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==Biography==
===Growing Up===
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. He and his infant sister were sent to live with their maternal grandparents, primarily because it would have been too difficult for their mother to raise them by herself. 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===
{{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, moving to in Clevelandand moved there. Once While working there, he worked met Bart Koster, who was building a few odd jobsnew recording studio, selling music instruments Right Track Studios. Koster was impressed with Reznor's skills and also working offered him a job as a studio technician at Right Track Studiobefore he even moved into the building. It was in In Cleveland that he met roommate and future bandmate , Reznor also reconnected with [[Chris Vrenna]], whom he knew from high school, and they became roommates. 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.
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 ReactNOW!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.
On January 21, 2014, the Beats Music streaming service went live, with Reznor serving as Chief Creative Officer. On the same day, it was also announced that Reznor and Ross were doing the score for David Fincher's ''[[Gone Girl Soundtrack|Gone Girl]]''. The album was released digitally on September 30, 2014 and the film opened on October 2. Beats Music was subsequently purchased by Apple and relaunched under a new iteration of iTunes called Apple Music, effectively making Reznor an Apple employee.
In 2016, a host of other score music from Reznor and Ross was announced. In June, the pair released a [[Juno|standalone track]] for a short film about NASA's Juno Mission. This was followed in October by the ''[[Before The Flood Soundtrack]]'' (a collaboration with Mogwai and Gustavo Santaolalla) and in January 2017 by the ''[[Patriots Day Soundtrack]]''. Delivering on a promise made in 2015 for new music from NIN the following year, the ''[[Not The Actual Events]]'' EP was officially released on December 23, 2016. In 2017, it was revealed that ''Not The Actual Events'' was the first in a trilogy of related releases and the second installment, ''[[Add Violence]]'', was released on July 21. Another Reznor and Ross work, ''[[The Vietnam War Original Score]]'', followed in September. The third installment of the aforementioned trilogy, ''[[Bad Witch]]'', was released on June 22, 2018.
Today, Reznor is happier than he's ever been. He feels that he has found his calling in life and has found joy in creating music. Although he admits he could very easily relapse into his old ways, because he has been there, he has said he never wants to go back. He and his [[Mariqueen Maandig-Reznor|wife]] currently reside in California with their children and dogs.
*'''Acting Role''': Played a member of "The Problems" (played by Exotic Birds) in ''[[wp:Light Of Day|Light Of Day]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0MmNjy97s]
===1988===
*''Communiqué,'' Lucky Pierre (Saxophone and vocals, "Communiqué";" vocals, "I Need To Get To Know (Other People)")
===1990===
*''Supernaut,'' [[1000 Homo Djs]] (Vocals, "[[Supernaut]]")
*'''Touring''': Provided vocals on tour with the Revolting Cocks*Appeared in the music video for "Faster Than Light" by Lead Into Gold
===1991===
*''Cautiøn Dø Nøt Play,'' Crunch-O-Matic (Album programming)
*''Gub,'' [[Pigface]] (Loop programming; writing; vocals, "[[Suck]]")
*'''Touring''': Provided vocals on tour with Pigface
===1992===
*''Burn Like Brilliant Trash,'' Machines of Loving Grace (remix, "Burnt Offering" and "Burn Like Brilliant Trash (Dub 120 BPM)")
*''The Wooden Song,'' [[Butthole Surfers]] (Remix, "Who Was In My Room Last Night (Trent Reznor Remix)")
*''Black Box—Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years'' (Vocals, "Supernaut (Trent Reznor Vocal Version)" for 1000 Homo DJs)
*Promo for MTV Japan with [[Shinya Tsukamoto]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCHSn6QJ1tc Low quality video] (Music writtenWriting and performance)
===1994===
