List of Nine Inch Nails band members

Nine Inch Nails live-band
Nine Inch Nails performing live in 2007. From left to right: Alessandro Cortini, Jeordie White, Josh Freese, Trent Reznor, and Aaron North.
Background information
Genres	Industrial rock, alternative rock, industrial metal
Years active	1988–present
Members
Trent Reznor
Past members
Former live members

Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock act, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. Nine Inch Nails live performances contrast with its in-studio counterpart:^[1][2] although Reznor is in complete creative control of Nine Inch Nails in-studio, he typically assembles groups of backing musicians to interpret songs for tours and other live performances. In 2009 Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails was done touring, but that he would continue to create music under the name.

The live band lineup changed consistently throughout the band's history, with Reznor remaining the only constant on vocals, guitar, and synthesizers. Notable musicians who have contributed to live performances include Richard Patrick, Chris Vrenna, Jeordie White, Robin Finck, Josh Freese, Aaron North, Alessandro Cortini, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Jerome Dillon, Charlie Clouser, Danny Lohner, Jeff Ward, and James Woolley.

The configuration of Nine Inch Nails as a live band evolved consistently from the first tours in 1988 until the final tour in 2009. Early incarnations of the band featured three people playing guitar, drums, keyboards, and samplers.^[3] Later incarnations replaced the keyboards and samplers with an additional guitarist, and further incarnations added a bass guitarist.^[3] The live component of Nine Inch Nails later settled on a five-piece band between the Self Destruct tour in 1994 and Lights in the Sky tour in 2008.^[4] In September 2007, Reznor expressed his interest in moving away from the "rock band configuration" to explore "other ways [to] present the material in concert",^[5] and by 2009, the live band was once again pared down to four positions.

Between major tours, live band members have on occasion contributed instrumental performances to official Nine Inch Nails releases, though creative control and direction has always been the responsibility of Reznor. Nine Inch Nails has released one album and three videos featuring the live band: Closure (1997), a double-VHS set featuring live performances from the Self-Destruct tour; And All That Could Have Been (2000), released in CD and double-DVD formats featuring performances from the Fragility tour; and Beside You in Time (2007), a DVD featuring performances from the Live: With Teeth tour.

Current members

Trent Reznor

Active: 1988–present

Instruments: lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers

Release contributions: all Nine Inch Nails releases

As the sole official member of Nine Inch Nails in-studio, Reznor has performed with the live-band since its inception in 1988. Reznor was the only constant member of the live-band from 1988 until the band concluded touring in 2009.

Former live-band members

Alex Carapetis

Active: 2005

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none

During the Live: With Teeth tour, Jerome Dillon was forced to stop midway through a show and was subsequently hospitalized.^[6] Josh Freese initially replaced Dillon on drums for two shows before Alex Carapetis joined the band for the remainder of the arena tour.^[7] Freese eventually replaced Carapetis and joined the band on a more permanent basis.

Charlie Clouser

Active: 1994–2000

Instruments: keyboards, synthesizers, theremin, occasional drums

Live-release contributions: Closure (1997), And All That Could Have Been (2002)

Studio-release contributions: The Downward Spiral (1994), Further Down the Spiral (1995), "The Perfect Drug", "The Day the World Went Away" (1999), The Fragile (1999), "Into the Void" (1999), "Starfuckers, Inc." (1999), Things Falling Apart (2000)

Charlie Clouser joined the Nine Inch Nails live-band in late 1994, replacing James Woolley on keyboards midway though the Self-Destruct tour. Clouser played with the live band through the remainder of the Self-Destruct tour, and the subsequent Fragility tour in 1999 and 2000.^[4][8] While a member of the live-band, Clouser contributed to numerous studio-releases, including The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999). Clouser was also a founding-member of the Nine Inch Nails side-project Tapeworm.

Alessandro Cortini

Active: 2004–2008

Instruments: keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, bass guitar

Live-release contributions: Beside You in Time (2007)

Release contributions: Year Zero Remixed (2007) (as Modwheelmood), Ghosts I–IV (2008), "Discipline" (2008), The Slip (2008)

Prior to the Live: With Teeth tour in 2005, Reznor held open auditions to replace live-band members who had left the group during the five years between tours. Alessandro Cortini reportedly "fit in immediately",^[9] and was part of the live-band for 4 years.^[10] Between tours, Cortini contributed to some of the Nine Inch Nails studio-material, gaining co-writing credits on Ghosts I–IV (2008) and a performance credit on The Slip (2008). At the conclusion of the Lights In The Sky Over North/South America tour in late 2008 Cortini announced his departure from the band to pursue other music projects.^[11] No replacement was hired for him, and the 2009 incarnation of the live band is a 4-piece group, with the role of keyboard player shared between the 4 band members.

