Nine Inch Nails facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nine Inch Nails
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Atticus Ross (left) and Trent Reznor (right) performing in October 2018
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members | List of Nine Inch Nails band members |
Nine Inch Nails, often called NIN, is an American industrial rock band that started in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1988. The main person behind the band for a long time was Trent Reznor. He's a singer, songwriter, and plays many instruments. In 2016, his frequent helper, Atticus Ross, officially joined the band.
Nine Inch Nails released their first album, Pretty Hate Machine, in 1989. After some disagreements with their first record company, they signed with Interscope Records. They then released the EP Broken in 1992. Their albums The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999) became very popular and were praised by critics.
After a break, Nine Inch Nails started touring again in 2005 and released With Teeth. They later released Year Zero in 2007. The band then started releasing music independently, like Ghosts I–IV (2008) and The Slip (2008). They continued to release new music, including a series of EPs and albums like Bad Witch (2018) and two more Ghosts albums in 2020.
When Nine Inch Nails performs live, Trent Reznor usually brings together a group of musicians. This live band changes over time, but it always includes Reznor and Ross. Their concerts are known for amazing visual effects, special lighting, and how they change their songs for each show.
Nine Inch Nails has sold over 20 million records. They've been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and won two: for the songs "Wish" in 1992 and "Happiness in Slavery" in 1996. In 2020, Nine Inch Nails was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Contents
Band History and Formation
How Nine Inch Nails Started (1987–1988)
In 1987, Trent Reznor lived in Cleveland and played keyboards in a band called the Exotic Birds. He became friends with the band's manager, John Malm Jr., who later became Reznor's manager. At that time, Reznor worked as an assistant engineer and janitor at Right Track Studios. The studio owner let Reznor use the studio for free to record his own music when it wasn't booked.
Reznor wanted to create music but couldn't find a band that understood his ideas. So, he decided to play all the instruments himself, except for the drums, which he programmed using a computer. He has continued to play most of the instruments on Nine Inch Nails' recordings ever since.
The first Nine Inch Nails concert happened in Lakewood, Ohio, on October 21, 1988. After this, Reznor wanted to release a single on a small European record label. Several labels liked his demo songs, and he signed with TVT Records. Nine of his demo songs, recorded in November 1988, were later refined and released on the first album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989). These early demos had a lighter sound than the final album, with more live drums and guitar.
Reznor chose the name "Nine Inch Nails" because it was easy to shorten. The band's logo first appeared in the music video for their first single, "Down in It". Reznor and Gary Talpas designed the logo, which features the band's initials with the second "N" mirrored. Talpas continued to design Nine Inch Nails' album art until 1997.
Early Success and Albums
Pretty Hate Machine (1988–1991)
Nine Inch Nails' first album, Pretty Hate Machine, was released in 1989. Trent Reznor wrote, arranged, and performed all the music on it. This album was his first time working with producers Adrian Sherwood and Mark "Flood" Ellis. Reznor also asked Sean Beavan to mix the demo songs for the album. Beavan later mixed sound for Nine Inch Nails' live shows and even sang backup vocals.
Pretty Hate Machine included the singles "Head Like a Hole" and "Sin". Rolling Stone magazine described the album as "industrial-strength noise over a pop framework," meaning it had a strong, loud sound mixed with catchy pop melodies. Reznor said this mix was a true expression of what was in his mind. The song "Down in It" was popular on dance charts for over two months. Pretty Hate Machine stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 113 weeks and was one of the first independent records to sell over a million copies.
Three music videos were made for the album. MTV played the videos for "Down in It" and "Head Like a Hole". The original video for "Down in It" suggested Reznor's character died, which even got the attention of the FBI.
In 1990, Nine Inch Nails began touring to support Pretty Hate Machine. They opened for other rock bands like Peter Murphy and the Jesus and Mary Chain. During these shows, Reznor started smashing his equipment on stage. This aggressive style helped the band become popular with rock audiences. The tour continued through the first Lollapalooza festival in 1991.
Broken (1992–1993)
After touring, Nine Inch Nails faced pressure from their record label, TVT, to make another album. Reznor felt the label was trying to control his music too much and wanted to end his contract. When they refused, he secretly started recording new music under different names to avoid their interference. He eventually signed a deal with Interscope Records and created his own record label, Nothing Records.
In 1992, Nine Inch Nails recorded Broken, an extended play (EP). This EP was the first Nine Inch Nails release through Interscope Records and reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Reznor described Broken as a "blast of destruction" with a much harder, guitar-focused sound than Pretty Hate Machine. This harder sound was inspired by how the band played live, especially at festivals like Lollapalooza.
