z3v]

The reason the scene was so amazing was because of people like Steve. He really represents at the end of the clip

[@cjmitch91]

I could listen to interviews about that time period concerning Seattle and the Grunge movement forever. It's always so fascinating. Still my favorite era of music. All those bands were amazing

[@colehart]

RIP Steve. I sought out to learn many tips from your courses and videos online. Thank you for teaching us producers.

[@erikspooner6518]

Thank you. With all of the Grohl interview material available it is a true pleasure to get to hear Conan talk to Krist and Steve.

[@lekoman]

Conan asking super thoughtful questions here... not just "what was that like," but like... in-depth questions about producing music with a ton of context.

[@detroitfunk313]

Conan is also a guitarist, he is all over this topic.

[@TheDreamingJune]

RIP Steve Albini. Thank you for producing so many of my favourite albums. Your influence is immeasurable. 🤍

[@clievah]

what a pleasant surprise on a monday no less. one of my favorite bands of all time sitting with my favorite talk show host talking with my favorite producer of all time. never could've thought this up.

[@devil_pls]

I didn't expect this pleasent suprise. I really love that Conan talks with the whole gang. Especially Steve's input is quite interesting. And ofc its always nice to see Krist and Dave 😊

[@SanskarWagley]

Conan and Steve Albini, what legends

[@SolamenteVees]

The other two guys in the room ain't bad either...

[@Abrahamhamham]

Conan is a legend...?

[@kmmk292929]

Thank you so much for doing this interview Conan, you're one of the best people they could pick to do it, and yes thank god Steve Albini was in it too, man's a legend. Conan + Nirvana = down to earth amazing interview

[@Polyfusia]

Dave and Krist have totally reversed roles since the Nirvana days. Dave was so quiet and Krist was so hilarious and outgoing. Now Dave jumps in to answer every question and Krist is quiet.

[@DirtyDirkDiggler]

Krist is still very much going through the grieving process of losing his best friend. He is always just a bit shyer/conservative when he talks about Nirvana and Kurt in particular.

[@suburbanindie]

​@@DirtyDirkDiggler Dave was the last man in the band, he was also a baby, in his early 20s and maybe not entirely comfortable in his own skin. I also believe that, in his own way, Krist is more comfortable being a support role and letting others lead. Krist also probably has PTSD from it all, and has really only been comfortable in interviews maybe for the last decade.

[@thedude4672]

I love listening to Dave Grohl, but I do wish that he would let Krist talk more.

[@mral6809]

Krist's music with 3rd Secret (which is amazing) fits his interaction in this interview. Soft, deep and to the point. Dave and the Foo Fighters are a different animal but with some of the same soul.

Dave quiet on Nirvana days?? Definitely no. If you see interview, or just time on screen without playing, Dave almost always makes something funny or stupid

[@KloudyTV]

Still can't believe he's gone. Such a genius. Two of my all time favorite albums from two of my favorite bands: Surfer Rosa by Pixies and In Utero by Nirvana were produced by him and his production is a major reason why these albums are so good. His style gave records such a unique sound.

[@hiddennotesberlin]

steve albini is just the best❤️

[@Polyfusia]

Conan is a great interviewer. One of the best.

[@josephmorales652]

I love Steve albini. Favorite sound engineer

[@jarrettheale]

This interview is a melting pot of everything that made me who I am today. Steve's work on "In Utero" and the early PJ Harvey and Jesus Lizard albums, obviously the music Nirvana gifted us all, and Conan. I'm looking forward to the whole episode! Love you all, and could never fully express my gratitude for all the reprieve, consolation, inspiration and joy you have all given my life in the last 30+ years.

[@jolemite2639]

Amen to The Jesus Lizard. I was so happy to hear Dave even mention them. Best live band of the 90’s. 🙌

[@konstantinov]

@@jolemite2639 and Mark Lanegan! the only one of Kurt's 4 that he showed Dave that wasn;t produced by Albini.

[@Statsy10]

I completely missed the Pixies at the time (as many did) and just discovered them a couple months ago. Surfer Rosa is an amazing album and the influence Nirvana took from the Pixies is undeniable.

[@BOARMoto-bm2mh]

It’s just ‘Pixies’-not ‘The’ Pixies.

[@Statsy10]

@@BOARMoto-bm2mh Noted. Thanks.

[@wbfaulk]

​@@BOARMoto-bm2mhYou better make sure Black Francis knows about that. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmLFhJyYfpKYmMU for example. As he introduces himself at the beginning, he calls them "The Pixies".)