Jerome Dillon

Active: 1999–2005

Instruments: drums

Live-release contributions: And All That Could Have Been (2002), Beside You in Time (2007)

Studio-release contributions: The Fragile (1999), Things Falling Apart (2000), With Teeth (2005)

To replace long-time member Chris Vrenna for the Fragility Tour in 1999, Reznor held open auditions to find a new drummer, eventually picking then-unknown Jerome Dillon.^[12] Dillon performed with the live band through the entirety of the Fragility tour, and was again featured in the band in 2005 at the start of the Live: With Teeth tour. However, during the band's first arena date, Dillon was forced to stop midway through a show and was subsequently hospitalized.^[6] His condition was later diagnosed as a non-life threatening cardiac disorder, a consequence of his thyroid medication.^[13] Dillon was initially replaced by Josh Freese, then Alex Carapetis, followed by Freese again on a more permanent basis. Once Dillon had recovered and was ready to return to the band, he encountered what he called "complete apathy and no sympathy" from Reznor and the Nine Inch Nails management, though this position was challenged directly by Reznor.^[13] During Dillon's tenure, he contributed to several Nine Inch Nails releases, including studio albums The Fragile (1999) and With Teeth (2005), and live-releases And All That Could Have Been (2002) and Beside You In Time (2007); the latter of which was released after his split with the band.

Robin Finck

Active: 1994–2000, 2008–2009

Instruments: guitar, synthesizers, vocals

Live-release contributions: Closure (1997), And All That Could Have Been (2002)

Release contributions: "Discipline" (2008), The Slip (2008)

Robin Finck replaced Richard Patrick, the live band's original guitarist, for the Self-Destruct tour in 1994. Between tours, Finck performed briefly with Cirque du Soleil and then with Guns N' Roses. Following a four-year touring hiatus, the Nine Inch Nails live-band reformed in 1999 for the Fragility tour, again featuring Finck contributing on guitar. At the conclusion of the Fragility tour in 2000, Finck returned to Guns N' Roses, and was replaced by Aaron North for Live: With Teeth in 2005. There are various reports that suggest there was anamosity between Finck and Reznor during the Fragility tours, which may have led to Finck declining the invite to the following tours. In 2008, Finck rejoined Nine Inch Nails, playing on The Slip and joining the live band for the Lights in the Sky tour and the following Wave Goodbye tour.^[14] Finck has contributed on the most tours of all the past live members, playing for the Self Destruct, Fragility, Lights In The Sky and Wave Goodbye tours.

Rich Fownes

Active: 2008 (see below)

Instruments: bass guitar

Release contributions: none

The Nine Inch Nails official website originally announced in 2008 that Rich Fownes would be joining the live-band for the Lights in the Sky tour on bass guitar.^[15] Before any scheduled performances, however, it was revealed that Justin Meldal-Johnsen would instead be contributing on bass guitar.^[16] The circumstances of the replacement were not made public.

Josh Freese

Active: 2005–2008

Instruments: drums

Live-release contributions: Beside You in Time (2007)

Release contributions: Year Zero (2007), "Capital G" (2007), The Slip (2008)

During the Live: With Teeth tour, drummer Jerome Dillon was forced to stop midway through a show and was subsequently hospitalized.^[6] Josh Freese initially replaced Dillon for two shows before Alex Carapetis joined the band for the remainder of the arena tour.^[7] Freese eventually replaced Carapetis and joined the band on a more permanent basis. Freese played with the band through the remainder of the Live: With Teeth tour, the following Performance 2007 tour, and the subsequent Lights in the Sky tour. Between tours, Freese contributed instrumental performances to a number of Nine Inch Nails studio-releases, including Year Zero (2007) and The Slip (2008). Before joining Nine Inch Nails, Freese had been a part of A Perfect Circle while they acted as the supporting act for Nine Inch Nails during the Fragility 2.0 tour in 2000. He announced his departure from the band in late 2008 and was replaced by Ilan Rubin.