Songs from Broken earned Nine Inch Nails two Grammy Awards: one for a live performance of "Happiness in Slavery" at Woodstock '94, and another for the single "Wish".
The Downward Spiral (1993–1997)
Nine Inch Nails' second studio album, The Downward Spiral, was released in 1994. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and became the band's best-selling album in the U.S., selling over four million copies. The album's songs explore different moods and sounds, telling a story about a character's mental journey.
Producers Flood and Alan Moulder worked with Reznor on the album. The Downward Spiral was recorded at a house in Los Angeles that Reznor rented. Singles from the album included "March of the Pigs" and "Closer". The music video for "Closer" was played often on MTV, even though it was heavily censored because it was considered too graphic.
Critics generally loved The Downward Spiral, and it's now seen as one of the most important albums of the 1990s. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it among the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." After the album's release, Reznor also put out a remix album called Further Down the Spiral, which was very successful.
Following The Downward Spiral, the band went on the Self Destruct Tour. Their performances were very energetic and chaotic, with band members often injuring themselves and destroying their instruments. A famous performance was at Woodstock '94, where the band was covered in mud. This show was seen by millions of people and helped Nine Inch Nails gain even more popularity. The Closure video released in 1997 showed highlights from this tour.
Later Albums and Independent Releases
The Fragile (1998–2002)
Five years after The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nails released their next album, The Fragile, in September 1999. This was a double album, meaning it had two discs. Reznor created the songs by blending songwriting, production, and sound design together.
The Fragile debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling many copies in its first week. It received mostly positive reviews. Nine Inch Nails released several singles from the album, including "The Day the World Went Away" and "We're in This Together". Many songs from the album became popular on alternative rock radio stations.
In 2002, country music legend Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nails' song "Hurt" for his album. This cover was highly praised and won a Grammy Award. Reznor himself was very moved by Cash's version, saying it made him realize how powerful music can be.
With Teeth (2004–2006)
Six years later, Nine Inch Nails released their fourth full-length album, With Teeth, in May 2005. This album also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it the band's second album to reach the top spot.
The album's packaging was simple, listing only song names and producers, and directing fans to an online PDF for lyrics and full credits. The entire album was available for streaming on the band's official MySpace page before it was officially released.
Critics generally liked With Teeth. The music video for the song "The Hand That Feeds" was released online. Reznor even shared the original music files for "The Hand That Feeds" and "Only", allowing fans to create their own remixes. All three singles from the album became number one hits on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Nine Inch Nails went on a large tour in 2005 and 2006 to support With Teeth. They performed with other bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Bauhaus. A documentary about the tour, Beside You in Time, was released in 2007 and quickly became a top-selling music video.
Year Zero (2006–2007)
Nine Inch Nails' fifth studio album, Year Zero, was released on April 17, 2007. This album was a concept album, meaning it told a story. The story was set in the future (2022) and criticized government policies. Critics generally liked the album.
An alternate reality game was created to go along with the Year Zero story. Clues were hidden on tour merchandise, leading fans to discover fake websites that described a future where the United States was controlled by a strict government. Before the album was released, unreleased songs were found on USB drives hidden at Nine Inch Nails concerts. Fans actively participated in this game, and their discoveries were reported by news outlets.
The album's first single, "Survivalism", and other songs from Year Zero were released as separate audio files, allowing fans to remix them. A remix album called Year Zero Remixed was later released. This was Nine Inch Nails' last album on a major record label for a while, as their contract with Interscope Records ended.
Reznor planned to adapt the Year Zero story into a film, describing the album as "the soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist." The project later moved to television, and Reznor worked with writers to develop a TV series.
Ghosts I–IV and The Slip (2008–2012)
In March 2008, Nine Inch Nails released Ghosts I–IV, an album with 36 instrumental tracks. This was the first release on their new independent label, The Null Corporation. Ghosts I–IV was available in many different ways, from a free download of the first part to a special limited edition package. The album was released under a Creative Commons license, which meant people could share and use the music for non-commercial purposes.
Just a few months later, in May 2008, Nine Inch Nails released The Slip for free download on their website. Reznor included a message saying, "this one's on me." Over 1.4 million people downloaded the album. The Slip was later released on CD as a limited edition.
After these releases, the band went on a tour called Lights in the Sky. In 2009, Reznor uploaded unedited high-quality video footage from three shows, allowing fans to download it. A group of fans used this footage, along with their own recordings, to create a professional three-part film called Another Version of the Truth. This project received a lot of attention and support from Reznor and the fans.
