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→The Early Years
===The Early Years===
{{see also|:Category:Early bands}}
Reznor graduated from high school in 1983 and went on to study production at Allegheny College. It was around this time that he joined his first "real" band, [[Option 30]]. They became popular in the college scene in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio but Reznor clearly wanted to get out and see more. After a year in college, Reznor dropped out of school and left Option 30. He was offered a job as a salesperson at a specialty keyboard and pro audio shop, Pi Keyboards and Audio, in Cleveland and moved there. While working there, he met Bart Koster, who was building a new recording studio, Right Track Studios. Koster was impressed with Reznor's skills and offered him a job as a studio technician before he even moved into the building. In Cleveland, Reznor also reconnected with [[Chris Vrenna]], whom he knew had met in 1985 when Vrenna bought a piece of gear from high school, and they became roommateshim. The day jobs helped Reznor pay the bills but, like in Pennsylvania, he became active in Cleveland's music scene.
Reznor's first band in Cleveland was a cover band called [[The Urge]]. This band drew crowds and Reznor got some recognition. When he left the band months later they lost much of their audience. Reznor briefly re-joined before parting ways again shortly thereafter. In 1985, he joined [[The Innocent]] as a keyboardist, but left the band after three months. In 1986, he joined the [[Exotic Birds]] as a keyboardist and back-up vocalist with [[Andy Kubiszewski]] (who would later join [[Stabbing Westward]]) and, at one point, Vrenna. The Exotic Birds received some national attention after playing a few gigs with the Culture Club, but Reznor's tenure with them would not last. This was followed by keyboardist positions in [[Slam Bamboo]] and [[Lucky Pierre]]. But all the while, Reznor wanted to be able to do his own music and be his own musician.