David Haymes

Active: 1990

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: none

Following Nine Inch Nails' tour in support of Jesus and Mary Chain in 1990, the live-band again toured in support of Peter Murphy on the Deep tour. Lee Mars was initially hire to play the live-band on keyboards, but was replaced by David Haymes before the conclusion of the Deep tour.^[3][17] Haymes performed with Nine Inch Nails for less than a year, but in that time played with the band during their first tours as headlining act.^[3]

Danny Lohner

Active: 1993–2003, 2009 (1 performance)

Instruments: bass guitar, guitar, and synthesizers

Live-release contributions: And All That Could Have Been (2002)

Release contributions: The Downward Spiral (1994), The Fragile (1999), Things Falling Apart (2000)

For the Self-Destruct tour in 1994, the Nine Inch Nails live-band was expanded into a five-piece band, adding Danny Lohner on bass guitar. Lohner played with the live-band through the Self-Destruct tour in 1994 and 1995 and the Fragility tour in 1999 and 2000.^[18][19] During his tenure with the band, Lohner contributed to a number of releases, including studio-albums The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999) Lohner was also a founding-member of the Nine Inch Nails side-project Tapeworm.

Lee Mars

Active: 1990–1991

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: none

Lee Mars contributed briefly to the live-band as their third keyboardist, replacing Nick Rushe for Peter Murphy's Deep tour. However, midway through the 30-date tour, Mars was replaced by David Haymes.^[3][17]

Justin Meldal-Johnsen

Active: 2008–2009

Instruments: bass guitar

Release contributions: The Slip (Live rehearsal footage on the DVD of the CD/DVD release) (2009)

Prior to the Lights in the Sky tour, it was originally announced that Rich Fownes would be joining the live-band on bass guitar.^[15] However, before any scheduled performances it was revealed that Justin Meldal-Johnsen would instead be contributing on bass guitar.^[16]

Ron Musarra

Active: 1988

Instruments: drums, samplers

Release contributions: none

Alongside Trent Reznor and Chris Vrenna, Ron Musarra was a member of the original three-piece band formed in 1988 to support Skinny Puppy on tour.^[20] Nine Inch Nails were reportedly poorly received, however, and were asked to leave the tour after 10 dates.^[3] For subsequent live performances and tours, Chris Vrenna, originally contributing on keyboards, replaced Musarra on drums.

Aaron North

Active: 2005–2007

Instruments: guitar

Live-release contributions: Beside You In Time (2007)

Prior to the Live: With Teeth tour in 2005, Reznor held open auditions to replace live-band members who had left the group during the five years between tours. Reznor reportedly had trouble finding a guitarist to replace Robin Finck until auditioning Aaron North.^[21] North played with the group through the Live: With Teeth and the following Performance 2007 tour.^[5]

Richard Patrick

Active: 1989–1993, 1996 (1 performance)

Instruments: guitar

Studio-release contributions: Pretty Hate Machine (1989)

Following the live-band's first performances in support of Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails was asked to provide support for Jesus and Mary Chain on their Automatic tour in early 1990. Expanding from a three-piece to a four-piece band, Richard Patrick was added on guitar.^[3] Patrick played with the band through the conclusion of the Pretty Hate Machine tour in 1991, including a performance at Lollapalooza. After touring briefly in support of Guns N' Roses, Patrick left the live-band to form Filter. Patrick was briefly reunited with Nine Inch Nails in 1996 during the Nights of Nothing showcase tour, as he contributed guitar to a performance of "Head Like a Hole" during Nine Inch Nails' set on the last of three dates.^[22]

Ilan Rubin

Active: 2009

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none

Ilan Rubin was named as the drummer to succeed Freese.^[23] Rubin will be playing with the band for the 2009 Wave Goodbye tour.