*''[[Portrait of an American Family]],'' Marilyn Manson (album producer; album mix; guitar, "Lunchbox";" saxophone, "My Monkey")
*''Get Your Gunn,'' Marilyn Manson (Producer, tracks 1–2; remix, "Mother Inferior Got Her Gunn (Trent Reznor Remix)")
*''[[Natural Born Killers Soundtrack]],'' (Album producer)
*''Under The Pink,'' [[Tori Amos]] (Vocals, "Past The Mission")
*''Light,'' KMFDM ("Light (Fat Back Dub) remix")
===1996===
*''[[Quake]]'' video game (Writing and performance, music and sound effects)
*''[[Antichrist Superstar]],'' Marilyn Manson (album programming; producer, tracks 1–2, 4–10, 12–16, 99; guitar, "Little Horn," "Mister Superstar," "Deformography";" mellotron, "Cryptorchid";" piano, "Man That You Fear")
===1997===
*''[[Lost Highway Soundtrack]]'' (Album producer; writing and performance, "[[Driver Down]]" and "[[Videodrones; Questions]]";" saxophone, "Driver Down")*''[[I'm Afraid Of Americans]],'' David Bowie (Remix, "I'm Afraid Of Americans " (V1, V2, V3, V4 and V6 Mixes);" vocals, "I'm Afraid Of Americans V1")
*''Option 30,'' Option 30 (Vocals, keyboards; originally recorded in 1983)
===1998===
*''Herehear,'' Wink (Vocals and lyrics, "[[Black Bomb (Jerry In The Bag)]]")
*''Wooden Song EP,'' Butthole Surfers ("Who Was In My Room Last Night? (Trent Reznor Remix)")
*''Wardance (The Remixes),'' Killing Joke (This remix CD includes a Nine Inch Nails remix of the song Remix, "Democracy(NIN Remix)")
===1999===
*''Breadline,'' Megadeth (Remix, "Symphony Of Destruction (The Gristle Mix)")
===2000===
*''Seven'' , David Bowie (Vocals, "I'm Afraid Of Americans V1" for David Bowie)
===2002===
*''Spin This,'' N.E.R.D. (Remix, "Lapdance (Trent Reznor Remix)")
*''I'll Sleep When You're Dead,'' [[EL-P|El-P]] (Additional production and vocals, "Flyentology")
*''Era Vulgaris,'' [[Queens Of The Stone Age]] (Vocals, "Era Vulgaris")—available for download
*''The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of NiggyTardust!,'' Saul Williams (Producer; music, tracks 1–2, 5–8, 11–15; programming, "[[Black History Month]]";" "[[Tr(n)igger]]";" "[[DNA]]";" vocals, "[[Break]]" and "[[WTF!]]";" arrangement, "[[Sunday Bloody Sunday]]")
===2008===
*''In With The Out Crowd,'' Jubilee (programmed drums, "I Don't Have An Excuse, I Just Need A Little Help")
===2009===
*''"C" Is For (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here) E.P,.'' , [[Puscifer]] (Writing, "[[Potions (Deliverance Mix)]]")
===2010===
*''[[How To Destroy Angels (album)|How To Destroy Angels]] EP,'' [[How To Destroy Angels]]
*''How To Become Clairvoyant'', Robbie Robertson (additional textures on "Madame X")
*''[[The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Soundtrack]]'' with Atticus Ross (writing and performance)
*''"[[Immigrant Song]]'' " with Karen O and Atticus Ross (Performance, programming and production)*''"[[Is Your Love Strong Enough?]]''", How To Destroy Angels (Performance and production)
===2012===
*''Call Of Duty: Black Ops II'' video game (Composer, [[Theme From Call Of Duty Black Ops II|theme song]])
===2013===
*''[[Welcome Oblivion (album)|Welcome Oblivion]]'', How To Destroy Angels
*''Sound City: Real To Reel soundtrack'' (writing and performance, "Mantra" ; with [[Dave Grohl]] and Josh Homme)*''...Like Clockwork'', Queens Of The Stone Age (vocals on , "Kalopsia" and ; "Fairweather Friends")
===2014===
*''[[Gone Girl Soundtrack]]'' with Atticus Ross (Writing and performance)
*''[[Juno]]'' with Atticus Ross (Writing and performance)
*''[[Before The Flood Soundtrack]]'' with Atticus Ross, Gustavo Santaolalla, Mogwai (Writing and performance; music supervisor)
===2017===
*''[[Patriots Day Soundtrack]]'' with Atticus Ross (Writing and performance)
*''[[The Vietnam War Original Score]]'' with Atticus Ross (Writing and performance)
*Multimedia project for Banksy (The Walled Off Hotel) (with Atticus Ross)
*''White Knight'', Todd Rundgren (Writing and performance, "Deaf Ears"; with Atticus Ross)
*N/A, Todd Rundgren (Remix, "Deaf Ears (Nine Inch Nails Mix)")
*"[[John Carpenter's Halloween]]" with Atticus Ross (Performance)
*'''Acting Role''': Appeared in an episode of the reboot of ''Twin Peaks''
==External Links==