In February 2009, Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails would take a break from touring for a while. He later clarified that he would still make music as Nine Inch Nails but wouldn't tour as much.
Reznor also started new projects. He formed a band called How to Destroy Angels with his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He and Atticus Ross also worked together to create the music for films like The Social Network (2010) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), winning awards for their scores.
Hesitation Marks (2012–2014)
In 2012, Reznor hinted that he was working on new Nine Inch Nails music. In February 2013, he confirmed the band's return and announced the Twenty Thirteen Tour. He also revealed a new lineup for the touring band, which included Alessandro Cortini and Ilan Rubin returning, along with new members. However, some members left before the tour began, and Robin Finck rejoined the band.
By May 2013, a new Nine Inch Nails album was finished. Hesitation Marks was released on September 3. The album had rhythms similar to earlier Nine Inch Nails music but was more expansive and dramatic.
Three singles were released before the album: "Came Back Haunted", "Copy of A", and "Everything". The Twenty Thirteen Tour began in July with performances at festivals like Fuji Rock Festival. The North American part of the tour, called Tension 2013, ran from September to November. This part of the tour was filmed and released as Nine Inch Nails Tension 2013.
In 2014, the band continued their tour worldwide. They toured with Queens of the Stone Age in Australia and New Zealand. Later, Nine Inch Nails went on a joint tour with Soundgarden across the United States.
In 2014, Nine Inch Nails was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. They were nominated again in 2015 but were not inducted until 2020.
The Trilogy (2016–2019)
In October 2016, Trent Reznor hinted that new Nine Inch Nails music was coming soon. In December 2016, he announced an EP called Not the Actual Events. He also revealed that Atticus Ross was now an official full-time member of the band, the first member other than Reznor to join officially.
In early 2017, the band announced several festival performances in North America. They also confirmed their touring lineup, which included Reznor, Ross, Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini, and Ilan Rubin. The band even appeared in an episode of the TV show Twin Peaks, performing their song "She's Gone Away."
In June 2017, Reznor confirmed that Not the Actual Events was the first part of a trilogy of EPs. The second part, Add Violence, was released on July 21, and the third part, Bad Witch, was released on June 22, 2018.
In 2017, Reznor and Ross also created the music for the Ken Burns documentary series The Vietnam War.
The band announced the "Cold and Black and Infinite 2018 North America Tour" to support Bad Witch. To prevent people from reselling tickets at higher prices, the band only sold physical tickets that had to be bought at the venue before the shows.
Ghosts V–VI (2020–present)
On January 15, 2020, Nine Inch Nails was officially announced as part of the Class of 2020 for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the induction ceremony was postponed. Initially, only Trent Reznor was going to be inducted. However, after discussions, Reznor announced that several former and current band members, including Chris Vrenna, Danny Lohner, Alessandro Cortini, Ilan Rubin (who became the youngest person ever inducted), Robin Finck, and Atticus Ross, would also be inducted.
On March 26, 2020, Nine Inch Nails released Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts. These were their tenth and eleventh studio albums and were sequels to their 2008 instrumental album Ghosts I–IV. The albums were released for free to show support for fans during the pandemic.
The live induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame was canceled, and an induction special was broadcast on HBO on November 7, 2020. On that day, Nine Inch Nails was formally inducted by punk musician Iggy Pop. Reznor thanked the fans, his family, and all the people he worked with in his acceptance speech.
In May 2021, Nine Inch Nails released a new song, "Isn't Everyone," with the band HEALTH. They also announced two shows in Cleveland to celebrate their Hall of Fame induction, but these were later canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases. In 2021, Reznor and Ross also produced Halsey's album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power, which was nominated for a Grammy.
In February 2022, Nine Inch Nails announced a short tour of the United States and the United Kingdom, their first performances in almost four years. On September 24, 2022, they performed in Cleveland for the first time since 2013. During this show, all six other inducted members, plus former members Richard Patrick and Charlie Clouser, joined Reznor on stage.
Music Style and Lyrics
Nine Inch Nails' music has been described as a mix of alternative rock, industrial rock, industrial, electronic rock, and alternative metal. Many people say Nine Inch Nails was the most popular industrial group and helped bring this type of music to a wider audience. Reznor himself doesn't always call his music "industrial," but he admits to using techniques from early industrial bands.
