Dave Grohl Honours Late Steve Albini With ‘My Hero’ Performance: ‘He Left Us Too Soon’

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl finds himself mourning the profound loss of Steve Albini, an iconic figure in the underground rock scene. During the band’s electrifying performance in Charlotte, N.C. the ‘Everlong’ guitarist paid tribute to the late underground rock pioneer, who had tragically passed away earlier that week due to a heart attack.

With emotion resonating in his voice, Grohl addressed the crowd, “Tonight, I’d like to dedicate this song to a friend that we lost the other day, who I’ve known for a long, long time. And he left us much too soon.” His words carried a weight of sorrow and reverence, as he continued, “He’s touched all of your lives, I’m sure. Talking about Steve Albini. For those of you who know, you know. For those of you who don’t know, just remember that name: Steve Albini. So let’s sing this one for him.”

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The connection between Grohl and the Chicago-based engineer ran deep, as they had collaborated on Nirvana’s third and final album, 1993’s seminal release ‘In Utero,’ during Grohl’s tenure as the iconic rock group’s drummer. Decades later, their paths crossed once again when Grohl’s band Foo Fighters recorded their song ‘Something from Nothing’ at Albini’s Electrical Audio Recordings studio in Chicago, a moment captured in the debut episode of Grohl’s HBO mini-docu series ‘Sonic Highways’.

Their bond was further solidified in recent times, as they appeared alongside Nirvana member and bassist Krist Novoselic on the ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend’ podcast, where they reminisce about the making of “In Utero.” Albini shared his profound admiration for Nirvana, stating, “I became a fan of Nirvana through the process of working with them and seeing them in action firsthand.”

Grohl is not the only musician paying tribute to Albini, who was also known for fronting bands like Big Black and Shellac. Acts such as the Pixies, Cloud Nothings, PJ Harvey, Thurston Moore, Lee Spielman, and Sadie Dupuis, some of whom had the privilege of working with the late vocalist and guitarist during his active years, have also honoured his legacy.

The impact of Albini’s contributions to the music industry resonate deeply, with his absence leaving a profound void in the hearts of those who knew him. As one musician eloquently expressed, “He was such a good friend to me, endlessly. I admired his work ethic and his warmth. And his opinions on national flags. On everything. I always cherish getting to spend time with him and Heather. This picture is from a few years ago, in Chicago. I’m really going to miss him. It’s a heavy loss.”

-Sushmita Sarkar