Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. The band's live performances contrast with its in-studio counterpart; although Reznor is in complete creative control of Nine Inch Nails in-studio, he typically assembles groups of backing musicians to interpret songs for live performances. The current lineup features Reznor and keyboardist Atticus Ross (an official member since 2016 and session contributor since 2004), alongside touring members guitarist Robin Finck (who first joined in 1994), bassist Alessandro Cortini (who first joined in 2005), and drummer Ilan Rubin (who first joined in 2008). Although band members typically have a defined main role, many of them are multi-instrumentalists during performances.
History
Nine Inch Nails was founded by multi-instrumentalist Trent Reznor in 1988. The band's first tour was in support of Skinny Puppy that same year. The band's initial lineup included Reznor on vocals and guitar, Chris Vrenna on keyboards, programming, and percussion, and Ron Musarra on drums. These shows were not very well received and Nine Inch Nails departed after only a handful of dates. For the next tour, which started in late 1989, Musarra was replaced on drums by Vrenna, and the lineup was expanded with guitarist Richard Patrick and a new keyboardist. The first keyboardist was designer Gary Talpas, though he was soon replaced by Nick Rushe, and then by David Haymes in January 1990. Lee Mars replaced Haymes on keyboards later on in 1990.
Vrenna departed halfway through a tour in 1990, and he was replaced by Jeff Ward. For the 1991 Lollapalooza tour, the band was joined by James Woolley, replacing Mars on keyboards. Vrenna returned on drums in 1992. In 1994, for the Self Destruct Tour, Danny Lohner and Robin Finck replaced Patrick as new bassist and guitarist respectively (although both members handled other instruments as well). Charlie Clouser also replaced Woolley as keyboardist by December 1994. After Finck's departure in early 1996, Prick founder Kevin McMahon filled in as guitarist for a handful of dates in 1996. Vrenna departed the band at the end of 1996.
For nearly three years, the band was restricted to the studio, until 1999's Fragility Tour. At that point, Jerome Dillon joined as Vrenna's replacement on drums, alongside a returning Finck on guitar. Afterwards, Nine Inch Nails didn't play live until 2005 when they embarked on the Live: With Teeth Tour. The lineup featured Reznor and Dillon, in addition to new members Aaron North on guitar, Jeordie White on bass, and Alessandro Cortini on keyboards. During the band's first arena tour in the US, Dillon was forced to leave the band due to a medical condition, and he was briefly replaced by Josh Freese, and then by Alex Carapetis. Freese later returned as the band's permanent drummer in 2005. After the tour for the Year Zero album concluded in 2007, both White and North departed.
For the Lights in the Sky Tour in 2008, Finck rejoined the band on guitar, and Rich Fownes was announced for bass; however, Fownes was replaced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen before the tour began. Freese departed at the end of a North American tour in 2008, and he was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Ilan Rubin. Cortini also departed at the end of the 2008 tour, and his position was not replaced; thus, Nine Inch Nails performed as a four-piece ensemble for the first time since 1991. Following the conclusion of the tour in 2009, the band entered an extended hiatus.
Nine Inch Nails returned to a live setting in 2013, announcing a tour for 2013 with new members Eric Avery (bass), Adrian Belew (guitar), and Josh Eustis (keyboards/guitar). Rubin and Cortini also returned on drums and keyboards respectively. Before the tour commenced, both Avery and Belew departed due to various reasons. They were replaced by Eustis moving onto bass and the again returning Finck on guitar. Later in 2013, the lineup was expanded to include bassist Pino Palladino and backing vocalists Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson. The eight-person live band represented the group's largest lineup since its formation.
The lineup dropped back to four members in 2014 with Reznor, Finck, Cortini, and Rubin embarking on a world tour. This lineup continued until studio collaborator Atticus Ross joined Reznor as an official member of the group in 2016. Due to Ross's inclusion as keyboardist, Cortini transitioned into primarily playing bass and guitar. The lineup of Reznor, Finck, Cortini, Rubin, and Ross has remained unchanged since 2016, making it the most stable configuration in the band's history.
Official members
Touring musicians
Current
Former
Abridged live musicians
Timeline
Line-ups
See also
- Nine Inch Nails live performances
- List of Nine Inch Nails tours
Notes
References
