Nine Inch Nails

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Nine Inch Nails (photography credits: Rob Sheridan and Tamar Levine)

Nine Inch Nails is the studio name for Trent Reznor, as well as the name of the band hired by him to perform songs while on tour. It is an industrial rock band, and the most recognized one since the genre was introduced.

Nine Inch Nails (commonly abbreviated as NIN) was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1988, and have so far released seven full-length studio albums, seventeen EPs, a number of remix albums, and some live compilations. Reznor is the only official member and has always been solely responsible for the musical direction of the band. His lyrics are largely concerned with the exploration of the self, but with his most recent albums, Year Zero and The Slip, the lyrical focus has shifted somewhat to extrospection. After recording a new album, the assembly of a new band usually follows, along with extensive touring; the live component of Nine Inch Nails is largely considered a separate entity from NIN in the recording studio. NIN's live shows often involve visually spectacular elements such as screens and lighting rigs, which were used on the Self Destruct, Fragility, With Teeth Arena Tours (Fall & Spring) and Performance 2007 tours, and often culminate with the destruction of musical instruments.

Body Of Work

Full-Length Albums

Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
The Downward Spiral (1994)
The Fragile (1999)
With Teeth (2005)
Year Zero (2007)
Ghosts I–IV (2008)
The Slip (2008)

EPs & Remix Albums

Broken (1992)
Fixed (1992)
Closer To God (1994)
Further Down The Spiral (1994)
Things Falling Apart (2000)
Still (2002)
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D (2007)

Live Releases

Closure (1997) Music video & Live documentary double VHS set.
And All That Could Have Been (2002) DVD, VHS, CD
Beside You In Time (2007) DVD, HD-DVD, Blu Ray.

Singles

Down In It (1989)
Head Like a Hole (1990)
Sin (1990)
Wish (1992)
Happiness In Slavery (1992)
March of the Pigs (1994)
Closer (1994)
Burn (1994)
Hurt (1994)
Piggy (1994)
The Perfect Drug (1997)
The Day The World Went Away (1999)
We're In This Together (1999)
Into The Void (1999)
Starfuckers, Inc. (2000)
Deep (2001)
The Hand That Feeds (2005)
Only (2005)
Every Day Is Exactly The Same (2006)
Survivalism (2007)
Capital G (2007)
Discipline (2008)

Members

Trent Reznor

Live Band Members

Robin Finck (1994–1995, 1999–2000, 2008– )
Justin Meldal-Johnsen (2008– )
Ilan Rubin (2009– )

Former Members

Guitar

Ralf Dietel Replaced by Aaron North at the last minute. Never played a live show with them.
Kevin McMahon (Nights Of Nothing, 1996)
Richard Patrick (1989–1993)
Aaron North (2005–2007)

Bass

Rich Fownes (2008, studio only, never made it to the road replaced by Meldal-Johnsen)
Danny Lohner (1994–2003)
Jeordie White (2005–2007)

Keyboards

Charlie Clouser (1994–2001)
Alessandro Cortini (2004–2008)
David Haymes (1990)
Brian Liesegang Replacement for a few nights when Mars was out drunk. Helped in the studio during Broken when Woolley was gone.
Nick Rushe (1990)
Lee Mars (1990-1991)
James Woolley (1991–1994)
Chris Vrenna (1988–1997)
Gary Talpas (1988) First live keyboardist on first Pretty Hate Machine tour, (only a few shows). Then he became the art director instead and was replaced by Rushe.
Keith Hillebrandt (1998-2001) Studio member, song writing credits, was planned to be part of a multiple-keyboardist setup for the live band Trent originally planned. The Fragile took a different route sonically though, even after planning this and Keith didnt play live. However he did replace Clouser during the CRC sessions when the band played live in 2000. Was listed as full band member on the Afraid Of Americans remix along with Reznor, Lohner, Clouser and, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie.
Dave "Rave" Ogilvie (1997-1999) See Keith above.

Drums

Alex Carapetis (2005)
Jerome Dillon (1999–2005)
Josh Freese (2005–2008)
Ron Musarra (1988)
Chris Vrenna (1988–1997)
Jeff Ward (1991)

Other

Sean Beaven Backup vocals from mixing console Self Destruct and Hate Machine tours
Martin Atkins Drums(1991–1992), studio only, planned to be live, but then Vrenna came back. Was that second drummer in the Head Like A Hole video.
Wes Borland Guitar (Replaced by Aaron North from further auditions, 2004)
Richard Fortus-serious consideration for guitarist in the 2005 auditions
Mike Tempesta-serious consideration for guitarist in the 2005 auditions
Atticus Ross-Safe to say Trent would have probably easily given him a keyboardist role, or guitarist role long ago, but Atticus probably was not interested. Showed up as a guest keyboardist on a few songs for a few of the last live shows.
Tim NeimiAdditional synth design on Pretty Hate Machine