[@spnhm34]

And the influence they both took from Hüsker Dü. Just ask Dave

[@mrblaoblao6981]

Back in the early 90s my fav bands were Breeders, Cocteau Twins, The Sundays. And almost no one seemed to care and I was seen as a real weirdo lol😂; 30 years later all of them, except The Sundays, are ubiquitous. I always wondered why

[@Toys_in_the_Attic]

Cant believe Steve is not with us anymore. Devastated.

[@edwardduarte7393]

When you hear Bone Machine it is like a slap in your face. I love Conan and Surfer Rosa.

[@creatorsvillage]

Great segment, great insights. Can we also take a moment to acknowledge how fantastic these clips look. How many long form video podcast/interviews have the same old glossy shiney look and feel almost like the video element is an afterthought. The video of this interview looks intentional, warm, welcoming and cinematic. Well done.

[@hafizimranYT]

I was about to say this too! It looks cinematic as hell.

[@anonamouse.p4115]

TEAM COCO, please bring back STEVE ALBINI with SHELLAC! Yet utmost gratitude for this x!!!

[@cftvdata]

I thought the commenters here posting "RIP" were kidding at first. Looked it up when I saw the replies and sure enough. What a terrible loss for the underground music world. He was a brilliantly caustic mind and a savant in the studio. Steve's music came into my life at a time when I really needed it. I had so much repressed anger and jadedness and those Big Black albums made me feel less alone. Thankfully I've since come to see things in a more uplifting and redemptive light, much as Steve did. His work will no doubt continue to accompany and inspire future generations of kids who don't quite fit the mold.

[@jimhoman4415]

The biggest difference in the "polished/radio friendly" Nevermind VS In Utero is that it was mixed by Andy Walace. I think people assume Producer means they mixed it which is not usually true. The label wanted the more radio friendly version. Butch Vig mixes are out there if you look. They definitely sound more raw and punk like Butch's other mixes but I'm not sure if Nevermind would have had the success it did on the radio with his mixes. If the label would have went to a radio program director with Butch's original mixes they would have probably said it sounds too punk and raw and doesn't fit their format. Nice Die Kreuzen shout out!! One of my favorite bands!

[@AverageUser-]

You have to admit the original recordings sound better than what they re released.

[@user-zn8uo67pd]

RIP STEVE ALBINI, ANALOG RECORDING MASTER AND LEGEND

[@nirvana454]

Steve saying Butch was no slouch is not only nice to hear but super unexpected. Very cool.

[@WhiskeySam1]

What a phenomenal job of interviewing here. Conan knew his stuff, asked smart & informed questions, then gets out of the way.

[@jonbarnhart1947]

To answer Dave Grohl it was Jimmy Page who always said “distance equals depth”

[@mikelanzafame3401]

Yessir

[@chadgrov]

Does that mean literal distance? As in mic placement for amps and drums?

[@jonbarnhart1947]

@@chadgrov I believe that’s what Page meant, IE getting air between the mic and souce instead of everything being close mic’d

[@chadgrov]

@@jonbarnhart1947 yeah and playing “live” when recording meaning the band playing all at once instead of doing drums this day and guitars the next, I think they did that on Nevermind but in utero they played most of the stuff live besides vocals I Think anyway not 100% sure. But it would explain why a ton of the old Neil Young and Crazy Horse records sound so good cuz they recorded live and would usually use the first or second take. really gives a different ambience as opposed to something really polished and manufactured as Nevermind and records like it. Not that it sounded bad in any way whatever

[@mikelanzafame3401]

@@chadgrov I believe so. As in incorporating natural room ambience to recording . This is a technique also heavily employed by Steve Albini .

[@asylumrecordingstudios]

Steve is widely known in the industry for not taking points on the records he produces. Only a few out there like that. He does great work, that's for sure

[@KurdtC-nn3ov]

He took 2 million dollars instead

[@SamuelVenturaMusic]

He was paid $100,000

[@KurdtC-nn3ov]

@@SamuelVenturaMusic kurt said in an interview once that they paid albino 2 million dollars. Not sure who to trust. Cobain was the genius in all of this after all.

[@SamuelVenturaMusic]

@@KurdtC-nn3ov haha yeah I remember that actually. I think he was joking though…

[@derekrushe]

​@SamuelVenturaMusic 100 grand for 1 months work. Steve may not have taken points but damn sure marked up his daily rate by a gigantic amount.

[@Hello-xp5wz]

I went to college with Steve. I thought was a weird dude. I wish I had looked beyond my narrow viewpoint back then. He seems like a brilliant man, who has had an epic career.

[@rike94]

He's much more than just weird. He should be in jail. Google "Steve Albini PURE Magazine" and learn the truth about this disgusting man.

