Reznor recorded the band's debut album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989), while working overnight as a janitor at a Cleveland recording studio. After feuding with the label TVT Records about promotion, Reznor signed with Interscope Records and released the EP Broken (1992). The following albums, The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999), were released to critical acclaim and commercial success.
Reznor chose the name "Nine Inch Nails" because it "abbreviated easily" rather than for "any literal meaning". Other rumored explanations have circulated, alleging that Reznor chose to reference Jesus' crucifixion with nine-inch spikes, or Freddy Krueger's nine-inch fingernails. The English letters NIN are also noted for their resemblance to the modern Hebrew characters of the Tetragrammaton. The Nine Inch Nails logo first appeared on the music video for their debut single, "Down in It". The logo was designed by Reznor and Gary Talpas, inspired by Tibor Kalman's typography on the Talking Heads album Remain in Light. Talpas, a native of Cleveland, continued to design Nine Inch Nails packaging until 1997.
Following a hiatus, Nine Inch Nails resumed touring in 2005 and released their fourth album, With Teeth (2005). Following the release of Year Zero (2007), Reznor left Interscope after a feud. Nine Inch Nails continued touring and independently released Ghosts I–IV (2008) and The Slip (2008) before a second hiatus. Their eighth album, Hesitation Marks (2013), was followed by a trilogy consisting of the EPs Not the Actual Events (2016) and Add Violence (2017) and their ninth album Bad Witch (2018). In 2020, Nine Inch Nails released two further installments in the Ghosts series, Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts.
Reznor and Ross typically assemble a live band to perform with them. Not including sporadic band hiatuses, the band has varied over the decades, with the most recent lineup consisting of Robin Finck (initially joined in 1994), Alessandro Cortini (initially joined in 2005), and Ilan Rubin (initially joined in 2009). Nine Inch Nails concerts since 2005 often employ thematic visual elements, extensive use of special effects, and elaborate light shows; songs are often rearranged for performance, and elements of songs that are not scheduled to be performed in their entirety are occasionally assimilated into other songs.
Nine Inch Nails have sold over 20 million records and have been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning for the songs "Wish" (1992) and "Happiness in Slavery" (1996). In 1997, Time named Reznor one of the most influential people, and Spin has described him as "the most vital artist in music". In 2004, Rolling Stone placed Nine Inch Nails at No. 94 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 (their first year of eligibility), nominated again in 2015, and were inducted in 2020.
Nine Inch Nails has issued eight major albums, which have generally received both critical and commercial acclaim. Historically, NIN releases have been assigned a "Halo" index number. For example, the album 'With Teeth' is also known as Halo 19. With the inclusion of the 'Broken' EP, the band's primary releases are:
1. 'Pretty Hate Machine' (1989)
2. 'Broken' EP (1992)
3. 'The Downward Spiral' (1994)
4. 'The Fragile (Left)' / ''The Fragile (Right)' (1999)
5. 'With Teeth' (2005)
6. 'Year Zero' (2007)
7. 'Ghosts I-IV' (2008)
8. 'The Slip' (2008)
9. 'Hesitation Marks' (2013)
10. 'Not the Actual Events' EP (2016)
11. 'Add Violence' EP (2017)
12. 'Bad Witch' (2018)
13. 'Ghosts V: Together' (2020)
14. 'Ghosts VI: Locusts' (2020)
Nine Inch Nails has also produced a number of EP's, remixes, and provided contributions to various movie soundtracks, including 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider', 'The Crow', 'Natural Born Killers', 'Lost Highway', and 'Tetsuo: The Bullet Man'. Trent Reznor additionally provided the soundtrack for the massively popular id Software game Quake, a release inspired by ambient music. His team up with Atticus Ross resulted in the critically praised soundtrack to the film 'The Social Network', with the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross duo winning an Oscar for Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards
In 2002, a live album (their second live release, the first being the video 'Closure Documentary') entitled 'And All That Could Have Been' was released on DVD & CD. The Deluxe version of the CD came packaged with a mini album called 'Still'. That release featured several previously released songs in a stripped down, near-acoustic format along with several other new compositions.
