Trent Reznor Announces The End Of Nine Inch Nails?
Trent Reznor updated the official Nine Inch Nails website late yesterday and posted a heartfelt message to fans about his future plans for Nine Inch Nails. As he mentioned in my interview with him last December, this new message confirms that after NIN completes their next round of tourdates, TR will be taking a break from making music “for a while” — essentially putting Nine Inch Nails on hold for an undetermined time. While this reiteration of Reznor’s plans is a bit sad, there is a silver lining … new shows to come in ‘09, with the amazing Jane’s Addiction to tour in support. Here is the full text of Trent Reznor’s latest message posted on NIN.com:
2.16.09: A note from Trent and a wave goodbye
Towards the beginning of my career in Nine Inch Nails, our biggest break came in the form of an invitation to perform a series of shows with Jane’s Addiction. These performances essentially created and defined the term “alternative” rock in the US, created an ongoing festival franchise that is still thriving (Lollapalooza), set the stage for Nirvana to shift popular taste a few months later, and were really fucking FUN to play and attend – truly the best times I’ve had. The shows were epic. So epic, they propelled NIN to the “next level” (whatever that means), but caused Jane’s to implode. The band broke up at the end of that tour.
Fast forward to the present. Corporate rock STILL sucks. A friend tells me they saw the original Jane’s lineup play a tiny show in LA that was unbelievable. I break out my Jane’s records and am amazed by how vital they sound. These guys were the real deal and in this current climate mostly dominated by poseurs and pussies it was refreshing to hear something that sounded dangerous, volatile, beautiful and SINCERE.
Emails were sent, phone calls were made, dinner was arranged, ideas were discussed and the next thing I know we’re in the studio experimenting. We laugh, we get to know each other, we cry, we yell, we almost quit, we record LOTS of guitar solos, we discuss, we actually begin to all communicate, we yell some more, we become FRIENDS, we laugh again and we do some great things. I get to see first hand why they broke up all those years ago but I also get the chance to see four distinct personalities that become an INCREDIBLE band when they’re in the same room.
In NIN world, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of our first releases. I’ve been thinking for some time now it’s time to make NIN disappear for a while. Last year’s “Lights in the Sky” tour was something I’m quite proud of and seems like the culmination of what I could pull off in terms of an elaborate production. It was also quite difficult to pull off technically and physically night after night and left us all a bit dazed. After some thought, we decided to book a last run of shows across the globe this year. The approach to these shows is quite different from last year – much more raw, spontaneous and less scripted. Fun for us and a different way for you to see us and wave goodbye. I reached out to Jane’s to see if they’d want to join us across the US and we all felt it could be a great thing. Will it work? Will it resonate in the marketplace? Who knows. Is there big record label marketing dollars to convince you to attend? Nope. Does it feel right to us and does it seem like it will be fun for us and you? Yes it does. Look for tour dates soon and I hope to see you out there.
Trent
This new message to fans is very bittersweet … while we already knew that TR was thinkin’ about puttin’ NIN on hiatus in the very near future, the echoes of finality in this message are still very difficult to process for longtime fans. On the other hand, we have a slew of tourdates to look forward to in the coming months and the news that NIN will be touring with Jane’s Addiciton is just … wow! While the news is sad, we knew it was coming … and what a great way for Nine Inch Nails to come full circle, 20 years after they got started. While there is a tinge of sadness in this message, I choose to look at the positive … it says to me that I should enjoy the upcoming NIN shows while I can — and I plan to. I will do my best to see as many NIN shows as I can once the dates are announced.
My gut tells me that this isn’t the end end. Trent has a lot of other things that he still has to accomplish … but music is in his blood, in his soul. I honestly believe there will be more NIN in future. It may be a long ways off but … I think it’ll come. In the meantime, I’m gonna revel in and enjoy what’s available. The end may be nigh but it’s not here just yet. I’m not mourning anything at this point in the game. We still have live NIN to look forward to … and I can’t wait!
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Tags: Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor
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February 17th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Trent…… what can I say…. I can’t get enough of NIN
February 17th, 2009 at 4:47 am
i admit to a few tears after reading his message but that’s it :(
February 17th, 2009 at 4:53 am
This is one of the most rational things I’ve read since that statement went up last night. At the same time, it has echoes of a similar statement he made in 2006, and we all know what he did the following year. So it’s definitely not the end for Trent. He’ll keep making music until he keels over dead on his keyboard.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:29 am
i don’t think it’s the end for TR either…i LOVE NIN – first concert i ever went to & i will forever remember.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:44 am
I didn’t read his statement as a retirement announcement it just read like a musician/performer telling his fans that he needs to do some “me time”. He’s been working at a break neck pace for years and that has to be exhausting on many levels.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Crazy. I saw NIN open for Jane’s Addiction at Universal Amphitheater in 1991 !
February 17th, 2009 at 7:45 am
omg i agree with carrie, i did shed a few tears reading this. :’(
I LOVE NIN!!!! IDC wat others says TR u rock!!!!
February 17th, 2009 at 7:46 am
No mention of Britney across the hall ;P jk… yes, Trent (R.), Corporate Rock STILL Sucks!!!!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
gawd that dates me thinking back to when I was all gung ho to mosh with a great band Janes. here I am hanging out waiting for Janes to start when this little unknown band NIN started up….course all of us in the audience were like wah the eff is this…next thing you know Trent broke into couple songs and the mosh pits were rocking hard. Funny too b/c by the time Janes started we were ALL wiped out to rock it but after a couple of songs, got a second & third wind. BY far my best concert ever….I know Trent will never be kept quiet. He will reemerge better than ever. HE HAS WAY TOO MUCH TALENT TO SIT BACK and not create! Mark my words this will be an awesome year for them…glad he’s ending it with the band that got them noticed….cuz we all did. Its been a great run…thank you TRENT and NIN
February 17th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I was sad when I read this then I thought about it. The man needs a break. He has put out more music in the last 4 years than any other time in his life. Hopefully it means that he is going to devote his time to developing Year Zero the series. That is something that would be really cool.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
*NIN* forever.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
@PixieBassline — Full disclosure, I had a personalized license plate in Michigan that read NIN4EVR … true fact :)
February 17th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
NIN and Jane’s Addiction=WOW!!! As always, you’re the only one who reports this stuff.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I was so sad when I read his announcement, but the man has worked so hard that he needs a break, loved the interview you did with him in Dec, it was so cool to see Trent smile so much even tho his body language was a bit tense. Cant wait for the next tours, im saving all my vacation time and following the band to a couple shows!