[@WhiteDove73-888]

He seems weird tho

[@xnflg3074]

He is definitely weird but very well spoken and very thoughtful. His interview with Nardwuar was my first actual brush with him being an oddball genius other than his actual production which is always great.

[@rike94]

@@xnflg3074 did you Google "Steve Albini PURE Magazine"? Or will you just keep hiding from the truth?

[@BookClubDisaster]

I mean you were probably right about both impressions

[@ajsuperrock]

Gotta love The Jesus Lizard shout out by Dave. So nice to hear their album was among the few Kurt owned. Most underappreciated 90s band ever.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Love the Jesus Lizard/Nirvana split 7” on Touch N Go

[@chetsenior7253]

I’d say Polvo.

[@jeremylatta9038]

Steve Albini has a very roundabout way of saying the slick sound of Nevermind is Andy Wallace

[@timbrownhill7272]

Having heard the mixes he's talking about, you are exactly right.

[@Steaminlidz]

Totally right. The sheen on ‘Nevermind’ is the Andy Wallace mix, not Butch Vig’s recording. Nirvana wanted Andy Wallace to mix it (from memory, in Michael Azzerad’s book) because of his work on Slayer’s ‘Seasons in the Abyss and although he may well have changed his mind afterwards, Kurt’s actions at the time indicated that he wanted a record that would sound good on the radio. Would ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ have got the airplay that it did (on mainstream rock radio) and had the effect that it did if it didn’t sound like that? Probably not.

[@gillihansmobilewelding]

​@@SteaminlidzThe label insisted on Wallace, nor Nirvana.

[@Steaminlidz]

@@gillihansmobilewelding “Vig and the band were unhappy with Vig's initial mixes and decided to bring in someone else to oversee the mixing. DGC supplied a list of options, including Scott Litt (known for his work with R.E.M.) and Ed Stasium (known for his work with the Ramones and the Smithereens). Cobain was concerned about bringing in well known producers, and instead chose Andy Wallace, who had co-produced Slayer's 1990 album Seasons in the Abyss. Novoselic recalled, "We said, 'right on,' because those Slayer records were so heavy." en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermind Wikipedia’s not exhaustively correct, but there’s lots of documented interviews stating that Wallace was the bands choice, not someone foisted on them by the label.

[@TheRealCowlick]

But I mean it‘s just another style of mixing. Wallace did an amazing job and really played a big role in what that album ultimately became… I don‘t think there is a reason to take away from his work just because some people don‘t like how it sounds. It is possible to recognize good work without aesthetically liking it.

[@I_AM_MANDROID]

Rest in Peace Steve. Cannot thank you enough for all we've learned from you, and everything you offered - a life of art and commitment to your fellow creators.

[@hectore.zarraga7605]

Sad to hear about albinis passing can’t believe it so sudden RIP thank you for so much!

[@themusicaljunkie37]

Whoa, I was just browsing through the web. I opened a new tab and saw right on top of the Google discover... I am seriously in shock. Dude has produced lots of my favorite records. Damn, hope you rest in peace, Steve Albini.. make sure to say hi to Kurt for all of us.

[@GO_OMT]

Endlessly fascinating. I've read countless oral histories, etc. about this record, but I could listen to these guys talk about it all day long (and obviously Conan's presence is the icing on the cake) - huge kudos for this one

[@jacobgunter3205]

Albini is true north. The standard. Not only his recordings but primarily his whole philosophy and approach.

[@vacationrichard974]

Love him or hate, Albini had integrity for miles. He will be missed. RIP

[@jlouis4407]

A man of principle and a role model

[@condor7810]

Albini and Vig were great. But hard to forget the impact of the late great Glen Locket "Spot", the in house producer at SST records in the early to mid 80's. The independent records he produced: Black Flag "Jealous Again" and "Damaged" , The Minutemen "The Punchline" Meat Puppets "Meat Puppets II", Husker Du "Zen Arcade" and the Big Boys "Fun Fun Fun" .....that is some seriously influential output in a roughly 5 year time period. A truly trailblazing label...in its time and place. Forget about what it turned into.

[@KenLieck]

Spot was totally amazing, always had a smile on his face, and he could play any instrument you put in front of him and any kind of music from traditional Celtic folk to avant-garde weirdness. I heard that shortly before he died he said he regretted not learning enough different types of music which is insane!

[@collinrust2641]

New Day Rising❤ Milo Goes to College❤

[@chateaudisco1436]

Testify! SPOT!

[@CLabmusic]

I really appreciate how insightful an interview this was. Conan, you gave a great interview

[@Jllyrol311]

Steve has mellowed so much!