Nine Inch Nails as a live band is generally understood to be a separate entity from its recording studio-based component. Occasionally, past band members are invited to participate in the process when not directly involved with recording new material, Nine Inch Nails' lineup tends to change drastically between major tours. Aside from Trent Reznor remaining on lead vocals, nothing about the live band has remained constant since its inception. Reznor cited the long gestation period between studio albums as part of the reason for these frequent personnel changes.
Beginning in late 2005, the live band featured Aaron North on guitar, Jeordie White on bass guitar, Alessandro Cortini on keyboards, and Josh Freese on drums, though all occasionally performed with different instruments. This lineup toured Europe, Asia, Australia, and America through 2007. Trent Reznor reported that he would disband the "rock band configuration" of his touring lineup after their concert in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 18, 2007, and would explore other means to perform Nine Inch Nails material on subsequent tours. Despite this claim he has regained the rock group lineup for the 'Lights In The Sky Over...' tours with Robin Finck returning on guitar and Justin Meldal-Johnsen of Beck and other projects accompanying Cortini and Freese.
Past live band members include (listed chronologically):
* Ron Musarra: Drums, Samplers
* Chris Vrenna: Keyboards, Samplers, Drums
* Richard Patrick: Guitar
* Jeff Ward: Drums
* David Haymes: Keyboards
* Nick Rushe: Keyboards
* Lee Mars: Keyboards
* James Woolley: Keyboards
* Robin Finck: Guitar, Synthesizer
* Danny Lohner: Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer
* Charlie Clouser: Synthesizer, Drums on 5 songs during the Dissonance side of David Bowie's Outside tour, Theremin
* Sean Beavan: Soundboard, Backing vocals on 5 songs
* Jerome Dillon: Drums
* Alex Carapetis: Drums
* Ilan Rubin: Drums
The September 14, 2007 edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported that the September 18 show in Honolulu, Hawaii would be the last performance of the current incarnation of the Nine Inch Nails live band. Trent Reznor was quoted as stating, "at this point, I want to switch things around a bit. Nine Inch Nails as a rock band configuration, we've done it and we've done it again. I see other ways I can present the material in concert, more challenging, something new. I don't want it to go stale."
A DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD of live material from the 2006 With Teeth tour was released in late February 2007 entitled Nine Inch Nails Live: Beside You In Time. All three formats include 24 songs from the summer and winter 2006 tours, plus bonus material.
Information about Nine Inch Nails concerts can be found on the NIN website.
Ghosts I-IV was released on March 2, 2008. It contains 36 instrumental tracks and was recorded in ten weeks of fall 2007. Initially intended to be a five-track EP, the album is presented in the form of four nine-track EPs. The tracks do not have names, and are only identified by their track listing and position on the EPs. Ghosts I-IV also adds to the recent experimentation with digital distribution; the album is available in many different ways, including a digital download, for purchase or (partially) free, a CD set, and a deluxe edition set.
The eighth album called "The Slip" was officially released on May 5, 2008. The whole album can be downloaded for free from this website: Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
On February 16th 2009, Trent announced that he would begin his last tour. Nine Inch Nails would indefinitely end. However, it is not likely that this is the end of his music career. In his letter, he hinted that he may do something with Jane's Addiction. In addition, Reznor has said outright in an interview on the official website that he is not done making music as Nine Inch Nails, but that he is done touring.
Trivia:
* Trent Reznor has worked with several big names in musical collaboration outside of NIN in recent years, including time rocker artist David Bowie, Maynard James Keenan of Tool, Zach de La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, Josh Wink, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, slam poet Saul Williams, hip-hop producer Puff Daddy & The Family, Peter Gabriel, Henry Rollins and more recently, hip-hop producer El-P and Queens of the Stone Age.
* Contrary to popular belief, Suck is technically a cover and not an original. The song was originally performed by the band Pigface on the album Gub (1991), a band which Trent worked with in the past. Trent is given vocal and writing credits and the song was later re-recorded for the Broken EP (1992) as a hidden track .
