NIN20 Pt. 5: Year Zero, Independence, & The End? Sep 27 '09    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 Mai by Eri Sugai From $4 The Bottom Line NIN Releases Year Zero & Go Indie as Trent Reznor Gives NIN a Nice Send-Off. Part V: Year Zero, Freedom, & The End? (2007-2009) Throughout Nine Inch Nails' storied career, the band's mastermind Trent Reznor went through everything that others have faced that almost makes it a cliche. Still, Reznor somehow survived as the end of 2006 found him sober, content, and in control of his career all over again. After a period where he endured substance abuse, rehab, a near-fatal relapse, another trip to rehab, and betrayal by his now, ex-manager. Reznor was now taking full control of NIN and enjoying himself once again. In late February 2007, Reznor released the live DVD Beside You in Time that chronicled the 2006 U.S. tour with shows from the summer leg of the tour plus music videos and rehearsal clips. The DVD became another success as it marked the end of the With Teeth era. At the same time, Reznor became inspired to make new music again without hesitation as he would embark on another ambitious project. During his summer tour in 2006, Reznor was fiddling around with his laptop computer where he came up with an idea for a new album. Inspired by this new direction and sound collages he was creating, Reznor decided it was time to make another album. In the fall of 2006, Reznor went to work in a rented house that he converted into a in Malibu, California. Co-producing the record with Reznor is Atticus Ross whom Reznor worked with sporadically for years when Ross was a member of 12 Rounds, which was on hiatus in 2006. With longtime collaborator Alan Moulder serving as a mixing engineer, Reznor also called upon Josh Freese to contribute drum tracks along with rapper Saul Williams whose album Reznor was working on sporadically.   With computers and laptops becoming more prominent in music, Reznor decided to reinvent his sound with the use of just a laptop computer, sequencers, and other electronic devices with no guitars. Though Queens of the Stone Age vocalist/guitarist Josh Homme did contribute guitars originally, none of his work made it to the album's final cut though he did invite Reznor to sing backing vocals for a song for the upcoming Queens of the Stone Age album. At the same time, Reznor was contributing vocals to another project for experimental rapper El-P for the song Flyentology for his 2007 album I'll Sleep When You're Dead. During the making of his new album, Reznor decided to explore themes outside of his own world as he recalled at the devastation over Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 and the U.S. government's lack of response. Reznor was also looking at the U.S. government and all that was going on as he wrote lyrics that would eventually become a concept bigger than the album. In his new idea, Reznor thought up of an idea of dystopian America set in 2022. With the album's budget slated for $2 million, Reznor decided to spend a large portion of the money on something that would be unheard of. To promote the album, Reznor contacted the 42 Entertainment company to help conceive an alternate reality game based on the album's concept. So forth, fake websites and other ventures including audio clips were made for the concept of the album. By January 2007, the album was in its mixing stage as Reznor was plotting out more ideas for the concept including a possible sequel for the album and TV program. Pictures from the band's website revealed that Reznor was making a new album along with links to various sites. Then in early February, Reznor announced that he has finished the new album entitled Year Zero with a track listing and a release date. The reaction from fans was a shock since they were already getting used to the idea of waiting every five years for a new album. Less than two weeks after the announcement, a song got leaked on the Internet which revealed to be a new NIN song called My Violent Heart as it was filled with an array of noisy electronics and beats reminiscent of the production style by the Bomb Squad who were famous for their work with Public Enemy. The reaction towards the song from fans was overwhelming positive as the Echoing the Sounds forum became the place for all things relating to Year Zero and its alternate reality game. Within weeks, more tracks were leaked along with the upcoming first single for the album called Survivalism that was released through iTunes in early March with a music video. The video featured the band performing the song with people being spied on that ended with a SWAT team dragging a dead body at the end. Tracks from the album were leaked through other sources as the live band that had consisted of Reznor, Freese, guitarist Aaron North, bassist Jeordie White, and keyboardist Alessandro Cortini was already on tour in Europe. At a show in Barcelona, a USB flash drive was found in a women's bathroom that revealed to be a new track. The game was becoming a hit with fans as buzz for Year Zero was riding high but Reznor was facing problems with the RIAA over the leaked tracks and Interscope records over the