Songs like "Wish" often have sudden changes in how loud they are, going from quiet whispers to loud screams. Reznor also uses software to change his voice in some songs. The band's music sometimes has complex rhythms and uses harsh sounds and distortion. These techniques can be heard in songs like "Hurt".
On the album The Fragile, Reznor often repeats a musical idea in different songs, sometimes with different instruments or at a different speed. Many songs on Year Zero have long instrumental endings. The album's sound is described as guitars mixing with electronic glitches, beeps, and distorted drums.
The lyrics in Nine Inch Nails songs often explore dark personal feelings about topics like religion, greed, fame, and regret. Sometimes, the lyrics also talk about politics, which is the main focus of the album Year Zero. Three Nine Inch Nails albums are concept albums, meaning they tell a story: The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, and Year Zero.
Musical Influences
Nine Inch Nails was first influenced by the punk rock band the Clash. Reznor said he tried to copy them at first but stopped because he didn't have a political message like they did. Other early influences include Ministry and Skinny Puppy, which helped shape the sound of Pretty Hate Machine. The album also mentioned Public Enemy and Prince as influences.
Another big influence on the band's sound is Gary Numan. Reznor once said that after hearing Numan's song "Cars," he knew he wanted to make music with synthesizers. The 2005 song "Only" shows how Numan's disco-style beats and synthesizers influenced Nine Inch Nails. Other important artists for Nine Inch Nails include Depeche Mode, Queen, King Crimson, the Cure, Joy Division, and David Bowie.
Reznor has even toured with some of his influences. In 1995, Nine Inch Nails toured with David Bowie, who had influenced The Downward Spiral. In 2006, Nine Inch Nails toured with Bauhaus.
Band's Impact and Awards
Nine Inch Nails has influenced many newer artists. David Bowie once compared Reznor's influence to that of The Velvet Underground, another very influential band. Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose was heavily influenced by Nine Inch Nails in the mid-90s. Bob Ezrin, a producer for famous bands like Pink Floyd, called Reznor a "true visionary" in 2007. Music journalists often say Nine Inch Nails helped make industrial music popular.
The band has won four awards from 25 nominations. They won two Grammy Awards for the songs "Wish" in 1993 and "Happiness in Slavery" in 1996. They also won two Kerrang! Awards, including the Kerrang! Icon award in 2006, which honored their contributions to rock music. Nine Inch Nails has also been nominated for nine MTV Video Music Awards.
In 1997, Reznor was named one of Time magazine's most influential people. Spin magazine called him "the most vital artist in music." By 2003, Rolling Stone magazine placed The Downward Spiral on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time." The following year, they ranked Nine Inch Nails at number 94 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
In 2019, Reznor and Ross received credits for the number-one song "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X, which used a sample from their song "34 Ghosts IV" from Ghosts I–IV. As producers, Reznor and Ross won a CMA Award for 'Musical Event of the Year' for "Old Town Road."
In January 2020, after being nominated twice before, Nine Inch Nails (including Alessandro Cortini, Robin Finck, Danny Lohner, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Ilan Rubin, and Chris Vrenna) were inducted into the 2020 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Business Challenges
Issues with Record Labels
In the early 1990s, Nine Inch Nails had a public disagreement with TVT Records, their first record label. Reznor felt the label was trying to control his music too much. Eventually, Nine Inch Nails made a deal with Interscope Records, which allowed Reznor to have more freedom with his own Nothing Records label. In 2005, Reznor sued his former manager, John Malm, for fraud and won over $3 million.
In 2005, the rights to Reznor's recordings for TVT Records were put up for auction. Rykodisc, another record label, was able to license these rights and reissued Pretty Hate Machine in 2005.
In May 2007, Reznor openly criticized Universal Music Group (the parent company of Interscope Records) for how they priced and distributed Year Zero. He called the pricing in Australia "ABSURD" and said that loyal fans were being "ripped off." Reznor's comments received a lot of media attention. In September 2007, he even encouraged fans at a concert in Australia to "steal" his music online instead of buying it legally.
On October 8, 2007, Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails had completed their contract with Interscope Records and were now free to release music independently. He later released the first nine tracks of Ghosts I–IV and the entire The Slip for free download in 2008.
Reznor also criticized Universal Music Group for stopping him from launching an official fan remix website. Universal refused to host the site, saying they didn't want to be accused of supporting copyright violations. Despite this, the remix website was launched in November 2007.
Other Company Disputes
Nine Inch Nails was supposed to perform at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards but pulled out because of a disagreement with MTV. The band wanted to use an unaltered image of then-President George W. Bush as a backdrop for their song "The Hand That Feeds". Reznor said, "Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me." MTV responded that they respected Reznor's view but were "uncomfortable" with the performance being "built around partisan political statements."
