mod, Administrators
14,199
edits
Changes
→Biography
Reznor was born and raised in the western Pennsylvania town of Mercer in a Lutheran household (although Reznor now states that he believes in God, but has no actual religion). Because he has the same first name as his father, he was called by his middle name to avoid confusion. In late 1970, soon after the birth of his little sister, Tera, Reznor's father left and his parents divorced. Reznor was sent to live with his maternal grandparents, while his infant sister stayed with their mother. Reznor's grandmother decided that the 5-year-old should take classical piano lessons. Over the years he became immersed in music and has been compared to Harry Connick, Jr. by his piano teacher.
By the time Reznor was in high school he discovered horror movies and rock music. KISS and [[David Bowie]] were his heroes. His grandmother considered pulling him out of school so that he could focus on his piano studies full-time, with the hope that he would become a classical pianist. Reznor did not want this and instead became active in Mercer High School's Marching Band, Concert Band, and in theater. He played tenor saxophone and tuba in the school bands, even winning Top Woodwind at one point. He also played Judas in the school's production of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' and landed the title role in ''The Music Man.''.
===The Early Years===
===NIN Begins===
Reznor reworked many of the demos he recorded and even added some new material to his debut album, entitled ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]].'' . After its recording he assembled a small live band, inviting Vrenna to join him as one of his bandmates. This band played some small shows in Cleveland and was eventually invited on the road by [[Skinny Puppy]]. The band would eventually be invited to join the first [[Lollapalooza Tour|Lollapalooza]] tour, where they became one of the most popular bands on the tour.
By the time 1991 rolled around, Reznor was in a miserable state. The label was pressuring him to record more material but was trying to tell him which producers to use and how the material should sound. Reznor wanted out of his contract and secretly recorded an EP in various locations around the country. [[Interscope Records]] came to the rescue, entering into a joint venture with TVT, removing them from the creative process and setting up the vanity record label [[Nothing Records]] for Reznor. The EP, titled ''[[Broken]]'', was released by Interscope and Nothing in 1992 and explained the situation to its buyers.
In 1993, Reznor began the process of recording the second NIN album, ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' . It was recorded in a Beverly Hills mansion-turned-studio dubbed "[[Le Pig]]" that would later be revealed to be the house where actress Sharon Tate and others were murdered by followers of cult leader Charles Manson. Reznor had also befriended a Florida-based shock-rock band, [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]], who would sign to Nothing Records.
===Spiraling Down===
By the end of the touring cycle (known as the [[Self Destruct Touring Cycle|Self-Destruct]] tour), Reznor was miserable. He had sunk into addiction, and pressure from the label to begin work on a follow-up to ''The Downward Spiral'' took its toll. He stepped back for a little while and took time to sort things out.
In 1997, Reznor collaborated with [[David Lynch]] on the soundtrack for ''[[Lost Highway Soundtrack|Lost Highway]]'', which resulted in a new standalone Nine Inch Nails single, ''[[The Perfect Drug (halo)|The Perfect Drug]]''. A home video package entitled ''[[Closure]]'' was also released that year, compiling tour footage from 1994-1995 as well as most of the [[Nine Inch Nails music videos|music videos]] that had been made up to that point. These releases helped to appease fans during the long wait for the next album. It was also during this time that Reznor met future collaborator and NIN member [[Atticus Ross]], while producing an album for Nothing Records act [[12 Rounds]].
===Fragile===
The time between the end of the Self-Destruct tour and the release of ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'' was one of reflection and realization for Reznor. He checked into a Florida rehabilitation center to deal with the drug and alcohol problems that plagued him throughout the last tour. Shortly after completing the program, he received word that his maternal grandmother had died. Reznor was completely devastated by this news and went into counselling to help him deal with his loss. Through this event he managed to write a song that conveyed his emotions and thoughts ("[[I'm Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally]]"). He was back in the studio working on the follow-up to ''The Downward Spiral,'' , which would turn out to be an ambitious, 2-disc epic of soundscapes.