album's content. Interscope reluctantly decided to release the album on April 17, 2007 but the entire album along with remixes for Survivalism for its physical single was leaked in early April. Reznor also decided to release multi-track files of the entire album for free so fans can create their own remixes. On April 17, 2007, Year Zero was officially released to the public as a week later, the album debuted at #2 in the album charts. Though the album eventually went near the 500,000 copies mark by the end of the year, it was clear to Interscope and the Universal Music Group that it was not going to be another hit album from NIN. Though Survivalism gave NIN another #1 modern rock hit, the album's lack of commercial potential only began what would be a souring relationship between Reznor and the Universal Music Group. Critical reception for the record was overwhelmingly positive as critics praised the album for its concept as well as a lot of praise for the alternate reality game. Fan reaction was also positive with many believing it to be Reznor's best album since The Downward Spiral. Yet, not everything with Year Zero was going great. Especially in Australia where album prices were very high where the album with a special CD packaging made the album cost more. Hearing complaints from fans in Australia over the pricing of the album, Reznor went to the people at the Universal Music Group demanding lower the album pricing. The meeting went public as Reznor's relationship with Interscope was souring by the minute. The label that had rescued NIN from his bad deal with TVT and gave him freedom and his own label was now becoming another corporation more interested in money than creativity. Even as the label was interfering more over what type of music Reznor should be making and singles as a planned single for Capital G was scrapped into a radio promo release. NIN continued to tour through Europe, Asia, and Australia from the spring and summer of 2007 with the last show of the tour slated for Honolulu, Hawaii as the only U.S. date of the tour. Video clips from the band's YouTube page were released showing the band playing live as it was clear they were more ambitious in their stage while using the laptop as a key instrument. The tour was a success for the most part though Reznor and NIN had some difficult shows in Germany that inspired a hilarious clip where Josh Freese interrupted Reznor during a video diary clip that annoyed Reznor. NIN also took a supporting slot in Dublin for the Foo Fighters as a favor for Dave Grohl. The band also played in places they had never played before including Israel, South Korea, and China to much praise and acclaim. Then as the band arrived to play two shows in Sydney, Australia, that were rescheduled from shows postponed back in May. Reznor learned about the album prices for Year Zero and realized nothing had changed. On the second show in Sydney on September 16, 2007, Reznor made an announcement that shocked the world. Angered over his souring relationship with Interscope, the Universal Music Group, and the entire music industry. Reznor told fans to go right ahead and steal his music and steal them for themselves and share it with friends. A clip of Reznor's announcement was all over the Internet as the music press and music industry was in a state of shock over Reznor's announcement. On September 18, 2007, NIN played Hawaii for the first time in 15 years as Reznor later announced that this show will be the last show with his current incarnation of the live band. Though drummer Josh Freese and keyboardist Alessandro Cortini chose to stay close within the NIN circle. Bassist Jeordie White chose to work on his Goon Moon side project until 2008 when he rejoined Marilyn Manson. Guitarist Aaron North meanwhile, ventured into several projects including the Buddyhead label and gossip website while maintaining contact with the NIN camp. Returning home to Los Angeles, Reznor went to work in compiling a compilation of remix material called Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D. The project would feature contributions from acts like New Order's Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert, Bill Friswell, the Kronos Quartet, Ladytron, Saul Williams, Paul Epsworth, the Faint, Christian Fennesz, Switch, Stefan Goodchild with N'Diaye Rose, Olof Dreijer of the Knife, Interpol, and Cortini's Modwheelmood project. Reznor also put in a fan remix into the record as it was slated for a late November release. Reznor was also finishing up work on Saul Williams' solo album as he was now dealing with Interscope and the Universal Music Group over his public comments in Sydney. The relationship between Reznor and Universal had reached a boiling point as Reznor refused to work with the label. Reznor was also aware that he was facing declining album sales not because of his fans. It is because of the industry as music fans were downloading records illegally and for free while iTunes were selling songs for 99 cents each. With people paying 99 cents a song where Apple takes a cut, label takes a cut, managers and lawyers each take a cut leaving the artist with very little. Reznor knew that the days of