Another incident happened at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014. Nine Inch Nails performed with Queens of the Stone Age and other artists, but the performance was cut short by commercials during the TV broadcast. Reznor later strongly criticized the situation.
In 2006, Reznor sent a legal notice to Fox News Channel for using three songs from The Fragile on air without permission. The songs were used in an episode about the battle of Iwo Jima. Reznor posted on his blog, "A cease and desist has been issued."
As part of the Year Zero alternate reality game, three songs from the album were intentionally "leaked" on USB flash drives at Nine Inch Nails concerts. Even though this was part of the band's plan, websites hosting these files received legal notices from the Recording Industry Association of America.
The music of Nine Inch Nails has reportedly been used by the U.S. military as a form of music torture to break down the will of detainees. Reznor strongly objected to this use of his music. He stated on the Nine Inch Nails website that it was "profoundly insulting" to discover his music was used for torture. He said he would pursue any legal options and donate any money gained to human rights charities.
Live Performances
Until Atticus Ross joined in 2016, Trent Reznor was the only official member of Nine Inch Nails. However, Reznor usually forms a group of musicians to play the songs live. This live band, also known as Nine Inch Nails, often changes the band's studio songs, creating a different sound for their concerts. While live band members sometimes help with recordings, Reznor always has full creative control in the studio.
The lineup of the live band often changes between major tours. Reznor explained that this is partly because of the long time between studio albums and his desire for new interpretations of his music.
Concert Tours
- Pretty Hate Machine Tour Series (1988–1991)
- Self Destruct Tour (1994–1996)
- Fragility Tour (1999–2000)
- Live: With Teeth Tour (2005–2006)
- Performance 2007 Tour (2007)
- Lights in the Sky Tour (2008)
- Wave Goodbye Tour (2009)
- Twenty Thirteen Tour (2013–2014)
- I Can't Seem To Wake Up (2017)
- Cold and Black and Infinite (2018)
- U.S. 2022 & U.K. 2022 (2022)
Band Members
Official Members
- Trent Reznor – lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, programming, drums, percussion (1988–present)
- Atticus Ross – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, bass, backing vocals (2016–present)
Additional Touring Lineup
- Robin Finck – guitars, synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals (1994–1996, 1999–2000, 2008–2009, 2013–present)
- Alessandro Cortini – bass, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, backing vocals (2005–2008, 2013–present)
- Ilan Rubin – drums, percussion, bass, guitars, cello, keyboards, backing vocals (2008–2009, 2013–present)
Key Former Members
- Chris Vrenna – drums, percussion, keyboards (1988–1990, 1992–1997)
- Richard Patrick – guitars, backing vocals (1989–1993)
- Danny Lohner – bass, guitars, synthesizers (1993–2003)
- Charlie Clouser – keyboards, synthesizers, percussion (1994–2001)
- Josh Freese – drums (2005, 2005–2008)
Discography (Albums)
- Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
- Broken (1992)
- The Downward Spiral (1994)
- The Fragile (1999)
- With Teeth (2005)
- Year Zero (2007)
- Ghosts I–IV (2008)
- The Slip (2008)
- Hesitation Marks (2013)
- Not the Actual Events (2016)
- Add Violence (2017)
- Bad Witch (2018)
- Ghosts V: Together (2020)
- Ghosts VI: Locusts (2020)
Awards and Nominations
Nine Inch Nails has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and has won two: for "Wish" in 1992 and "Happiness in Slavery" in 1995:
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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| 1992 | "Wish" | Best Metal Performance | Won |
| 1995 | The Downward Spiral | Best Alternative Music Performance | Nominated |
| 1995 | "Happiness in Slavery" (from Woodstock '94 compilation) | Best Metal Performance | Won |
| 1996 | "Hurt" | Best Rock Song | Nominated |
| 1999 | The Fragile | Best Alternative Music Album | Nominated |
| 2000 | "Into the Void" | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 2005 | "The Hand That Feeds" | Best Hard Rock Performance | Nominated |
| 2006 | "Every Day is Exactly the Same" | Best Hard Rock Performance | Nominated |
| 2009 | "34 Ghosts IV" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | Nominated |
| 2009 | Ghosts I–IV | Best Boxed Set or Limited Edition Package | Nominated |
| 2013 | Hesitation Marks | Best Alternative Music Album | Nominated |
Images for kids
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Reznor performing in Hollywood on September 8, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Nine Inch Nails para niños
