Nine Inch Nails facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails performing in 2022; (L–R): Ilan Rubin, Trent Reznor, Alessandro Cortini, Atticus Ross, Robin Finck
Background information
Origin	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Industrial rock industrial alternative rock electronic rock industrial metal ambient
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Nothing TVT Interscope Columbia Capitol The Null Corporation

Members	Trent Reznor Atticus Ross

Past members	List of Nine Inch Nails band members

Nine Inch Nails, often called NIN, is an American industrial rock band. It was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1988. The main members are Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. For a long time, Reznor was the only official member. Ross joined him in 2016.

The band's first album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989), was a big success. After that, they signed with Interscope Records and released the EP Broken (1992). Their next albums, The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999), were also very popular and praised by critics.

After a break, Nine Inch Nails returned with the album With Teeth (2005). They later released Year Zero (2007). The band then left Interscope and released Ghosts I–IV (2008) and The Slip (2008) on their own. Their eighth album, Hesitation Marks (2013), was followed by a series of EPs and the album Bad Witch (2018). In 2020, they released two more albums, Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts.

When Nine Inch Nails tours, Reznor puts together a live band. The members of this band have changed over the years. Their concerts are famous for amazing visuals, special effects, and lighting. They often change their songs for live shows.

Nine Inch Nails has sold over 20 million records. They have won two Grammy Awards. In 2020, the band was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

History
Musical Style
Discography
Images for kids
See also

History

How the Band Started (1987–1988)

The band's logo, designed by Reznor and Gary Talpas.

In 1987, Trent Reznor lived in Cleveland and worked at a recording studio. The studio owner let him record his own music for free during off-hours. Reznor couldn't find a band he liked, so he decided to play most of the instruments himself. This was inspired by the musician Prince.

Reznor chose the name "Nine Inch Nails" because it was easy to shorten. The band's logo, with the letters "NIИ," was designed by Reznor and Gary Talpas. It was inspired by the design on a Talking Heads album.

First Album: Pretty Hate Machine (1988–1991)

Reznor performing at the Lollapalooza festival in 1991.

Nine Inch Nails' first album, Pretty Hate Machine, came out in 1989. Reznor wrote and performed almost everything on it. The album mixed industrial sounds with catchy pop music. The singles "Down in It" and "Head Like a Hole" became very popular.

The album was a huge success for an independent record. It stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for over two years.

In 1990, the band went on tour. They opened for famous artists like Peter Murphy and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Their live shows were known for being very energetic. Reznor would sometimes smash his instruments on stage. The band's fame grew after they played at the first Lollapalooza festival in 1991.

Broken EP and a New Record Deal (1992–1993)

Reznor had disagreements with his record label, TVT. He felt they didn't support his creative ideas. So, he secretly recorded new music under a different name. He then signed a new deal with Interscope Records and started his own label, Nothing Records.

In 1992, the band released an extended play (EP) called Broken. It had a much heavier, guitar-driven sound than the first album. The songs "Happiness in Slavery" and "Wish" both won Grammy Awards.

Some of the music videos for Broken were very controversial and were banned from TV. The video for "Happiness in Slavery" showed a performance artist on a strange machine. Another video, for "Pinion," showed a toilet flushing into a person's mouth. These clips were later released in a short film that was not officially sold in stores.

The Downward Spiral and Mainstream Success (1993–1997)

Reznor performing during the Self-Destruct tour, c. 1994–1995

Nine Inch Nails' second album, The Downward Spiral, was released in 1994. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. It is the band's best-selling album in the United States. The album tells a story about a character's personal struggles. It was influenced by artists like Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

The singles from the album included "March of the Pigs" and "Closer". The song "Hurt" also became very famous. The music video for "Closer" was shown a lot on MTV, but it had to be heavily edited because of its strange and intense imagery.

The tour for this album, called the Self Destruct Tour, was famous for its chaotic shows. The band often appeared covered in mud or corn starch. Their performance at the Woodstock '94 festival was seen by millions on TV and made them even more famous.

The Fragile Album (1998–2002)

It took five years for Nine Inch Nails to release their next album, The Fragile. It was a double album that came out in 1999. The album was very complex. It mixed many different sounds, from quiet piano music to loud rock.

The Fragile debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The singles included "The Day the World Went Away" and "We're in This Together". Another song, "Starsuckers, Inc.", got a lot of attention. Many people thought it was about Reznor's former friend, Marilyn Manson. Manson later appeared in the music video for the song.

In 2002, the famous singer Johnny Cash recorded a cover of the song "Hurt." Reznor said he was very moved by Cash's version. He felt that the song didn't belong to him anymore.

With Teeth and a Return to Touring (2004–2006)

Live performance during the Live: With Teeth tour in 2006.

After another long break, Nine Inch Nails released With Teeth in 2005. The album went straight to number one on the Billboard 200. Before it was released, the entire album was available to listen to on the band's MySpace page.

Reznor released the master files for the singles "The Hand That Feeds" and "Only". This allowed fans to create their own remixes. The band then went on a major tour across North America. They were joined by bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Bauhaus.

Year Zero and an Alternate Reality Game (2006–2007)

An Art is Resistance flyer from the Year Zero alternate reality game.

The next album, Year Zero, was released in 2007. It is a concept album that tells a story set in the year 2022. The story is a critique of the U.S. government's policies. It imagines a future where the government has total control.

To promote the album, the band created an alternate reality game. Fans found clues on T-shirts and websites. This led them to discover a network of fictional websites that told the story of Year Zero. Some unreleased songs were even hidden on USB flash drives at concerts.

Reznor later announced plans to turn the Year Zero story into a TV series. The project was in development with HBO and the BBC, but it has been on hold for several years.

Ghosts I–IV and The Slip (2008–2012)

Reznor in 2008.

In 2008, Nine Inch Nails left their record label. They released a 36-track instrumental album called Ghosts I–IV on their own website. Fans could download the first part for free or buy a special deluxe edition.

Just two months later, the band released another album, The Slip, completely for free. Reznor said, "this one's on me." Millions of people downloaded the album. The band then went on a tour called Lights in the Sky.

In 2009, Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails would stop touring for a while. He then worked on other projects. He and Atticus Ross wrote the music for the movies The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for The Social Network.

Hesitation Marks and More Tours (2012–2014)

The band performing at Mediolanum Forum in Milan in 2013, (from left to right): drummer Ilan Rubin, bassist Joshua Eustis, singer Trent Reznor, guitarist Robin Finck and keyboardist Alessandro Cortini.

In 2013, Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails was back. They released a new album called Hesitation Marks. The album featured guest musicians like Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. The first single was "Came Back Haunted".

The band went on a world tour called the Twenty Thirteen Tour. The live shows had a large lineup of musicians and impressive visuals. In 2014, they toured with the band Soundgarden.

In 2014 and 2015, Nine Inch Nails was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but was not inducted.

The Trilogy and Bad Witch (2016–2019)

In 2016, Reznor announced that Atticus Ross was now an official member of Nine Inch Nails. They released an EP called Not the Actual Events. This was the first part of a trilogy. The second EP, Add Violence, came out in 2017.

The final part of the trilogy turned into a full album called Bad Witch, released in 2018. The band then went on the "Cold and Black and Infinite" tour with the Jesus and Mary Chain. To fight against ticket scalpers, they only sold tickets in person at the concert venues.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Ghosts V–VI (2020–2022)

In January 2020, Nine Inch Nails was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Along with Reznor and Ross, several past and present live band members were also included.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band released two new albums for free. They were called Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts. They were sequels to their 2008 instrumental album.

In 2022, the band toured the United States and the United Kingdom. They played a special show in their hometown of Cleveland. Several former members joined them on stage for the performance.

New Projects and Tour (2024–present)

In 2024, Nine Inch Nails announced they were working on many new projects. These include a project with Epic Games, a TV series, and a film. They also announced they were creating the music for the Disney movie Tron: Ares.

In January 2025, the band announced the Peel It Back Tour. This tour included shows across the United States, Canada, and Europe. On July 17, they released the song "As Alive as You Need Me to Be" from the Tron: Ares soundtrack.

Musical Style

Nine Inch Nails is known for its industrial rock sound. This style mixes heavy rock music with electronic sounds, like synthesizers and drum machines. Reznor has said he was influenced by early industrial bands like Throbbing Gristle and Skinny Puppy.

The band's music often changes in volume, going from quiet whispers to loud screams. This is called terraced dynamics. Reznor also uses noise and distortion to create a unique sound. Many songs have complex rhythms and melodies.

The lyrics in Nine Inch Nails songs often explore dark themes. These include personal struggles, feelings of sadness, and critiques of society. Some albums, like The Downward Spiral and Year Zero, are concept albums that tell a complete story.