record companies were being numbered. Even as major artists from Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, and Hall & Oates were openly criticizing the industry as they chose to go independent in some form. Finally on October 8, 2007 through the official NIN website. Reznor made the official announcement that he and the Universal Group had officially parted ways. Though Reznor would eventually have to release a greatest hits compilation for Interscope some time soon while Universal does own the rights to some of his material and publishing. The release for Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D would be Reznor's final release for the Universal Music Group. Reznor's announcement from the split also unveiled that he would from now on sell his music by himself and through his own terms. It's between Reznor and his fans where there's no middle-man or label to deal with the profits in the middle. Reznor's announcement to split with Universal came at a crucial time for the music industry where a week earlier. The British art rock band Radiohead announced that they were officially done with their affiliation with EMI as they chose to release their new album In Rainbows through their website at a pay-whatever-you-want pricing scheme. The approach Radiohead did for their own album was a success though they made deals with XL Recordings to distribute the album physically while turning to Dave Matthews' ATO Records to handle the U.S. physical distribution through TBD Records. It was a move that surprised everyone as Radiohead was leading the charge in the revolt against the music industry. While Reznor praised Radiohead's album, he was critical over the audio quality of the album as well as pay-what-you-want scheme that Radiohead chose to do. In response to Radiohead's approach, Reznor decided to release the album he made with Saul Williams called The Inevitable Rise & Liberation of NiggyTardust! through the Internet. At a website for the record, Reznor priced the album for free for those wanting the record at the MP3 minimum bit rate at 192 kps while charging that same version for $5 along with the 320kps bit rate and FLAC free-audio lossless. Released on November 1, 2007, the album did get attention for its pricing approach though only 18% of the people who downloaded album paid for it two months after its release. Though Reznor was disheartened that only 18% of the 150,000 people who downloaded record paid for it. The upside was that people did download the record and help spread the word while Williams was happy that at least people are hearing the music. In late November of 2007, Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D was released with a physical version including a DVD-ROM disc filled with multi-track files for fans to create their own remixes. Around the same time, Reznor created a new sub site for fans to release their own remixes on the site while giving away a multitude of audio files including unmastered NIN tracks dating back to The Downward Spiral for fans to remix. Though Reznor did have to deal with Interscope in letting the site go public, he succeeded in letting fans create and share their own remixes. The remix album was also accompanied by a fan-made remix collection called The Limitless Potential just weeks before Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D was released. With Reznor finally settling on his independence and finishing in dealing with the Universal Music Group. It was time to start work on another project as Reznor was still in creative mode. For the new project, Reznor decided to do something he had always to do but was unable due to the Universal Music Group's hesitation over what he wanted. Getting Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder, Reznor decided to create a project that would become his most experimental and challenging record to date. Joining the project is NIN live keyboardist Alessandro Cortini who took on the role of being a programmer, guitarist, and doing other instruments. The idea was to work on a record for 10 weeks, no over-thinking, and doing everything by impulse and emotion. Reznor also decided to get help from a couple of other people on the project. First is Adrian Belew, who had previously contributed guitar work for The Downward Spiral and The Fragile as he worked on the project for several days. The second person Reznor invited is Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione where Reznor gave Viglione the chance to make his own drum kit. For 10 weeks in the fall of 2007, Reznor and his team created a record that would be unlike anything else as it was all driven by improvisation and experimentation. After the recording of the album, Reznor and NIN visual director Rob Sheridan created promotional pictures and artwork to accompany the project with photos from the sessions. On March 2, 2008, Reznor announced through the official NIN website the release of his new project entitled Ghosts I-IV. The resulting project was a 36-track collection of untitled instrumental pieces in four different sections as it was released through the Creative Commons license. Reznor also revealed different formats for the album