EVEN TRENT REZNOR CAN’T BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME
Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 3:57pm by Axl Rosenberg
Trent Reznor talks almost as much shit about other musicians as Kerry King does, but it’s usually excusable as a) he’s hilarious, b) he’s right and c) he’s so much cooler than most rock stars that even if he’s wrong, it’s still not very bothersome. For example, I once read an interview where Reznor said he remembers exactly where he was the first time he heard Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know,” and that remembering where you were when you first heard that terrible song was his generation’s equivalent of remembering exactly where you were when you found out JFK had been killed. Now, that’s obviously melodramatic (and ironic, considering that Reznor’s one-time collaborator Dave Navarro played guitars on that song), but it’s also totally hilarious.
So. Drummer extraordinaire is leaving Nine Inch Nails, and Reznor has hired twenty year old (!!!) Lostprophets drummer Ilan Rubin* (pictured above) to take Freese’s place.
In a statement, Reznor explains that he saw Rubin “playing his ass off” with Lostprophets at a UK festival a couple of years back and that Rubin “blew me away.”
Now, here’s the thing: Lostprophets suck. I think they suck at least as bad as Alanis. And maybe Rubin is a great drummer – I don’t hear it but whatever – but replacing Freese, who is inarguably one of the best rock drummers in the world today, with a guy from some shitty emo band can’t be making many NIN fans jump for joy.
Oh well. The good news is that NIN’s music features so many drum loops and samples that I’m not really convinced you need a great drummer anyway.
-AR
*Note to Vince: Gotta be a Jew, right???
Being in a shitty band does not equal being a shitty musician any more than being in a great band makes one a great musician.
Hell, Green Day has a great bassist and Blink 182 had a great (albeit asshole) drummer, and they’re not exactly most metalheads’ idea of “good”.
Ilan is actually a very good drummer, only 20 and had lessons from Travis Barker, played Woodstock, played with NOFX and Fenix*TX.
Yes, none of that is metal, but trust me, the kid is a fucking blistering drummer, seen him live a few times, (Including first time he played live with Lostprophets, where he did an amazing drum solo)
Reznor may lose Josh Freese, but the replacement will be just as good in the near future.
Yeah just echoing what the guys above me said, you should REALLY watch a video of this guy on YouTube before you trash him or Reznor for picking him. The dude is a ridiculous drummer.
but if he does end up sucking, Trent can just pull out the old trusty drum machine to do his job. NIN does not need a “good” drummer, just someone who knows how to keep rythm and not look bored behind a drum kit.
I was on mushrooms when I read that news at the NIN Hotline and became so angry over that stupid little tidbit. While I was listening to the Still EP. Trent’s creativity is going down the pooper anyway.
Wow.I used to really dig Lostprophets.When their first album came out it stayed in album rotation for about a solid year.Then their sound started leaning more towards generic rock, and by then I was giving up on most “rock” bands.
I can’t say if this kid is a great drummer, as I’m not sure if they’ve swapped out skinsmen since I lost interest in the band, but fuck it.Trent is the face of NIN.Who gives a shit if so and so isn’t awesome?The creative genius is still the same.
One thing to keep in mind is that Josh Freese probably was never the permanent drummer for NIN. He is mainly a studio guy who always comes back to play with his first love the Vandals. Anyhow, yes, Lostprophets suck…and yes you can have good musicians that are in terrible bands. How much can you hold the drummer accountable for writing shitty songs. Unless your talking about the jew dude from Sevendust. He writes most of the lyrics…. So you could blame that guy….
I always considered Josh a temp from the start cause Chris Vrenna couldnt play, or was kicked out, or went to play with Marylin Manson.
Josh is one of the best…easily top 5….drummers.
Is it wrong to say the drummer for a band that has a lot of samples and drum loops is one of the best rock drummers out there?
I guess if he can make himself stand out amongst the technology there’s something to be said, but the one of the best? Seriously?
1. lostprophets do not equal emo
2. The music a band makes doesn’t determine the talent of the members. Fall Out Boy being the best example of this.
1. Lostprophets aren’t and never have been emo.
2. They do, as of 2004 and beyond, suck.
3. Being in a shitty band has nothing to do with individual talent. How would you guys like it if I implied each of the members of Lamb of God or God Forbid are untalented just because their respective bands are terrible?
4. Se amo.
Metalsucks, you are wrong… Despite how gay Lostprophets are, Ilan Rubin is a very well rounded and seasoned drummer. I believe he started touring at age 12 or so… Hes pretty ridiculous, go on youtube. Also, while Josh Freese is undeniably amazing, Ilan Rubin will def. hold it down for whatever Trent requires.
even metalsucks can be wrong.
the guy’s a good drummer.
Lostprophet’s “Start Something” was a decent album. Nothing amazing, but okay.
And regardless of whether they suck or not they are not “Emo”. I expected more from this site than resorting to metalhead standard defense of calling everything they dislike “Emo”. It’s equivalent to the red scare and its absolute bullshit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpqlyvKLPg&feature=related
Ok. I dug this site for like a week. You guys do stories on some really gay fucking shit, though. Fuck NIN. Who gives a fuck? Have they released anything that’s worth a dick in the last 5 years? Talk about metal, you faggots. Not shitty fucking radio techno/rock/garbage.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Rubin is a better drummer than Freese. Yeah, I know, I’m fucking crazy, but let’s talk in 6 months.
these are the kind of posts that make me hate this fucking site. take your head out of your ass.
# Jesse Says:
November 17th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Is it wrong to say the drummer for a band that has a lot of samples and drum loops is one of the best rock drummers out there?
I guess if he can make himself stand out amongst the technology there’s something to be said, but the one of the best? Seriously?
—
you know hes been in other bands, like this little band called a perfect circle, might want to check them out sometime
Reznor won’t let just anybody fuck up his baby. If the kid can’t play, he won’t last. I just saw NIN a week ago, Rubin has his work cut out for him.
mike’s calling you guys faggots yet wants to fuck NIN? poor confused metal fans these days..
Mike is obviously upset over the fact that his mother bit off his dick while his dad was busy tossing his salad. Poor Mike.
I’m pretty sure he’s well prepared
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpqlyvKLPg
obviously he has the skill. Of course he won’t top freese, but I believe he has the skill to pull off the NIN stuff.
wow. NIN = one of the worst bands of all time. Honestly I would rather roll up a big ball of feces produced by fall out boy, blink 182 and britney spears and then sprinkle a gallon of elephant goo on it and feast on every last bit of it rather than listen to anything ever produced by that shitty, no talent, slit my wrists, weird ass goth techno crap. Oh yea Ilan Rubin has mad skills.
Funny to mention that alanis song. She also had in her band at that time Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the foo fighters..
He’s a very good drummer – what’s the problem?
What a fucking moronic editorial. Freese is a great drummer and he recorded with more shitty pop acts than anybody else, including Mr. Clay Aiken himself. Does that make him a shitty drummer? Ilan Rubin was 17 when he took the Lostprophets gig, which was a career move for him. Turns out, it was the right decision, because Reznor saw him play with that band and Reading and Leeds. Now he’s making another career move. Not only is he a great drummer; but he’s smart, having landed one of the top gigs on the planet. Reznor is no fool and he wouldn’t hire someone on the spot if he wasn’t totally blown away.
I AGREE TOTALLY! The kid can’t play! I’m angry over this stupid little mistake.
Well, I guess Rosenberg has proven what a moron he is. Rubin has absolutely “nailed” it as NIN’s new drummer.