Trent Reznor announces tour with Jane’s Addiction and NIN’s impending end.
February 17th, 2009 by Leilani Polk in News
Yesterday afternoon, Trent Reznor posted a note to the Nine Inch Nails forum announcing a forthcoming co-headlining tour with Jane’s Addiction while reflecting on the band’s past, present, and future as they approach the 20th anniversary of their first official releases. In his note, he casually drops the fanbomb, revealing Nine Inch Nails’ plans to “disappear for a while” the idea being that, like so many bands before who’ve called it quits while seemingly at their prime, they’ll go out guns blazing, before they can get old and stale. Reznor does more than imply that the upcoming world tour could very well be NIN’s last.
Here’s his note:
Towards the beginning of my career in Nine Inch Nails, our biggest break came in the form of an invitation to perform a series of shows with Jane’s Addiction. These performances essentially created and defined the term “alternative” rock in the US, created an ongoing festival franchise that is still thriving (Lollapalooza), set the stage for Nirvana to shift popular taste a few months later, and were really fucking FUN to play and attend – truly the best times I’ve had. The shows were epic. So epic, they propelled NIN to the “next level” (whatever that means), but caused Jane’s to implode. The band broke up at the end of that tour. Fast forward to the present. Corporate rock STILL sucks. A friend tells me they saw the original Jane’s lineup play a tiny show in LA that was unbelievable. I break out my Jane’s records and am amazed by how vital they sound. These guys were the real deal and in this current climate mostly dominated by poseurs and pussies it was refreshing to hear something that sounded dangerous, volatile, beautiful and SINCERE. Emails were sent, phone calls were made, dinner was arranged, ideas were discussed and the next thing I know we’re in the studio experimenting. We laugh, we get to know each other, we cry, we yell, we almost quit, we record LOTS of guitar solos, we discuss, we actually begin to all communicate, we yell some more, we become FRIENDS, we laugh again and we do some great things. I get to see first hand why they broke up all those years ago but I also get the chance to see four distinct personalities that become an INCREDIBLE band when they’re in the same room. In NIN world, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of our first releases. I’ve been thinking for some time now it’s time to make NIN disappear for a while. Last year’s “Lights in the Sky” tour was something I’m quite proud of and seems like the culmination of what I could pull off in terms of an elaborate production. It was also quite difficult to pull off technically and physically night after night and left us all a bit dazed. After some thought, we decided to book a last run of shows across the globe this year. The approach to these shows is quite different from last year – much more raw, spontaneous and less scripted. Fun for us and a different way for you to see us and wave goodbye. I reached out to Jane’s to see if they’d want to join us across the US and we all felt it could be a great thing. Will it work? Will it resonate in the marketplace? Who knows. Is there big record label marketing dollars to convince you to attend? Nope. Does it feel right to us and does it seem like it will be fun for us and you? Yes it does. Look for tour dates soon and I hope to see you out there. Trent
February 17th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
the idea being that, like so many bands before who’ve called it quits while seemingly at their prime, they’ll go out guns blazing, before they can get old and stale.
too late…
February 18th, 2009 at 9:35 am
While the news sucks, it’s timely. I saw NIN three times in concert, in ‘94, ‘98 and again in 2002. They seemed to get better and better. You can’t keep that momentum going forever though.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Autopsy4, I’ve heard some real real good things about the last tour and album. Not a fan myself — not of the band’s recent stuff anyway — but I wouldnt say they were old and stale. They were at least trying to do new stuff with the album as far as packaging, the storyline behind the album, all the multi-media supplements and, what I’m told, was a very awesome (over the top) stage show. I know some people aren’t into that, but it doesn’t mean it’s bad.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
and that’s really what I meant by guns blazing. They were very happy with the last tour and I got the feeling they wanted to get out while THEY were still thinking they were good.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
nevermind me…i’m just a bitter old industrial kid from back in the day.