Big Black

Led by famed engineer/producer Steve Albini, Big Black was one of the premier bands of the Chicago underground scene of the 1980s, creating a neo-industrial sound comprised of drum machine-generated beats and screaming, metallic guitars. Big Black's abrasive brand of noise rock was made all the more so by lyrics that dealt frankly with race, sex, and violence. Since the band's break-up in 1987, Steve Albini has gone on to form Rapeman and Shellac, and produce bands such as Nirvana, Bush, the Pixies, and Led Zeppelin.