Editing Shellac (band) (section)

==Biography==
Shellac formed in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]], in 1992 as an informal collaboration between guitarist [[Steve Albini]] of noise rock trios [[Big Black]] and [[Rapeman]], and drummer [[Todd Trainer]] from the band [[Breaking Circus]] and solo project [[Brick Layer Cake]].  Former [[Naked Raygun]] bassist Camilo Gonzalez sat in on early rehearsals and played on one song on Shellac's first single before [[Volcano Suns]] bassist Bob Weston joined as a permanent member. Both Weston and Albini were [[recording engineer]]s. They preferred a sparse, analog recording sound with little or no overdubbing, and were meticulous about microphone placement and choice of equipment.

Shellac had a distinctive, minimalist sound based on asymmetric [[time signature]]s, repetitive rhythms, an angular guitar sound, and both Albini's and Weston's surreal, bitingly [[sarcasm|sarcastic lyrics]]. Songs typically do not have traditional [[verse–chorus form|verse/chorus/verse]] structure and the arrangements were sparse, to the point where some described them as "amelodic". Shellac's signature sound was often associated with their enthusiasm for vintage [[Travis Bean]] guitars, a rare brand of [[aluminium]]-necked instruments, and the Interfax "Harmonic Percolator" [[Distortion|distortion pedal]]. Albini was known to use copper plectrums and typically wrapped his guitar strap around his waist rather than over his shoulder. The band preferred the intimacy of smaller clubs and live appearances were sporadic.
[[File:Shellac ATP 2007.jpg|alt=Color photo of three men playing on stage, with the guitarist at left, the drummer in the middle, and the bassist on the right.|left|thumb|250x250px|Shellac at [[All Tomorrow's Parties (festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties]], 2007]]
Mid-set in many live performances, Shellac took the time for one or more "question and answer" sessions, where members of the band responded in an off-the-cuff and, at times, jocular manner to questions shouted out by fans and [[heckler]]s alike. The band made an early decision to not play at festivals, and this position was articulated to [[All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties]] (ATP) festival organizer Barry Hogan during the preparation stage of the inaugural ATP event. However, Scottish band [[Mogwai]], curating the festival, convinced Albini to perform: "[ATP] completely changed the festival game. Now the whole world has to operate under the knowledge that there are these cool, curated festivals where everyone is treated well and the experience is a generally pleasant one."<ref name="GQ-2010">{{cite web|last=Lake Smith|first=Aaron|date=September 29, 2010|title=The Verge Q+A: Punk Pioneer Steve Albini on Music Festivals, The Future of Radio and Why He Wants GQ To Fail|url=https://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/09/steve-albini.html|access-date=January 11, 2014|work=GQ Magazine}}</ref> In 2002, the band curated the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in [[Camber Sands]], England. Knowing that most of the audience had come specifically to see Shellac, the band went on first every morning as an incentive for the festival-goers to be up in time to see the other acts. A CD of tracks from the bands performing at the festival was released on [[ATP Recordings|ATP Records]].

To celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band, Shellac returned to ATP to curate once more in December 2012 with the line-up including [[Wire (band)|Wire]], [[Scrawl]], [[Mission Of Burma]], [[The Ex (band)|the Ex]] + Brass Unbound, [[Red Fang]], [[Shannon Wright]], [[the Membranes]], Alix, Bear Claw, [[Helen Money]], [[Dead Rider]], [[Arcwelder]], [[Neurosis (band)|Neurosis]], [[Mono (Japanese band)|Mono]], [[Melt Banana]], [[Uzeda]], [[Prinzhorn Dance School]], Three Second Kiss, [[Buke and Gase]], [[Oxbow (band)|Oxbow]], [[Nina Nastasia]], [[Zeni Geva]], [[Bottomless Pit (band)|Bottomless Pit]], Pinebender, STNNNG and more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/shellacxmas.php |title=Nightmare Before Christmas curated by Shellac Of North America - All Tomorrow's Parties |publisher=Atpfestival.com |access-date=2013-10-26}}</ref>

[[Touch and Go Records]] released the bulk of Shellac’s material, starting with a couple of singles in 1993 and the band’s debut album ''[[At Action Park]]'' in 1994. Because of Albini and Weston’s full-time careers as audio engineers, Shellac would record their music gradually over the following decades, releasing the albums ''[[Terraform (Shellac album)|Terraform]]'' in 1998, ''[[1000 Hurts]]'' in 2000, and ''[[Excellent Italian Greyhound]]'' in 2007. In 2014, despite the considerable downsizing that Touch and Go had undergone,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6SSHjgrqpMQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130508110053/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSHjgrqpMQ&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSHjgrqpMQ |title=Steve Albini says new Shellac LP is done |date=6 May 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2013-10-26}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the band's fifth LP, ''[[Dude Incredible]]'', was released.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shellac DUDE INCREDIBLE |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/16269-shellac-dude-incredible-review |website=thequietus.com |date=17 September 2014 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny Mix Tapes: Shellac Dude Incredible |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/shellac-dude-incredible |website=tinymixtapes.com |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> [[Steve Albini]] went over each song on the album with Exclaim magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Albini Breaks Down Shellac's 'Dude Incredible' Track by Track |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/steve_albini_breaks_down_shellacs_dude_incredible_track_by_track |website=exclaim.ca |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kreative Kontrol Ep. #120: Steve Albini |url=http://vishkhanna.com/2014/07/31/ep-120-steve-albini/ |website=vishkhanna.com |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

A collection of the band's two [[Peel Sessions]] from 1994 and 2004, entitled ''[[The End of Radio]]'' was released on June 14, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shellac Plan Peel Sessions Release 'The End of Radio' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/shellac-peel-sessions-end-of-radio-823102/ |website=rollingstone.com |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pitchfork Media: The End of Radio |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shellac-the-end-of-radio/ |website=pitchfork.com |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shellac Collect Previously Unreleased Peel Sessions on Double Album |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/shellac_collect_previously_unreleased_peel_sessions_on_double_album |website=exclaim.ca |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shellac The End of Radio |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/shellac-the_end_of_radio |website=exclaim.ca |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Protonic Reversal Ep150: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Rapeman) |url=https://www.radioneutron.com/2020/04/03/ep150-steve-albini-shellac-big-black-rapeman/ |website=radioneutron.com |date=3 April 2020 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

On March 20, 2024, the band announced a new record called ''[[To All Trains]]'', to be released on May 17 via Touch and Go Records.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shellac Announce First New Album in a Decade |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/shellac-announce-first-new-album-in-a-decade/ |website=Pitchfork.com |date=20 March 2024 |access-date=21 March 2024}}</ref> On May 7, 2024, Albini died of a heart attack in his Chicago home, ten days before the scheduled release of ''To All Trains''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/steve-albini-storied-producer-and-icon-of-the-rock-underground-dies-at-61/|title=Steve Albini, Storied Producer and Icon of the Rock Underground, Dies at 61|first1=Nina|last1=Corcocan|first2=Jazz|last2=Monroe|publisher=Pitchfork|date=May 8, 2024|accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2262785/steve-albini-dead-at-61/news/|title=Steve Albini Dead At 61|first=Tom|last=Briehan|publisher=Stereogum|date=May 8, 2024|accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref>