Thurston Moore pays tribute to Steve Albini as “a stick of dynamite in shredded low-top sneakers”

nme.com:

Thurston Moore has paid tribute to the late Steve Albini in a lengthy X/Twitter thread, calling him “a stick of dynamite in shredded low-top sneakers”.The former Sonic Youth bandmember took to social media to share his memories of the legendary musician and engineer, who passed away yesterday (May 8) due to a heart attack.Moore began his statement by writing: “Like the music he adored and devoted his life to – punk and experimental action, suspect and resistant to any semblance of exploitation – Steve Albini was a person of passion and contradiction.”The musician went on to praise Albini for his ability to “articulate, from a surprisingly young age, with intelligent and intellectual passion, reasons not to set foot in the manipulative cogs of “major” label indignity,” adding: “While wholly serious in his analysis he also seemed to be able to write it all off at the end of the day as being alive in an absurd universe.

Alongside his set-in-stone scowl was always a genuinely soulful smile.”Moore recalled the day he first heard of Albini when meeting Byron Coley and Jimmy Johnson from Forced Exposure in NYC.

The duo were interviewing Sonic Youth for their zine, where Moore noted their “fascination” with Albini, who “immediately proved himself to be as vociferous and cutting and acerbic and hilarious as they were.”1.Like the music he adored and devoted his life to – punk and experimental action, suspect and resistant to any semblance of exploitation – Steve Albini was a person of passion and contradiction.

pic.twitter.com/KwkFkPewUj— Thurston Moore (@nowjazznow) May 9, 2024The meeting with Albini, who was visiting NYC with his band Big Black, “sparked off a life-long camaraderie between us goons, along with so many other.