[@JoshHana]

This interview is such a gift. One of the first things I thought off when I heard the news today. RIP to a legend. What a huge influence

[@thomasturner5090]

RIP to a true and genuine person. Thanks for everything you have done to music

[@MatteBlacke]

This was a real gem! Thanks for making this conversation a reality.

[@peezdoc]

I wish they would release the full interviews with video.. on whatever platform

[@triquepersonalwork6369]

Finally, someone saying what really needs to be said about “Nevermind”. If is too slick and produced. In Utero was always the landmark Nirvana album of all time

[@dmfilmmaker]

Such a great loss... "ethically untenable" is not something many people would ever even think to say, let alone when backing it up costs one millions of dollars. This man earned my respect.

[@alexbohl862]

Been watching Conan a long time…didn’t realize he knew so much about music in this period including producers.

[@lewisham]

If he was vaguely interested in music at the time, Steve Albini and Butch Vig were very well known.

[@JohnSmith-fm3pn]

Conan always brought more underground bands on his show . Of all the late night hosts it was obvious he was more into music than anyone else .

[@Jabberwok28]

@@JohnSmith-fm3pn. You should try to view the old Dennis Miller shows. HE brought out the underground musicians on his show.

[@chadgrov]

I have surfer Rosa on vinyl and the Steve albini version of in utero vinyl as well. The production/“sound” of surfer Rosa sounds so so similar to in utero. Def sounds like it had the same producer which is pretty awesome

[@GodLovesComics]

Rest in Peace, Steve! I had just watched this video about a month ago and suddenly the man is gone. The Pixies remain my favorite band of all time, and Steven Albini's production of their first masterpiece, "Surfer Rosa" holds up today and will still sound amazing a century from now.

[@nedkent5239]

Whenever I see Steve I can’t help but think of Jay Reatard’s first bass player named Steve Albundy! 😂😂😂

[@KenLieck]

Haha! So who do you think about when you see Coven's bass player Oz Osborne?

[@akimmbo]

O man, Steve Albini. to have his confidence must be worth its weight in gold. So sad he passed. Also, a big nod to Conan, who gave us all so much entertainment and great interviews over the years, Conan really does know a lot about many different things. Another one of the Greats. ;) ;0)

[@nanakmccann]

Vig's production work on Nevermind was incredible. He turned a punk band into the biggest band in the world. Without Vig, most of us probably never hear of Nirvana. The band might think the Nevermind sound is too poppy after the fact but without that the record probably isn't a hit. He changed the world of music with his production on Nevermind.

[@alvareo92]

I prefer Albini's production style but I still enjoy hearing that overproduced rock sound on Nevermind

[@madhatter8508]

A lot of that is Andy Wallace's mixing and Bob Ludwig's mastering. You can listen to other bands Butch produced before Nevermind, like Tad, and hear that his work for them wasn't that much different from Jack Endino's. He did help with talking Kurt into doubling his voice and using the chorus effect more often than he otherwise would have, but again some of that chorus was Andy Wallace running tracks through a Yamaha SPX90 in mixing. It wasn't all on the Small Clone. And IMO, Kurt only complained about Nevermind being too poppy because a lot of the users, abusers, and losers he hung out with were jealous of his success so he shat on Nevermind to ingratiate himself with them. He felt guilty that they hit it big while his "friends" were still struggling.

[@nanakmccann]

@@madhatter8508 I don’t have the technical knowledge you have but these is all very interesting, thank you. I personally prefer In Utero album. Or I did in my Nirvana listening days. But I always that it was a bit unfair Nevermind to hear for being a hit album.

[@nanakmccann]

@@alvareo92 yeah, I probably prefer Albini’s style also. Both are great though.

[@ligmaballs2022]

I think the polished production on Nevermind was more on Andy Wallace's mixing rather than Butch Vig's production

[@themelodyexperiment]

This is what real integrity and professionalism looks like. RIP Steve.

[@TheDigitalDecade]

Oh man, I love Steve Albini

[@existinthenow7443]

I am SO glad Conana is doing stuff still/again. What a deep and intelligent dude, I have come to find these past few years.

[@erdnasiul87]

The last minutes tell you how great Albini is and how corrupt labels are

[@ScotchWoodcockTV]

RIP Steve. Biggest musical and business influence on me, even before I knew it, but definitely moreso after I knew it. This episode felt like it was just yesterday...

[@glennbundesen3439]

I got to chat to Steve Albini after a Shellac gig once, he put up with my fanboy questions about PJ Harvey very politely. The best recorder of rock music in history.

