Kim Deal, Jeff Tweedy, Fred Armisen, Mekons Usher in Chicago’s Steve Albini Way

Steve Albini Way received its official designation during a ceremony featuring his widow Heather Whinna, Kim Deal, Electrical Audio staff, and others on Monday. The public event drew a large crowd of fans and friends to the stretch of West Belmont Avenue that flanks Albini’s Electrical Audio studio — now named Steve Albini Way. It was followed by a private, intimate performance inside the legendary studio featuring a set by Jeff Tweedy, Fred Armisen, and Mekons members Jon Langford and Sally Timms.

During the dedication, Whinna and Electrical Audio’s Greg Norman shared stories about Albini and the studio. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who passed the ordinance for the honorary street name, was also in attendance for the street sign reveal.  Kim Deal, a longtime friend of Albini’s with whom she’s worked for many years, including on her new debut solo album, Nobody Loves You More, also spoke at the event.

“He was a flawed human; he would contradict himself in two sentences. But at his core he understood the value of each person,” Kim Deal said. “Well, not each person. If you were a bully, he wouldn’t like you at all. Maybe he stood up for people too hard. He wanted to stick up for the underdogs. He liked the underdogs, he really didn’t like ‘winners.’ I think he liked people with a good healthy dose of low self esteem.” She added, “I think he thought that the music business was exciting, and I don’t think he’d like that I said that.”

She also shared a humorous story about being invited to Albini’s famous Poker Nights, movingly spoke about how Whinna made Albini a better person, and shared how people from all over the world that she has spoken with had happy stories to share about Albini.

“I love talking about Steve and the studio, how kind and professional the people are. Steve’s ‘no asshole’ policy — famous,” she said.

“I’m not the main character, Steve is the main character in my life,” she concluded, naming some of their mutual friends in the community, many of whom were in attendance. “All these people that I know, and I know all of them because of Steve. He’s enriched my life, not only musically, but also by bringing all of us, dear, dear people together.”

Following the street dedication, a private party was held where Electrical Audio staff and others who worked closely with Albini spoke. Afterwards, Jeff Tweedy, Fred Armisen, and the Mekons’ Jon Langford and Sally Timms performed as the “invented band” as Whinna introduced them, the Belmont Adjacents, also known as the Electrical Adjacents, performed. See the full set.