''The Fragile'' was released in September 1999 and debuted at the top of the ''Billboard'' album charts. It soon fell off the charts due to a number of factors. Among them were a lack of marketing from the record label and the sheer length of the album. Reznor decided to celebrate the album's chart debut with a drink, which led to a relapse into drugs and alcohol.
Touring began shortly after the album's release. The [[Fragility]] tour would last a total of 8 eight months and travel the world. During the US tour, Reznor rekindled his friendship with [[Brian Warner]], frontman for the band Marilyn Manson, which had soured in 1997 following the release of the ''Lost Highway Soundtrack.'' . Initially Manson was offered the producer position but Reznor ultimately got it. The friendship was revived in part because of changes in popular music.
As the tour progressed, Reznor's health declined as his addictions got worse. It culminated with a tour stop in London when Reznor overdosed on heroin, mistaking it for cocaine, prompting a long-awaited concert to be cancelled. Citing Reznor's privacy and not wanting to bring about a media firestorm, the band's management explained that another member of the band, new drummer [[Jerome Dillon]], was sick with a stomach flu. After the cancellation, Reznor apologized and explained the situation. He understood that people were angry about it and he stressed that concerts are never cancelled without a valid reason.
The overdose incident was a wake-up call to Reznor, who now could not deny his problems. Worse news came in 2001, almost a year after the Fragility tour ended. While working on a live CD and DVD chronicling the US leg of the tour, a studio technician Reznor befriended was shot and killed in a gang-related crime. Seeing that his addictions had contributed to gang activity, Reznor was determined to get his problems under control. It is a common misnomer that Reznor was addicted to heroin, but he has stated in numerous interviews that he struggled with cocaine and alcohol, and that the heroin use was accidental.
On June 11, 2001, Reznor checked into a New Orleans rehabilitation center and endured a cold-turkey withdrawal experience that makes him shudder to this day. Upon leaving the facility, Reznor was more determined than ever to stay clean and sober. He finished the live set, titled ''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]],'' , and began to focus on other projects. Among his projects were [[Tapeworm]], a collaboration with [[Tool]]/[[A Perfect Circle]] singer [[Maynard James Keenan]], and producing former Rage Against The Machine frontman [[Zack de la Rocha]]'s solo album.
In summer of 2002, Rick Rubin called Reznor in regard to country music legend [[Johnny Cash]] recording a cover of the song "[[Hurt (song)|Hurt]]"." Reznor was honored and okayed the recording since Rubin has done great work with Cash, and it wasn't very likely that "Hurt" would make the cut. In November 2002 Reznor received a CD containing Cash's cover and wasn't sure what to think of it. About four months later he received a DVD containing a music video for the song. Reznor was flattered, honored, and moved to tears by the results.
At a June 2003 meeting with Malm to discuss their joint business affairs, Reznor learned for the first time from the accountant that he had advanced millions of dollars more to the joint companies (which were operating at a loss) than Malm had, with no realistic expectation of those funds being repaid. In September, having concluded that Malm had "run [his] finances into the ground", Reznor hired an outside business management firm for the first time, and based on their findings, fired Malm in December. Malm sued Reznor in April 2004 for $2.2 million in unpaid commissions, and Reznor countersued for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. A New York jury trial in 2005 found Malm liable for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion, and breach of contract, and awarded Reznor a total of $4.62 million in damages and interest. Reznor signed with manager Jim Guerinot at Rebel Waltz.
Reznor encountered a problem in the writing process immediately: he wasn't sure if he could still write music. So he set goals for himself early on: two songs written and demoed every ten days. It was a back-to-basics approach to help him decide if he could write music while clean and sober. The demo process was very stripped-down, consisting of a drum machine, a piano, a microphone, and a computer. From those demos, Reznor would determine what worked and what didn't. He found that the piano element in the demos provided an interesting contrast to the drums, and it would remain in many of the songs.