to be released. The first volume through 320kps MP3 audio bit rate with album cover artwork was available for free along with a free download for the entire album artwork in a 40-page PDF booklet plus wallpapers, avatars, and banners. The entire album digitally was available for $5 in various audio formats including high-quality MP3s, FLAC audio, and Apple Lossless Audio. For the CD version with digital version, the record was priced for $10 with a 16-page booklet while a deluxe version included a DVD-ROM disc with multi-track files for fans to remix and a Blu-Ray disc of the entire album in a 96khz/24bit digital mix that included a hardcover 48-page booklet. The most expensive version of the album was a limited-edition version that included the entire deluxe version plus a 4-LP vinyl version and two-limited edition Giclee prints. 2500 copies of that limited-edition version were all signed by Trent Reznor. When the announcement of Ghosts I-IV was made on March 2, the album became available though traffic proved to be overwhelming as the site nearly crashed the day after its release. Within 30 hours, the limited-edition version of the album sold out netting NIN $750,000 grand while after a week of release. NIN netted more than $1.6 million with over 780,000 transactions. The album marked the first release under Reznor's new label called the Null Corporation though he went to the Red Distribution to release the album physically on April 8, 2008 where the album debuted at #14 in the U.S. album charts. Yet, the success of Ghosts I-IV showed that NIN didn't need the record industry as they can succeed on their own. For Reznor, it was a big deal as he also held film festivals for fans to make clips to tracks from the album while announcing that more volumes of Ghosts will be coming soon. Critical reception for the record was positive though mixed with some felt the record was pretentious and dull. Yet, some thought it was beautiful and challenging while everyone praised the way it was released and presented. Thus, a new rivalry emerged between NIN and Radiohead over the way they marketed and released music through the internet though both bands chose to make it a friendly rivalry. With Ghosts I-IV a big success, Reznor wasn't done as he was ready to make another album. This time, he decided to do a proper NIN release with new songs and material that he worked on for a few months. With help from Alan Moulder and Atticus Ross to co-produce the project with Reznor, Reznor also called in Alessandro Cortini and Josh Freese to work on the project. Also joining the project to play guitar on the album is Robin Finck, who decided to rejoin NIN after a long-stint with Guns N' Roses as the band was completing their long-awaited album Chinese Democracy. For three weeks in Reznor's home studio in April 2008, the band work on ten new tracks all written by Reznor that would ultimately become a brand new album. Later that month, Reznor posted on his website with the words "two weeks" in the same warning he gave fans before the release of Ghosts I-IV. Around the same time, Reznor had just finished mastering a new song that he gave to radio called Discipline. The growling rock track with a dance-rhythm was released on the band's website for free with a message about going to the official website on May 5, 2008. Another song called Echoplex was available for free through the iLike site with the same message. Then on May 5, 2008, Reznor announced the release of the new album called The Slip as he released the record in various audio formats, free of charge. The record received great reviews from critics along with the way it was released as it was clear that NIN was doing things their way and making music. The music itself was a combination of all the things NIN done in the past but in a raw, simpler presentation with a few instrumental pieces. Rehearsals for an upcoming tour was held as Reznor assembled his new live line-up that included Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini, and Josh Freese. To play bass for the tour, Rich Fownes from the touring version of UNKLE was chosen but left after two months of rehearsals. The band found an immediate replacement in one of the most unlikely individuals in Justin Meldal-Johnsen. Known for his work with Beck, Gnarls Barkley, Tori Amos, Air, and several other acts. Meldal-Johnsen was chosen based on his experience and playing in various styles though fans weren't sure since he didn't fit in with the NIN image largely due to his afro and musical background. When NIN announced a limited-edition physical release for The Slip with an accompany DVD of rehearsal clips for July 22. The Chicago-based indie-music site Pitchfork released three clips from the DVD as fans were amazed by the chemistry of the live band as those who doubted Meldal-Johnsen were silenced. In early June, Reznor released a sampler EP to coincide with the announcement of the Lights in the Sky Over North America tour. The EP not only included a NIN song but four tracks from the opening acts of the tour. In the EP were the Toronto-based electro-punk duo Crystal Castles, the U.K. dance-punk band Does It Offend You, Yeah?, the Brooklyn-based