In Utero Producer Challenges Nirvana To Bet 100 Thousand US Dollars At The Pool Table

JAKARTA - Producer Steve Albini recalls the moment when he was offered by Kurt Cobain and his friends to work on Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero (1993). In a recent interview with Kerrang! Magazine, Albini revealed that he had invited Nirvana's personnel to bet before the album was worked on.

Grunge fans, especially Nirvana devotees, may already know this story. But, for Albini, too sweet to forget. At that time, Albini was paid USD 100 thousand to polish the "In Utero" album. However, Albini made another offer where Nirvana might not have to pay a cent.

Albini asks Nirvana to bet. If one of the three band members beat him in a game of pool, he will work for free. But if Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl lose, they will have to double his payment.

When asked about the bet, Albini recalled, "I made it (the bet) with every band I work with, and no one ever took my offer."

He continued, "It's not that I'm a great pool player, but I have the same chance of winning a fair game. In the end, it wouldn't have made much difference in my life if I doubled the money for the session or worked free. But I think Nirvana is a little more risk-averse than I am. "

Of course, Nirvana did not accept Albini's offer to bet. "We paid him 100 thousand US dollars," Dave Grohl once recalled.

Reflecting on his time with Nirvana, Albini said he was careful when approaching the group, especially Kurt Cobain.

“I'm not trying to be his best friend, because I know that everyone around him is trying to enter into his world parasitically, and I want him to know that he doesn't have to worry about that with me. So I never pressed him to get close to me," said the producer.

He then gave his personal views. "I met him at work, and I saw that he was very serious about his music, and his passion was genuine. I think that's what people respond to, because he has a distinctive voice. I respect him even more as an artist and as a person."