Initially, the plan was to create a concept album called ''Bleedthrough.'' . As the recording process progressed, the concept was scrapped and became ''[[With Teeth (halo)|With Teeth]],'' , a more song-oriented rock album. It was recorded at Reznor's New Orleans studio, and it would be the last music to be recorded there. Reznor later relocated to Los Angeles, partly to be closer to those in the music industry, but also as a way to avoid a temptation that could send him into another relapse. During the production process, Reznor invited [[Dave Grohl]] to play drums on some of the songs, at Dillon's suggestion. Recording was delayed for a few days that September when the city was evacuated due to Hurricane Ivan, which took a more easterly track at the last minute. Production ended in late 2004, and post-production began in early 2005.
March 2005 was the beginning of the press junket for ''With Teeth.'' . Reznor talked about his addictions and sobriety, his reaction to Cash's cover of "Hurt"," his impending 40th birthday, and the upcoming tour cycle. A new touring line-up had been assembled, and Reznor was confident in their ablilities. Five concerts had been scheduled with small venue dates throughout April and May of that year. The smaller venues were chosen because Reznor wasn't yet sure if he could still play to crowds as large as in the past. The tour sold out immediately, a sign that NIN's comeback was sorely needed.
''With Teeth'' was released on May 3, 2005 and debuted at the top of the ''Billboard'' charts. In part its success could be credited to the nearly six years since ''The Fragile'' and the fans' dedication. By the end of the year it would be platinum.
Despite the album's success, Reznor still had to deal with the lawsuit against his former manager. Since he had to be in New York City to testify in court on May 16 and 17 (May 17, 2005 was Reznor's 40th birthday), he scheduled some tour dates there so that it wasn't all pure business. While on the witness stand, Reznor testified that he had lost trust in Malm, and that he should have read the contracts more closely. He didn't deny that his addictions may have played a role in the problems, but he still claimed that Malm was the one who was holding back on assets. At the end of the month, a jury ruled that Reznor was entitled to all assets under his name plus interest, including the Nine Inch Nails brand. Reznor walked away with an estimated US$3 million. With interest factored in, the amount could be as high as US$4–6 million. Malm could still appeal the ruling.
After the success of the club tour, Nine Inch Nails traveled the world, playing at festivals and large venues. Reznor found that he could write music sober and began working on a follow-up to ''With Teeth,'' , setting up makeshift studios on his tour bus, in his dressing room, and in his hotel room. It was one way that he remained sober while on the road and was one of many safety nets he established to help himself stay sober. No longer interested in the backstage partying, he now found enjoyment in making music, which he once saw as a chore or job.
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 28, 2005. Reznor was at first concerned about his studio there, but initially it seemed like the city was spared from the storm. The next day, when the city's levee and pump system failed, Reznor was devastated. In the following days, his sadness became anger at the lack of response to the disaster, as he became even more vocal about his disdain with the US government. He was invited to perform on ReAct Now, a telethon organized by Viacom with proceeds going to the American Red Cross to help those affected by the storm. Reznor performed "Hurt" with Cash's lyrical change, and premiered a new song, "[[Non-Entity]]"," an internet-exclusive performance that would later be made into an MP3 file available for purchase. Proceeds from the MP3 went to the American Red Cross. Reznor decided that guitars used on the upcoming concerts would be sold on eBay with proceeds going to the Red Cross. It was one of many nonprofits that Reznor would go on to publicly support. In January 2006, he joined People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA's) campaign against the Chinese fur industry, narrating a video documenting the abuse of cats and dogs used in that nation's fur trade. In February 2006 Reznor revealed that he had adopted a retired racing greyhound, emphasizing animal adoption and rescue.
When the [[Live: With Teeth]] tour ended in July 2006, Reznor rented a house in a wooded area outside of Malibu to begin turning the sounds created on the tour into a new album.
The Year Zero experience was Reznor's vision of the world in 15 years if the decline of civil liberties and an endless war on terror continued. People are drugged to keep them complacent and have GPS chips implanted under their skin. Separation of Church and State are a thing of the past and the government can now spy on everyone at every waking moment, even in their own homes. Most significantly, Reznor seems to be asking his fans to take action and prevent this vision of the future from happening, providing sites with downloadable stencils, flyers, and patterns to spread a message against censorship and the decline of civil liberties.