noise-punk band A Place to Bury Strangers, and the Atlanta ambient-punk band Deerhunter. The acts Reznor chose along with the L.A. based noise band HEALTH, the British dub artist the Bug, and the Japanese noise band Boris got a lot of attention from the indie music press who praised Reznor for exposing these acts to a broader audience. The Lights in the Sky stage presentation was considered to be one of the most elaborate with lights, multiple curtain screens, hanging LCD lights, and other effects. While the tour was widely praised for its presentation and choice of opening acts, the tour only did modest expectations. During the Ghosts section of the show where the band played behind a curtain with organic instruments, it received mixed reaction from audiences who were more used to the rocking approach of the band. Yet, the reaction towards the visual effects presentation of the show was praised by audiences including a set for Year Zero where the band played in front of the curtain.   After the first leg ended in early September, the band took a break for a month as they did a brief South American tour in early October started the second leg of their North American show in Mexico City. Yet during the South America tour, Josh Freese announced that he was leaving the band at the end of the second leg of the North American tour to devote time for his family. During the North American tour, Reznor held auditions during rehearsals to find a new drummer where in November, he found Freese's replacement in 20-year old drummer Ilan Rubin. Rubin, who had played in bands like Lostprophets and Denver Harbor, was chosen as he had great chemistry with the band as Reznor and Freese were pleased with the new replacement. During the second leg of the tour, Reznor decided to film shows for a DVD project including a show at the House of Blues in Atlantic City on November 6, 2008 with special guest Peter Murphy. With concert films shown in a new 3D format from acts like U2, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers, Reznor got help from Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron and his personal to work on a 3D concert film project. Reznor hoped to make something groundbreaking with the project but ultimately was scrapped due to Reznor's troubles with Interscope who still owned the rights to several of NIN's catalog. In response, Reznor asked fans to film shows for some dates on the tour while ultimately giving away more than several hours worth of footage for fans to create their own DVD. The news over what happened and Reznor giving away footage for free brought more praise to NIN as the Lights in the Sky tour winded down. On December 13, 2008, NIN played the final show of the Lights in the Sky tour in Las Vegas where Reznor announced that the show would be Alessandro Cortini's final performance with the band. Cortini's departure was a shock as he revealed he is leaving to focus on his own projects. With NIN now a four-piece band consisting of Reznor, Finck, Meldal-Johnsen, and new drummer Ilan Rubin. Reznor would be announcing that the upcoming shows and tour for 2009 would be NIN's final live shows for the foreseeable future. The 2009 tour of Australia and New Zealand began in February 2009 as NIN played a stripped-down approach with just guitars, bass, and drums while the whole band did some keyboard work on some tracks. Some of which, weren't performed in years like the title track to The Downward Spiral. After the tour, NIN took a break to start rehearsals for a North American tour in late spring/early summer. On March 3, Reznor made the announcement that the band's last U.S. tour will be with the band that gave NIN their break in Jane's Addiction. Since their 1991 break-up following the first Lollapalooza festival, Jane's Addiction had splintered into factions with vocalist Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins forming Porno for Pyros with some success while guitarist Dave Navarro and bassist Eric Avery formed the short-lived project Deconstruction in 1993. Navarro left Deconstruction to play with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for five years where in 1997, Navarro reunited with Farrell and Perkins for a reunion of sorts as Jane's Addiction with Chili Peppers bassist Flea replacing Avery, who refused to join the reunion. The band reunited without Avery again in 2001 where in 2003, they released a new album called Strays with new bassist Chris Chaney until the band split up again in 2004. In 2008, the classic line-up finally reunited for the first time in 17 years to accept an award from the British publication NME where a reunion was in serious consideration. Dubbed the NIN/JA tour, Reznor also invited Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello to join the tour as an opening act. Morello decided to present his new side project with Coup MC Boots Riley called the Street Sweeper Social Club. Later that March, Reznor released another sampler EP called NIN/JA 2009 Summer Tour EP featuring two songs by the Street Sweeper Social Club, unreleased NIN studio versions of non-LP tracks in Non-Entity and Not So Pretty Now, and two re-recorded songs by Jane's Addiction