[@carlschieferrealestate]

❤ super nice guy for sure 👍 Bob Weston blasted me after he busted me taking a video of them 😂 albini made light 💡 😊after …. Curious to know what you asked regarding PJ?? 😮

[@glennbundesen3439]

@@carlschieferrealestate I was asking about her guitar tone, which turned out to be nothing more than a JCM800 and an overdrive pedal.

[@carlschieferrealestate]

@@glennbundesen3439 haha amazing 🤩 probably boss overdrive lol

[@dinosaursr]

Enjoying this. Brings me back to the old Sit and Spin laundromat in Seattle, hearing Black Hole Sun on the stereo as the clothes spun. Time flies. Seize the day.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Love the Jesus Lizard/Nirvana split 7” on Touch N Go. And love Steve’s charging bands was always scalable. He did Iowa Beef Experience, Glazed Baby, etc and a lot of other great bands that were as important to me as Nirvana.

[@alanreadofficial]

Love these talks about the production, from an artistic point of view it's golden, great upload 💯

[@mrskullman40]

Landed on this video by accident and found out Steve is gone :-( Loss of a legend!

[@jackkelly417]

I recorded with Steve in the 90's. We had literally four days to record and mix. Period. I've never been so prepared for recording in my life. Got along great with him even though we'd heard he was eccentric (he is). It was our worst record but that wasn't his fault. We just wrote terrible songs. Loved his approach to recording. Mixing board was way up in the top floor of his house and we recorded in the basement. He had mics everywhere. Ceiling, floor, you name it. Combined it got a great sound.

[@Sonicade]

What's the link to hear it?

[@ENigma-um8zw]

30th anniversary of In Utero’s release last month, fun to see these guys on. I swear this last summer was sponsored by youth Nirvana t-shirts, never seen so many Nirvana shirts before lol

[@egret203]

i never thought about that way, but you're right. my thought is always, "you weren't even alive. have you even *listened* to their albums?"

[@KenLieck]

@@egret203 I gave a bunch of my 80s New Wave band tour shirts to 14-year-old girls because A) the shirts shrunk and were so tiny that that's the only people they would fit, and B) so people would go "What the hell? You couldn't have been at that show!"

[@KenLieck]

Oh, and kind of on the subject, I saw the Dead Kennedys when the dude from "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" was their new front man, and the entire audience was like people under 25, and they all sang along and knew every word to every song -- so more power to 'em, I guess...

[@Me-th3gj]

Man, I was just wondering out of the blue, what Steve Albini was like, found this video of him with my all-time favorite band, and then find out in the comments that he passed away recently. Rest in peace, Steve. Thanks for one of the soundtracks to my life.

[@hyperacusisPH]

Steve Albini - one of the most brutally honest, and morally upright human being.

[@JonnySublime]

Rapeman 😂

[@Oblique-qn5ix]

Morally upright? The man loved to watch child prngraphy. Google it.

[@Huelogy]

Even after his admittance to his love and promotion of child porn??

[@michaeldonovan3959]

Great interview. Kudos to Conan for this insightful interview. Hearing Steve Albini here is really special.

[@jofall91]

Was just listening to Atomizer last night 😭 such a killer record! Rip Steve🕊️🕊️

[@jlouis4407]

Love Big Money when it starts

[@dylanehall]

Enjoyed this interview. Thank you!

[@Goatchild90]

Shout out to Steve Albini has a few classics under his belt including In Utero

[@reverb508]

Conan is a great interviewer. He clearly knows the band's history and delves deeper

[@NytronX]

RIP Steve Albini. Legendary Minnesotan.

[@nicolasalexander408]

God bless Steve, what a legacy you have in the music of the world.....amazing....! ❤

[@loopwoop]

Conan and Albini speaking is a match made in heaven

[@soniamacintyre5229]

R.I.P. Steve. 61 may have been far too young but one has to take into consideration he lived three lifetimes, one as the founder of three influential post-hardcore bands, another as an extremely talented and innovative audio engineer with a couple of thousand albums to his name, and one as an all around great guy with an infectious sense if humor.

[@KristofferLance]

I love that Dave brings up Breeders Pod. That was such a revolutionary album for me in 90.

[@scharlesworth93]

Still love that album

[@mastod0n1]

RIP Steve Albini. My band had been discussing saving some money to get a week in his studio in Chicago with him. It was surprisingly affordable, or feasible I guess. If I remember correctly it would have been like $6k for 3-4 days of working with Steve Albini in his studio. It was a bit of pipe dream but now it will stay just a dream. Rest easy Steve.

[@DeadLifeBoat100]

RIP Steve