IF YOU NEVER SAW NINE INCH NAILS LIVE BEFORE, YOU MAY HAVE BLOWN IT
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 8:46am by Axl Rosenberg
A Nine Inch Nails live show is, truly, something to behold. It won’t shock anyone that Trent Reznor puts a massive amount of attention and care into his concerts; not just in the selection of the set list, but in terms of the stage show, the lighting, the on-screen visuals, etc. You could argue that Reznor is over-compensating for the fact that his band requires samples and drum loops as much as they require excellent musicianship, but attending a NIN gig is never just going to see another concert; it’s going to have an experience. And Reznor always makes sure that his fans get their money’s worth.
But now those evil Viacom bastards are reporting that Reznor is retiring from the stage:
“It just dawned on me that this is our last show ever in the United States,” Reznor told the crowd [at Bonnaroo], according to The Associated Press. “Don’t be sad. I’ll keep going. But I think I’m going to lose my … mind if I keep doing this, and I have to stop.”
Now, maybe I’m just in the “denial” stage of grief, but I don’t quite believe this statement of intent. Do I think that NIN will go on hiatus for awhile? Sure. It seems like Reznor’s been working pretty much non-stop for the past four or five years, so the dude deserves a vacation. But it’s hard for me to imagine that he’s really gonna stop playing live.
That being said… if Reznor does end his live show, that he also effectively ends the employment of his band members, who, with a few notable exceptions, generally do not contribute to his studio recordings. And while I’m sure Reznor has squillions and squillions of dollars to sleep atop, I doubt that the kid who left Lostprophets to join NIN has such a cushy situation.
In other news, look for Robin Finck to re-join Guns N’ Roses any second now.
-AR
I think they’ll be back. Trent is an eccentric fucker though…who knows what lies ahead. So who won the Flight 666 DVD? Anybody? Anybody at all?
I’m glad I got to see him/them one last time if that’s the case. Surely a few years down the line, NIN will tour again. Til then, I can’t wait to see how else he moves forward, particularly if the “Year Zero” TV show gets off the ground.
I have to agree, I’m not a huge NIN fan, but they do throw one of the best live shows. I can’t imagine he’d stop touring permanently, but a long break wouldn’t surprise me.
Might be good to note he said “our last show ever in the United States” not last show, granted I live in the US so still doesn’t do me much good.
That’s because they are touring in Europe next month, so they’ll probably finish touring after they’ve done those dates.
He said last show in the US because he has an international tour for the rest of the year. Also, it’s worth mentioning that Reznor does not have squillions of dollars to sleep on top of. When he was high his manager pretty much took his money.
Robin Finck is sticking with him for at least the remainder of the worldwide tour. Because he’s not Wes Borland.
I’m glad he’s going. I”m so tired of his crap. Maybe now I can sit back and enjoy their music and not worry about the next stupid thing Reznor is going to say. What an idiot with a superiority complex.
Maybe he just thinks the United States are going to fall apart and will be no more or some retarded shit like that.
Retarded? I’ve heard worse theories…
he might have a superiority complex but u cant deny he puts on amazing shows ive seen him 3 times in my life saw him when i was 8 saw him when i was 15 (with teeth) and i saw him for the year zero tour each show was an amazing work of musical art i would hope he doesnt stop touring one of the most brilliant people i ever seen perform next to a pink floyd concert
Glad to hear you had teeth when you were 15. You kids mature so fast these days.
HAHAHAHA! Fucking classic
Ya what the fuck does that mean?! u didnt have teeth at 8 but u did at fifteen?
(it was a NIN album name)
i lawled.
So retarded, I had to laugh.
fuckin trolls :] that was the tour for the east coast if i recall
I know it was a NIN album/tour, I just thought it was funny the way you wrote it.