produced by Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Alan Moulder. With Reznor ready to give NIN a nice send-off, Reznor was also getting attention with interviews about his criticism towards the music industry and artists within the industry. He took shots on artists like Prince and Weezer vocalist Rivers Cuomo over their claim about their unreleased material. Reznor also took shots on former protégé Marilyn Manson for being a lost cause as a dope addict though he hopes he get his life back in control. Reznor was also engaged in a feud with KISS bassist Gene Simmons over Simmons' greediness to take money from his fans with mindless merchandise. Amidst all of these feuds Reznor was involved in, none gained more attention and unlikely humor in Reznor's criticism towards former Soundgarden/Audioslave vocalist Chris Cornell. 2009 saw Chris Cornell shock fans by working on an album with hit-making hip-hop producer Timbaland. The collaboration was slated for a 2008 release but was repeatedly delayed until early spring of 2009 where the album achieved mixed to negative reviews. Reznor commented the new Cornell album through his Twitter account where the man, known for having a dark, tortured persona, showed a humorous side of himself. Cornell was not pleased with Reznor's comments as a feud took place where on April 1, 2009. Reznor created a fake NIN album called Strobe Light which featured fake collaborations with Timbaland, Jay-Z, Fergie, Al Jourgensen, Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow, U2 vocalist Bono, Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin, and Alicia Keys. News over Reznor's April Fool's prank brought much attention from the music press as they found humor over Reznor's criticism towards the current urban music trends of the time. Cornell was not amused as Reznor revealed more about his feelings towards Cornell during the NIN/JA tour in an interview with Chicago music journalists Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot for their SoundOpinions podcast. The interview had Reznor mimicked a music executive telling Cornell what to do to make an album for the pop charts in relation to his own experiences about music executives telling him what to do. The interview brought a lot of amusement from the press and listeners while Reznor also revealed about his time in NIN as things were winding down. The NIN/JA tour began in May as it was also dubbed Wave Goodbye as it was NIN's last major tour for the time being. The tour was a success with NIN playing between the Street Sweeper Social Club and Jane's Addiction as they did a stripped-down show filled with hits and album cuts along with songs they hadn't played live. For the May 10 show in Atlanta, NIN invited Saul Williams for a couple of songs including Williams' own Banged And Blown Through. The tour also was a critical success while more attention was brought to another cause in the tour. Former CNN anchor Veronica de la Cruz asked Reznor to help raise money for her brother Eric, who was ill and in need of a heart transplant but was unable due to the American health care system. NIN along with Jane's Addiction and Street Sweeper Social Club offered packages where fans could pay some amount of money to hang with the band, eat with them, or see them do intimate shows backstage. Though the tour funded more than $800,000, it wasn't enough to save Eric de la Cruz who sadly died on July 7, 2009. Despite the death of Eric de la Cruz, Reznor was praised for his charitable work while getting commendation from government officials for his effort. The North American tour ended in mid-June at the Bonnaroo festival as the band later went to Europe for a series of festival dates that ended in early August that was followed by a small tour of shows in Asia where the 15th in Seoul, South Korea had NIN play their last official international show. On July 7th where Reznor was announcing that NIN will play 11 final shows in New York, Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles in late August and early September for the band's final shows. With four shows in New York City, a festival date in Toronto, two shows in Chicago, and four in Los Angeles with several opening acts including the Danish art-rock band Mew and HEALTH. The tour was mostly done in clubs where the 2nd New York City show at Webster Hall on August 23, 2009 saw thousands of fans see NIN do something they had never done before. The band played The Downward Spiral in its entirety as it caught attention of the press who were amazed about NIN's farewell tour. The last NYC show featured Peter Murphy making an appearances as he also made appearances at the two Chicago shows. September 2, 2009 at the Hollywood Palladium saw NIN play the first of four L.A. shows where the band did The Downward Spiral in its entirety as they also invited Gary Numan as a special guest though Reznor was ill during the show. The last two shows were rescheduled as Reznor recuperated. The second L.A. show on the 6th at the Echoplex featured Numan again while the third show on the 8th at the Henry Fonda Theater saw a plethora of special guests. Aside from Numan, there was former NIN multi-instrumentalist