''Year Zero'' was released on April 17, 2007, and debuted at the Number 2 position on the ''Billboard'' charts. Much of 2007 was spent touring outside of North America in support of the album, with only one US date. When the [[Performance 2007]] tour ended, Reznor returned to Los Angeles to finish working with hip-hop artist/author/actor [[Saul Williams]] on ''[[The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of NiggyTardust!]].'' .
On October 8, 2007, Reznor announced that he was no longer under contract with Interscope, allowing him to be able to distribute any future Nine Inch Nails and solo work in whatever form he desired. He also expressed his belief that being free from contract would enable him to have more direct contact with his fanbase and get his material to them in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Interscope can still release a greatest-hits collection and is rumored to be compiling both that and a music-video retrospective. Reznor has expressed interest in helping with both of these proposed releases.
===Independence===
Following the release of Williams' album and his release from Interscope, Reznor embarked on a musical experiment. The experiment was ten weeks of improvising and experimenting in the studio, and seeing what came out from it. What started as a 5-song EP soon grew into a 36-song collection that became known as ''[[Ghosts I–IV]].'' . Reznor released the first volume in four parts in a 2-CD set on April 8, 2008. A download and streaming option became available on March 2, 2008. Inspired by daydreams and experimentation, ''Ghosts'' returns to Reznor's introversion and self-exploration. Around 700,000 people downloaded or bought the record in the first week of its release. Within the first week of the record's release, Reznor grossed US$1,619,420, which is US$659,420 more than ''Year Zero'' grossed in its first year of release.
Shortly after ''Ghosts I–IV'' was released, Reznor revealed that he was working on yet another "secret project." On May 5, 2008, the project was revealed to be yet another new album. ''[[The Slip]]'' was released online in the early morning hours as a free download at NIN[[nin.com ]] as a way for Reznor to show appreciation to his fanbase for their dedication. A CD/DVD of the album was released on July 22, 2008, limited to 250,000 units worldwide, followed by a [[Lights In The Sky Tour|concert tour]] to promote it and the rest of the NIN catalog.
In 2009 , Reznor announced the end of Nine Inch Nails as a touring entity, citing a feeling of monotony and routine. Following what was then the final Nine Inch Nails show in September of 2009, he stepped away from music for a little while, emerging at the end of the year to announce that he was to begin work on some projects for 2010. In late 2009, Reznor and [[Mariqueen Maandig]], a singer formerly of psychedelic band West Indian Girl, were married.
===New Projects===
In February 2010, Reznor began work on an EP for a new project called [[How To Destroy Angels]], featuring himself, longtime collaborator Atticus Ross, and Maandig. How To Destroy Angels released their self-titled EP for free on June 1, 2010, with a physical release available on July 6, 2010.
That same year, [[David Fincher]] asked Reznor and Ross to compose the score for his film ''[[The Social Network Soundtrack|The Social Network]],'' , documenting the rise of Facebook. The score and film were released in fall of 2010. Both were met with much praise and accolades including a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award for Reznor and Ross. On January 7, 2011, Reznor announced that he would once again be collaborating with Fincher by composing the soundtrack to the US film adaptation of the bestselling novel ''[[The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Soundtrack|The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo]].'' . The film was released in theaters in December of 2011.
The new foray into film scoring was a logical extension of what Reznor had previously done with ''[[Quake]]'' and production work on the soundtracks for ''[[Natural Born Killers Soundtrack|Natural Born Killers]]'' , and ''Lost Highway''. In 2012, Reznor continued his work with How To Destroy Angels, releasing another EP and recording the long-awaited debut album, ''[[Welcome Oblivion (album)|Welcome Oblivion]]'', which was released on March 5, 2013. The album was supported by a brief [[How To Destroy Angels Live 2013|brief tour]].
===NIN Returns===