I was so disgusted, I worked at Bonnaroo this week,I worked wednesday,thursday,friday and sunday. I only got passes for the days i worked. Notice I left saturday off of mylist of days I worked which was the day NIN was on the schedule so I had to miss it and I wanted to destroy people. Dillenger Escape Plan came up on stage and joined up again as a surprise guest. I did get to see High On Fire come out and lay some destruction on hippy land though. Shaddows Fall sounded killer as well. Bonnaroo is getting way more metal friendly. But yeah, iw as very much disgusted I had to miss that NIN set.
Shit, I had two great chances to see them in the past year and a half or whatever and I blew it.
Trent Reznor is in his 40’s, so I kind of believe that he won’t tour the US again, although I don’t want to…
why the fuck is this news everywhere? he has been saying for months and months and months that this was going to be the last NIN tour for a while, so logically the last date of that tour would be, surprise surprise, THEIR LAST SHOW “EVER”. which it wont be. they will be back in a year or two im sure.
I’m pretty sure he announced this was the last chance to see NIN live some time ago. They are amazing live and one of my favourite bands full stop. However it would be nice if a band left us wanting more for a change rather than flogging a dead horse until we’re sick of the sight of them.
I love NIN but why are they always reported on on a metal site? I wouldn’t really consider them metal. not to open a can of worms as they are hard to put in any particular genre; but metal wouldn’t really be my first choice..
Because Trent Reznor is the coolest motherfucker in the music industry, of course.
I’m really surprised this is only being reported now, I heard about this a good while ago. Either way I’m seeing NIN on the 12th of july, thankfully.
Kind of old news, but it still sucks if it is true. I went to the NIN/JA show last week and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Street Sweeper Social Club was a’ight, NIN was great as always, and it was fun to see Perry Farrell drunkenly stumble around on stage. Good times.
Um…go to tour.nin.com. Note the big “Wave Goodbye” icon at the top of the screen and the big “1989-2009″ icon at the bottom of the screen, after the last run of tour dates (Europe/Asia). Yes, he’s walking away.
I saw them live twice – once in 1991, at Lollapalooza, and once on the Fragile 2.0 tour in 2000, at the NYC show where Marilyn Manson came onstage to sing “Starfuckers Inc.” with him. Actually, truth be told, I kinda saw them one and a half times, because I was in line for pizza while they were doing their Lollapalooza set so all I could see was a huge cloud of dry ice wafting across the grass. But the NYC show in 2000 was really good.
Oh, and he came onstage with the Revolting Cocks when I saw them in 1990. He sang “Supernaut,” dove into the crowd, and got his ass kicked. If I’m not mistaken he was only wearing one shoe when he got back onstage. That was quite a night.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO*gasp*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vadercoaster.ytmnd.com
Good thing i’m seeing them at at Sonisphere! I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that although he’s going to stop touring with NIN they’ll be around in ‘one form or another’.
Ask yourself: is The Fragile or With Teeth anywhere near the Downward Spiral?
Maybe he’s going to hang up NIN and do something else? Birds of Paradise reunion? Wouldn’t that be better for everyone anyways? Doesn’t everyone prefer the young and thin Robert Smith to Fat Bob?
Old man winter isn’t just saying this to start a flame war…or am I?
Saw him at Jones Beach recently. Was pissed my friend made me pay for a $100 ticket. Worth every penny. Amazing to see him work. Music was great. Set list spanned most albums and some rarities. Have been a fan since “89. Have seen him a few times. Has never sounded better or looked to be enjoying himself so much. Simple show, based around music, not effects and visuals. Fan of Janes also. Didn’t even need tp see them. Would have been satisfied if I went home after NIN, although welcome back Janes, they were great also. Hopefully Trent will stay healthy and be around making music forever. Your mancrush on Reznor is worth all the gayness you bring upon yourselves. And Streetsweeper….WTF?????
He’s said that this is the last NIN “for a while.” Now, what the hell that means is anyone’s guess.
I heard about this, I’m pissed. No more US touring. At least he’s still making music.
shit no more touring, Ive been wanting to see NIN for years but they never came to N.Y.