Danny Lohner, David Bowie pianist Mike Garson, opening act HEALTH, Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, and Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato. The band's final show on the 10th at the Wiltern Show saw NIN do a three-hour marathon of 37 songs with Gary Numan, Mike Garson, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Atticus Ross as thousands of fans saw NIN play for the last time for the next several years. After the show, Reznor announced that NIN is done as a touring faction for the time being as he wants to devote time to work more in the studio. With NIN still set to be a studio project for Reznor. It is clear that Reznor will be releasing more new music in the coming years including another volume of Ghosts and a possible sequel to Year Zero with a TV project that is still in the works. On September 21, 2009 on the 10th anniversary of the release of The Fragile, Reznor announced plans for a reissue on the album though no details had been revealed. News also revealed that Reznor is planning to work with Gary Numan for an upcoming album. While Reznor seemed content with his professional life. His personal life was also in the upswing where in May of 2009, he revealed that he's engaged to former West Indian Girl backing vocalist Mariqueen Maandig as they're living in Beverly Hills with two greyhounds. Since the release of their first single back on September 15, 1989, Nine Inch Nails has captivated the music world with their blend of hard rock, chaotic electronic music, and dabbles of pop for something that is unique. Though there had been imitators throughout the years. Nine Inch Nails couldn't be duplicated as with each album, single, and tour, the band has evolved from one thing to another. 20 years later, they're regarded as one of the most influential acts in rock and pop music while Trent Reznor is seen as a visionary in and out of the music world. Though NIN is taking a hiatus as a live band, NIN will continue in the years to come. In 2014, they'll be eligible for induction in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Amidst all of these 20 years, Trent Reznor and NIN has done the impossible in bringing not just industrial music to the masses but kept it viable in new forms throughout the years. At the same time, they remain independent and edgy as some of their alternative rock contemporaries chose to either fade away or sellout to the masses. While a new generation of acts cite NIN as an influence one way or another, it's clear Trent Reznor left a mark in pop music that will be set in stone for an eternity. In the end, for anyone that wants to hear something angry, catchy, emotional, scary, and profound. Nine Inch Nails is the best act to fill all of those things and more. Special Thanks to The NIN Hotline, NINwiki, Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, SPIN, Martin Huxley, Jeremy Dean, Tuck Remington, Tommy Udo, Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot, and Metal Machine Music DVD for their resources in the project. Very Special Thanks to Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor, Robin Finck, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Ilan Rubin, Atticus Ross, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Freese, Jeordie White, Aaron North, Alex Carapetis, Jerome Dillon, Danny Lohner, Charlie Clouser, Chris Vrenna, Richard Patrick, Jeff Ward, and James Wooley along with Alan Moulder, Mark "Flood" Ellis, Bob Ezrin, Rick Rubin, John Fryer, Keith LeBlanc, Adrian Sherwood, Brian Pollock, Leo Herrera, Brian Lisegang, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie, Sean Beaven, and Keith Hillebrandt for their contributions in making Nine Inch Nails the coolest band out there. NIN Reviews: Pretty Hate Machine/Broken Era (1989-1992): halo 1 - halo 2 - halo 3 - halo 4 - halo 5 - halo 6 The Downward Spiral Era (1994-1997): halo 7 - halo 8 - halo 8 DE - halo 9 - halo 10 - halo 11 - halo 12 The Fragile Era (1999-2002): halo 13 - halo 14 - halo 15.1 - halo 15.2 - halo 15.3 - halo 16 - halo 17 DE - halo 17 DVD With Teeth/Year Zero Era: halo 18 - halo 19 - halo 20 - halo 21 - halo 22 - halo 23 - halo 24 - halo 25 Ghosts I-IV/The Slip Era (2008): halo 26 - halo 27 Soundtracks/Miscellaneous: The Crow - Natural Born Killers - Lost Highway - Nine Inch Nails: Self-Destruct - Tomb Raider - The Limitless Potential - Strobe Light - Metal Machine Music: Nine Inch Nails & the Industrial Uprise - Definitive NIN-Heavy Tracks Promos: seed 1 - seed 2 - seed 3 - seed 4 - seed 5 - seed 6 Live Shows: NIN/Bauhaus/TV on the Radio-6/7/06 Atlanta, GA Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheater - NIN/Deerhunter-8/13/08 Duluth, GA Gwinnett Arena - NIN/Jane's Addiction/Street Sweeper Social Club-5/10/09 Atlanta, GA Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheater Bootlegs: Purest Feeling - When the Whip Comes Down - Live Hate w/ David Bowie - Quake OST - The CRC Sessions - Where Darkness Doubles, Where Light Pours In - Bridge School Concerts 20 NIN Favorites - The Beginner's Guide to NIN NIN20: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

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