* Legendary country star Johnny Cash covered Hurt on the album The Man Comes Around.
* NIN along with Marilyn Manson, Maynard James Keenan, Phil Anselmo and other artists worked together to produce the Tapeworm Project, a side project that existed from the mid-1990s through to 2004.
Starfuckers Inc
Nine Inch Nails Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My god comes in a wrapper of cellophane
My god pouts on the cover of the magazine
My god's a shallow little bitch trying to make the scene
I have arrived and this time you should believe the hype
I listened to everyone, now I know that everyone was right
I'll be there for you as long as it works for me
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers, incorporated
Starfuckers
I am every fucking thing and just a little more
I sold my soul but don't you dare call me a whore
And when I suck you off not a drop will go to waste
It's really not so bad, you know
Once you get past the taste, yeah (ass kisser)
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers, incorporated
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers, incorporated
Starfuckers
All our pain
How did you think we'd get by without you?
You're so vain
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Don't you? Don't you?
Don't you? Don't you?
Don't you? Don't you?
Don't you?
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Starfuckers, incorporated
Starfuckers (starfuckers)
Starfuckers (starfuckers)
Starfuckers
Starfuckers, incorporated
Starfuckers
Starfuckers
Now I belong, I'm one of the chosen ones (starfuckers)
Now I belong, I'm one of the chosen ones (starfuckers)
Now I belong, I'm one of the chosen ones (starfuckers, incorporated)
(Starfuckers) now I belong, I'm one of the beautiful ones (starfuckers, starfuckers, incorporated)
"Starfuckers, Inc." by Nine Inch Nails is a scathing critique of the entertainment industry, where image trumps talent and shallow people are worshipped as gods. The lyrics portray a narrator who is disgusted by the insincerity, narcissism, and exploitative nature of the industry, but who also feels drawn to it and willing to play the game of insincerity to succeed. The first stanza describes the singer's god, who is not a divine being but a manufactured image that is marketed and consumed like a product. The god is portrayed as shallow and attention-seeking, pouting on magazine covers and riding in limousines. The singer seems to be mocking the superficiality of the god and the people who worship it, implying that they are "starfuckers" who will do anything to be associated with fame and success.
The second stanza switches to the singer's perspective, where he claims to have arrived and achieved his own fame and success. He acknowledges that he played along with the system and listened to everyone's advice, but now he is the one being worshipped. He promises to be there for his fans as long as it suits his interests, and admits that he plays a game of insincerity. The repeated refrain of "Starfuckers" emphasizes the theme of people using others for their own gain and elevating themselves by associating with higher-status people.
Line by Line Meaning
My god sits in the back of the limousine
My idol is someone who is extremely wealthy and rides at the back of a limousine.
My god comes in a wrapper of cellophane
My icon is usually advertised in glossy magazine covers or posters wrapped in shiny material.
My god pouts on the cover of the magazine
My deity is often seen posing for publicity photos with a sulky or sexy expression on his/her face.
My god is a shallow little bitch trying to make a scene
My role model is a superficial, attention-seeking person who craves public attention and admiration, even at the cost of being obnoxious.
I have arrived and this time you should believe the hype
I have become incredibly successful, and people should pay attention to the hype surrounding me and my career.
I listened to everyone now I know that everyone was right
I used to doubt my ideas and choices, but now that I'm successful, I realize that everyone was right to support me all along.
I'll be there for you as long as it works for me
I will support you only if it benefits me in some way.
I play a game it's called insincerity
I pretend to be genuine, but I'm actually only playing a game of deception and manipulation.
I am every fucking thing and just a little more
I am the epitome of greatness, and I am even better than what people think.
I sold my soul but don't you dare call me a whore
I compromised my integrity and values for success, but I won't tolerate being called a whore.
And when I suck you off not a drop will go to waste
When I use my charm or sexuality to manipulate someone, I make sure it benefits me completely.
