The Following Message Has Been Brought To You By Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor has updated the official Nine Inch Nails website with a message of thanks to all the folks who came out in support of the just completed first leg of the Lights In The Sky Over North America Tour. The full text of his message also offers his opinions on the current political campaign for the US presidency which I’m sure some of you may agree with and some of you may disagree with:
I’d like to thank all of you who attended the first leg of the Lights In The Sky tour. If you missed it, check the schedule – we’ll be playing through the rest of this year. If you’ve seen it, come back – we’ll have some new tricks up our sleeve on this next leg. We’re very proud of this show and it’s been exciting (and quite the challenge) for us to present it to you.
His full message continues behind the cut. After the jump, read the rest of what Trent Reznor has to say to his political-minded fans. As TR says himself, “Nobody wants anyone preaching their opinions at them” so fans of the current Republican administration who are supporting the Republican ticket in the current presidential campaign might not be interested in reading any further …
Here is the full text of Trent Reznor’s latest message:
I’d like to thank all of you who attended the first leg of the Lights In The Sky tour. If you missed it, check the schedule – we’ll be playing through the rest of this year. If you’ve seen it, come back – we’ll have some new tricks up our sleeve on this next leg. We’re very proud of this show and it’s been exciting (and quite the challenge) for us to present it to you.
Oh, and it was quite a surprise to get back home, turn on the television and discover we’ve apparently won the war in Iraq! Yeah, some woman from Alaska said so – apparently that troop surge was all we needed! That’s good news, because I was starting to think all the shame and embarrassment I’ve felt as an American citizen traveling abroad the last few years wasn’t going to pay off in the end. Now I can rest easy knowing we’ve successfully spread FREEDOM – AND we’ve stopped evildoers in their tracks.
US citizens: Nobody wants anyone preaching their opinions at them – particularly a musician – but PLEASE get involved and pay attention to what’s happening during this election and try to see through the clutter to the substance of what is or isn’t being said.
Wouldn’t it be great to feel proud of this country for a change? Seems like it’s within reach.
OK – I got it out of my system. Thanks for reading.
I think it’s pretty clear that I agree with TR absolutely on this but, again, it’s just what I believe. In all fairness, he is absolutely right to urge EVERYONE to “get involved and pay attention to what’s happening during this election”. I, too, urge all y’all to FIND OUT WHAT YOUR CANDIDATE stands for. Do you want to hold on to your reproductive rights? Do you want the right to marry in this country? There are major issues at stake in this election. Considering the way that last 8 years turned out, you might want to have a say in the outcome of this year’s election. I know I do.
For the record, the photo of Trent above with GWB on the screen behind him is from this past Saturday’s NIN performance at The Forum here in SoCal. As the band performed The Hand That Feeds, this image of GWB appeared on the screen and morphed into an image of John McCain. I think the message is pretty clear there.
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Tags: 'Lights In The Sky Over North America 2008' Tour, Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor
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September 9th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I think it’s interesting that Trent is usually reticent to share his political/social commentary. He is probably afraid of being ‘preachy’ but he certainly never comes across that way. With all the stupid reality ’stars’ voicing their ‘views’ it is refreshing to hear from someone who has well thought out opinions. And I guess it doesn’t hurt that I concur. :-)
September 9th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I think Trent may be a little hesitant to share his views because people tend to blow up at bloggers in comment sections when the blogger expresses a belief that they do no share.
I can’t say that I blame him (no one likes to be yelled at), but EVERYONE should pay attention to this election. And if you disagree, do your research before taking someone’s head off in an argument. Arguing is one thing, but being wrong at the same time? Embarrassing! Whatever you do, VOTE!
PS-Obama ‘08. I had to say it!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
The assumed likeness between Bush and McCain cannot be farther from the truth. McCain may be pronouncing more Conservative views in order to gain acceptance from the core right for this election, but in reality he is so much more moderate than Bush. The constant comparisons are getting really old.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I read this last night and posted a comment. I’ve been reading the other comments and asked for McCain/Palin supporters to give specifics on why they are supporting them…I really haven’t read any responses yet. I am generally curious to hear if their support is based on an unwavering belief in McCain’s stated policies that tend to mirror the current administrations.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Majorie,
Please. Read some voting records and policy analysis. It’s not old, it’s reality.
If it’s not reality, stop complaining and start proving it!
September 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
i’m just glad that trent is practicing what he preaches
ART IS RESISTANCE
art changes hearts without breaking bodies.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
PS: did you see the SMOKIN hot pic of the band from the philly show? srsly TV, got high school butterflies upon viewing
September 9th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Thank you, both Trents. I personally appreciate hearing people’s opinions on politics especially if they have done their homework. We all need to look at the issues and look into our hearts when we vote. We can be better as a country than the last 8 years would have you believe.
