Band
BAND
Nine Inch Nails (NIN) is a two time American Grammy award-winning industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor. He is the main producer singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Reznor is the only official member of the band and remains responsible for its direction. After recording a new album, Trent usually forms a band to perform with him. On stage, NIN shows visual elements which accompany performances, where frequently include light shows.
Reznor said in 1994 that he chooses the name "Nine Inch Nails" because it abbreviated easily, rather than for any literal meaning.
Pretty Hate Machine (1989–1991)
Nine Inch Nails' first album, Pretty Hate Machine, debuted in 1989. Reznor proclaimed this album was a combination of a sincere statement of what was in his head at the time. The album spend 113 weeks on the Billboard 200 Pretty Hate Machine, became one of the first independent record to win an platinum certification.
In 1990, NIN started the Pretty Hate Machine Tour, in which they toured North America as an opening act for alternative rock artists such as Peter Murphy. After a very poor reception in Europe opening for Guns N’ Roses, NIN returned to America with pressure from TVT to produce a follow-up to Pretty Hate Machine. In response, Reznor began recording in secret under various pseudonyms to avoid record company interference.
Nine Inch Nails released Broken in 1992. It was an Ep featuring six songs and two bonus tracks. Reznor characterized Broken as a guitar-based blast of destruction, and a lot harder than Pretty Hate Machine. Songs from Broken earned NIN both of its two Grammy Awards: a performance of the first single Happiness in slavey and the second single Wish.
Broken was followed by the remix EP Fixed in late 1992. Rather than tour in support of the new material, Reznor began living and recording full-time at Le Pig, working on a free of restrictions from his record label.
The Downward Spiral (1994–1997)
Nine Inch Nails' second full-length album, The Downward Spiral entered the Billboard 200 in 1994 at number two, and remains the biggest selling NIN album release in the United States. The Downward Spiral features a large range of textures and moods to illustrate the mental progress of a central character. It was recorded at Le Pig Studios, Beverly Hills built by Reznor in the house where Charles Manson murdered Sharon Tate, wife of director, Roman Polanski.
The album had two singles, Closer and March of the Pigs along with Hurt and Piggy which were issued to radio without a commercial single release. Critical response to The Downward Spiral has generally been favorable. In 2005 the album was ranked 25th in Spin’s list of the 100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005, and in 2003 Rolling Stone ranked the album number 200 on their 500 Greatest albums of all times list.
The Self Destruct tour in support of the album reached the widest mainstream audience with a mud-drenched performance at Woodstock1994 that was broadcast on Pay Per View and seen in as many as 24 million homes. Nine Inch Nails received considerable mainstream success thereafter, performing with higher production values and adding theatrical visual elements to the live show.
The Fragile arrived as a double CD in September 1999. When the album was finally released, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 228,000 copies in its first week and receiving favorable reviews.
Reznor followed The Fragile with another remix album,Things Falling Apart, released after the 2000 Fragility tour, which itself was recorded and released on CD, DVD, and VHS in 2002 as And All That Could Have Been. A deluxe edition of the live CD came with the companion disc Still, featuring versions of songs from the NIN catalog along with several new pieces of music.
Six Years Later With Teeth, was released in 2005. The album was written and recorded following Reznor's battle with alcoholism and substance abuse. Like The Fragile, With Teeth debuted on top of the Billboard 200. Critical reception of the album was generally favorable.
Nine Inch Nails launched a North American arena tour in autumn 2005. To conclude the With Teeth era of the band, NIN completed a tour of North American Amphitheater in summer of 2006. In late 2006, the official NIN website announced that a tour documentary entitled Beside You In Time.
Nine Inch Nails' fifth studio album, Year Zero, was released only two years after With Teeth, a marked change in pace from the release of previous albums. With lyrics written from the perspective of multiple fictitious characters, Reznor described Year Zero as a Concept album criticizing the United States Government's current policies and how they will impact the world 15 years in the future An Alternate Reality Game emerged parallel to the Year Zero concept, expanding upon its storyline. A remix album titled Year Zero Remixed was later released, featuring remixes from Year Zero from other artists. The remix album proved to be Nine Inch Nails' final new release on a major record label, as the act had completed its contractual obligation to Interscope Records and did not renew its contract.
Ghosts I–IV and The Slip (2008)
Ghosts I–IV is the seventh studio album from Nine Inch Nails, released March 2, 2008 over the internet. It is the first NIN material to be independently released since leaving Interscope Records in 2007. The album is a four-volume, 2-disc release consisting of 36 Intrumental Tracks, featuring guest musicians. Initial response was very positive, with heavy traffic causing servers to crash and all limited edition copies being sold in just over a day.
The Slip is the eighth studio album from Nine Inch Nails. It was released as a free download on May 5, 2008, and contains the previously released Web-only singles "Discipline" and "Echoplex."
Back to Main Menu