It's really not so bad you know once you get past the taste, yeah (asskisser)
The experience of using someone to get ahead isn't that unpleasant, once you learn how to swallow your pride and take on a subservient role to flatter others.
All our pain
Referring to the pain of the band's members or similar celebrities.
How did you think we'd get by without you?
People underestimate how important we are to them and the music industry.
You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you
You are so conceited that you believe this song is directly targeting you.
Now I belong, I'm one of the chosen ones
I have finally made it to the top and am now considered one of the few elite in the industry.
Now I belong, I'm one of the beautiful ones
I am now part of an exclusive group of people that are recognized and celebrated for their looks and talents.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Trent Reznor, Carly Simon, Charles Clouser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@comput3rdemos809
You understand he is friends with David Lynch and did a song for the lost highway soundtrack, right? And you obviously haven't seen Blue Velvet, another of Lynch's films, but observe Dennis Hopper's character Frank Booth.....
Wow, dude... Just fucking WOW!!!!!!!
🕹️
@-maxgomez.1134
He also took a few jabs at Billie Corgan, (which doesn't surprise me, because he and Courtney dated for a brief period of time, as they had fallen in love after years of having partnered together in the creative process for Courtney's band 'Hole', so they had already done frequent collaborative work at that point).
Richard Patrick of Filter had also made a quick cameo in the music video. Although Patrick had also been one of Trent's most trusted friends in the music industry, they parted ways shortly after the creation of Filter, where Patrick has been the vocalist, main programmer and lead guitarist, ever since. As for Manson though, he had also worked with both Richard Patrick and Trent on the NIN track "Gave Up", long before his music, on-stage antics and erratic behavior has skyrocketed him and his music to wide critical acclaim. In an interview that Trent did for Alternative Press, way back in the day pre "Fragile era", Reznor ultimately decided to give the following statement, which not only added insult to injury, but also further damaged what little friendship was left:
'Marylin Manson's a sell-out. He and I just aren't as close as we used to be. Our musical vision has diverged greatly. He was different then, so I expected him to be the same. But that was my mistake. We still talk to each other every now and then, but we've changed, you know? We can't even relate to one another, anymore. Manson, if you're reading this, I want you to know that there are no hard feelings, but I was most certainly hurt. You used to be so lively and enthusiastic, but I doubted you, and for that I'm truly sorry.'
I get it now. Trent was a mentor to him, and the fact that he had sold out and sparred so much controversy in the tabloids had saddened him. Glad to see that they've rekindled their friendship.
I really do hope that this was helpful.
@DementedDistraction
I remember this debuting during my senior year of high school, and I remember seeing on the NIN site that it was going to premiere on MTV...on TRL of all places.
I can remember laughing my ass off after the video finished and they cut to the studio audience, there was just scattered applause and bewildered faces throughout the crowd.
@NeuroticNightmares07
I wish I could find a video of that to rewatch haha
@grungefreak10
Goodness knows this isn't quite the genre of music for TRL. Granted, Korn and Limp Bizkit made that stupid countdown show, but this? Forget about it. The music I'm into isn't mainstream and I accept that.
@paulnelson8287
I started to listen to Marilyn Manson before I got into nine inch nails. Both are very talented artist. Even though this song was about the short feud they had, I think it was awesome how they came together to make this video. They both are still the greatest artist the 90's gave us
@sarahwheeler1980
nah bro i believe its about courtney love
@KaraokeNig
How is this about Courtney?
@imogenimeson664
Richey Edwards is the greatest artist the 90s gave us.
@mrdeclan419
@Bene it is lol.
@ichbinderpaspelverschluss8540
@Bene Reznor confirmed it is about her. Starfucker was coined by Tori Amos in a song supposedly about courtney love. he also said he wrote it because love had meddled in his relationship w Amos
@Nightmike1989
Terrificly awesome track that has been one of my all-time personal favorites from Nine Inch Nails ever, many years have past this remains one of their finest in your face ones, Trent Reznor I think is a true artist in every sense of it.