What worries me is that while Obama attempts to inspire the good in people, McCain (and particularly Sarah Palin) are just slamming him with snarky jabs and half truths. Often American voters are swayed by this rhetoric. Call it the Jerry Springer factor. If we do not do everything possible to ensure Obama’s victory, we will have only ourselves to blame.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
It’s not just important for America, it’s affecting the rest of the world too. Your economy crashes then you’re taking us with you, you go to war then apparently we go with you too..
Before following this election I never knew how right
wing/conservative orientated America is.. a country where the term ‘liberal’ has been transformed into an insult. In the UK even our conservative party is to the left of your democrats. Educating myself on American politics has been a scary experience.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
The country started going into the shitter when the dems took over congress.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I know this isn’t the place to get into politics so I won’t rant about any side. I just think its sad that so many people are so one sided and and bash the opposite side for no reason and look the other way when their candidate does it. In truth all politicians are out for themselves and if we really do want this country to be better, we wouldn’t want either candidate as president.
And I don’t support McCain really, can’t vote anyways, but to play devils advocate to the person that asked:
In my mind a lot of why people would vote for McCain si that he’s not Obama. The democrats have done nothing in the last few years. They hold the power (not the white house but everything else), yet what significant change have they done? Thats how I think Obama will run the country. Do you really think he will pull all troops from Iraq? course not, he keeps changing his mind on when that will happen. People vote Democrat because of the socially liberal things they support (all of which I do to) gay marraige, abortions, anti death penalty. The problem is these are not the issues that change when a new president comes into power. Its all about money. Obama wants to tax the hell out of the rich. the rich won’t want to do business and take the companies other places. If the companies aren’t in america neither are the jobs. Also you have to wonder why someone should be punished for having a lot of money.
Now this is a simplification yes. And there are many more issues both candidates have right and wrong, I just wanted to balance things out.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Talk about misinformed, shame on you Trent! Obama is not for gay marriage, on what planet do you live? This is his position as given to the IL Review
“Well, I think that ‘marriage’ has a religious connotation in this society, in our culture, that makes it very difficult to disentangle from the civil aspects of marriage. And as a consequence it’s almost — it would be extraordinarily difficult and distracting to try to build a consensus around marriage for gays and lesbians. What we can do is form civil unions that provide all the civil rights that marriage entails to same sex couples. And that is something that I have consistently been in favor of. And I think that the vast majority of Americans don’t want to see gay and lesbian couples discriminated against, when it comes to hospital visitations and so on.”
TRENT, GET INFORMED!!
Everyone needs to find out the answers to the questions they have themselves. Don’t take this blog as gospel.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Hannah,
That’s effing ridiculous and extreme. Rich people are not being punished for having more money. How would our economy ever balance out if we continued to cater to the rich, corporate, greedy fuckers of our country? (Hello Enron anyone?!?) Obama seeks to help out those less fortunate, who need a little more help making ends meet than said fuckers. I hate to make stereotypes, but in response to yours, it’s just like a Republican to oversimplify situations and be so disgustingly unhumanist and narrow-minded.
Obama ‘08 bitches!
September 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Chad, I am very informed. A Republican administration would install Supreme Court Justices that would make same-sex marriage illegal in this country. Do you think Sarah Palin was chosen as VP for her good looks? She represents the most radical views of the Religious Right in this country, a signal to US voters what he plans to do if he gets into office. Sen. McCain used to be a maverick, opposing the social issue retardation of the Republican party. Now he’s toting the party line just to get elected. If you think that voting for McCain over Obama is going to afford US citizens more rights, you are sorely mistaken.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
If that snowbilly, evolution denying, evangelical publicity stunt of a vp is actually elected, I’m moving to Canada.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
ROFL! I love your reasoning Trent. It has no basis in fact, just a “feeling” of something that may or may not happen. Its the same tactic Democrats have used to instill fear in people who are re-acting and not educating themselves on how the process works.
I don’t even have any way to discuss this with you since all you wrote were ideas. No facts, no quotes.
Oh, and for the record I’m a registered Independent non denominational gay man. I don’t live my life by the stereo type, but by education.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Trent’s right. I have to say that even though Obama inspires a little of apprehension in me, I’m with the liberal party regardless of his own principles… His peers will hopefully round up a fair consensus upon considering “America’s” wishes. I digress- WE MUST IMPART OUR VIEWS TO OUR PRESIDENT AND IMPOSE THEM IN EVERY SINGLE WAY POSSIBLE. We need to demand more, I mean, it always seems like the majority of the population gets lazy and conforms to the misery that’s brought upon us… I want to see my best friends happily married; I want to have health insurance without worrying if I’ll have enough money left over for car insurance; I want civil importation/ exportation of goods to help the growth of the economy; I want to depress the velocity at which natural phenomenas are occuring; I want alternative energy and equilibrium reinstated in our economy; I want to see the helpless helped…
That may be a little too much to hope for, but definitely not too much to ask…
September 9th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Well I’m not republican, and I’m certainly not rich so I’m never going to benefit that way from McCain. And I agree that the less fortunate should be helped but not at the expense of others. And saying you hate to make stereotypes and then making them is a wonderful way to make your viewpoint more valid. I never said I agree with McCain, I was just putting another viewpoint out there which I would think is the complete opposite of narrowminded. This is why politcs has gone so wrong. People cannot accept another way of thinking without resorting to insults.
And yes Palin was picked for her extreme views, but I don’t think that McCain is saying thats how he’s going to handle the administration, he’s just pandering to the people that don’t think he is conservative enough.
The whole election process would be a lot easier if we got rid of the party/political titles. Bush proves that a member of the republican party can be very unrepublican when making decisions (at least on the economic side).
September 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
One more tid bit of education. Any one that any President nominates to be appointed to the Supreme Court has to be confirmed by the Senate. The Democrats are the majority in the Senate and have been for quite some time. Its not like just picking a team for dodgeball.
Education of the process is key.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I’m a dork for posting this off topic nonsense but Trent may appreciate this: Trent Reznor and Britney hooking up would be brilliant! They are both from Louisana and he could offer her so much insight and she may show him another side of performing arts and what real humble person she is. They both lived through the rabbit hole and are in excellent shape now. Has anyone ever thought of this? Opposites attract right? Trent make it happen..jk =D
September 9th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Lala;
Americans are proud of our country and values. I find Britain a scary place. The radical Muslims are taking over while the people and the government cower like the wimps they are. The media is viciouisly anti-Israel and anti-semitic to appease the Muslims. Britain is being overtaken by Islamofacists and it couldn’t happen to a nicer group of people!
I dislike both Obama and McCain and we’ll vote for an Independent candidate. I’m very liberal on social issues but conservative on foreign policy. Both of them and their wives give me the creeps. America will go downhill regardless of who gets into office.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Thanks Chad, I guess I didn’t need 4 years of undergraduate education in Political Science since I have you to educate :)
You vote for who you need to vote for, I’ll do the same.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:40 am
No Lies:
Good, you should be proud of your country, I didn’t suggest otherwise – there are many good things to be proud of. However, my point was that from following these elections it seems like there are also worryingly blinkered aspects of your politics and media, and for a country which is traditionally looked on as forward thinking, ‘land of the free’ etcetc.. it seems like you could be about to take a backwards step.
Have you ever visited Britain? It is hardly being taken over by ‘islamofacists’, and we hardly ‘appease’ anyone – I’m sorry but I find these comments incredibly ignorant, it is not appeasement to try and respect another culture or the beliefs of a different religion.. it is about equality in the truest sense of democracy. Yes there is a large muslim presence in the UK, however the vast majority of muslims are peaceful living within the mainstream of society, happily mixing with other religions and people. As with *any* religion there is a minority of extremists and radicals, it is the same as Christians who take the word of the bible literally. One of the main reasons the invasion of Iraq was a mistake was that it gave muslim extremists evidence to use that the West was anti-Islam, and gave them ammunition to spread their message of hate.
Vote for whoever the hell you want, if it’s what you believe in then fine, just make sure you know exactly what it is you’re voting for.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Thanks, Trent…for shutting Chad up!
September 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Why shut me up? I made valid points on how this process works. Everyone needs to know so they dont pick a President out of fear, that goes for both parties.
I havent chosen who I will be voting for. I’m waiting for the debates.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
First of all, you can’t say McCain is just “Bush all over again” simply because he’s in the same party. If that’s the best you can do then there’s obviously not much to bash him on. And to rip on Sarah Palin just for the mere fact that she’s a Republican, without actually looking into anything about her, come on. She’s not just “some chick from Alaska.” Do some research, and furthermore, have some respect for the woman. 80 percent of HER STATE approves of the job she’s doing. If 80 percent of people liked Obama’s Senate record than the polls wouldnt be a dead split right now.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:22 am
You’re right Dan, we should definitely respect a homophobic, polar bear killing woman who is completely ignorant of foreign policies. I live in Australia and yet I am very worried at what will happen to the world if someone like Sarah Palin becomes VP of the United States.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:43 am
Homophobic? Obama’s pastor is racist.
Foreign Policy? Obama does have years of experience. Not
Australia? You’ve never seen a polar bear, they’re more threatening than wallabies.