Nick Rushe

Active: 1990

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: none

Following the live-band's first performances in support of Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails was asked to provide support for Jesus and Mary Chain on their Automatic tour in early 1990. Nick Rushe was added to the live-band on keyboards, taking over from Chris Vrenna who had in turn replaced Ron Musarra on drums. Rushe was only part of the live-band for the Automatic tour, some 34 performances over three months, and was later replaced by David Haymes for subsequent tour in support of Peter Murphy.^[24]

Chris Vrenna

Active: 1988–1991, 1992–1997

Instruments: keyboards, samplers (1988), drums

Studio-release contributions: Pretty Hate Machine (1989), Broken (1992), Fixed (1992), The Downward Spiral (1994)

Alongside Trent Reznor and Ron Musarra, Chris Vrenna was a member of the original three-piece band formed in 1988 to support Skinny Puppy on tour. After Nine Inch Nails was dismissed from the tour, Vrenna replaced Musarra on drums, and subsequently played with the band until 1991, when he had a brief fall out with Reznor.^[25] Vrenna and Reznor later reconciled, and Vrenna rejoined the band in 1994 for the Self-Destruct tour.^[26][27]

Jeff Ward

Active: 1991

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none

Jeff Ward briefly replaced Chris Vrenna as drummer for Nine Inch Nails when Vrenna left the band mid-tour due to a fall out with Reznor. Ward's brief tenure with the band included their 1991 Lollapalooza performance and as a supporting act on tour with Guns N' Roses.^[4] Between tours, Ward committed suicide in 1993,^[28] and Vrenna returned to the band taking Ward's place.

Jeordie White

Active: 2005–2007

Instruments: bass guitar, guitar, and synthesizers

Live-release contributions: Beside You In Time (2007)

Prior to the Live: With Teeth tour in 2005, Reznor held open auditions to replace live-band members who had left the group during the five years between tours. Jeordie White was auditioned and chose to replace Danny Lohner on bass guitar. White played with the group through the Live: With Teeth tour and the following Performance 2007 tour.^[5] Before joining Nine Inch Nails, White had been a part of Marilyn Manson (then playing under the pseudonym of "Twiggy Ramirez") while they acted as supporting band for Nine Inch Nails during the Self-Destruct tour in 1994.

James Woolley

Active: 1991–1994

Instruments: synthesizers

Live-release contributions: Closure (1997)

James Woolley played briefly for Nine Inch Nails on keyboards, replacing David Haymes. Woolley's brief tenure with the band included their 1991 Lollapalooza performance through the beginning of the subsequent Self-Destruct tour in 1994.^[4]

• 

  Alessandro Cortini in 2007 playing with Nine Inch Nails

• 

  Jerome Dillon in 2005

• 

  Finck in 2006 playing with Guns N' Roses

• 

  Rich Fownes in 2005 playing with The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster

• 

  Josh Freese in 2008

• 

  Meldal-Johnsen in 2007 playing with Beck

• 

  Aaron North in 2007 playing with Nine Inch Nails

• 

  Richard Patrick in 2006 playing with Army of Anyone

• 

  Rubin playing with Lostprophets

• 

  Jeordie White

Timeline

See also

• Nine Inch Nails live performances
• List of Nine Inch Nails tours

References

1. ^ Zahlaway, Jon (2005-05-16). "Live Review: Nine Inch Nails in Boston". LiveDaily. Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20070430224936/http://www.livedaily.com/reviews/Live_Review_Nine_Inch_Nails_in_Boston-8158.html. Retrieved 2007-02-10. "Those who know Nine Inch Nails only from their studio recordings--industrial-rock affairs heavy on synthesized sounds--might assume that the group's material wouldn't translate well in a live setting. They'd be sorely mistaken, as evidenced by the band's Friday night (5/13) performance at Boston's Orpheum Theatre." 
2. ^ Busby, Brent (2007-03-23). "DVD Review: Nine Inch Nails Live". Western Courier. http://media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2007/03/23/TheEdge/Dvd-Review.Nine.Inch.Nails.Live-2789289.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-08. "In theory, Nine Inch Nails shouldn't be a great live band. Reznor's music sometimes consists of non-organic instruments thrown straight onto a computer, at times being twisted to the point of not even sounding like the original source." 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Getting Down in It. Alternative Press. March 1990. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Sympathy for the Devil. Spin. March 1996. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Chun, Gary (2007-09-14). "Reznor's edge cuts NIN's bleak outlook". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. http://starbulletin.com/2007/09/14/features/story05.html. Retrieved 2007-09-18. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} Harris, Chris (2005-09-30). "Nine Inch Nails Postpone Show Due To Drummer's Heart Trouble". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1510691/20050930/nine_inch_nails.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-02-10. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Harris, Chris. "Nine Inch Nails Recruit Replacement Drummer". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1511147/20051010/nine_inch_nails.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-02-10. 
8. ^ An Interview With Charlie Clouser. Scene. September 1996. 
9. ^ Reznor, Trent (2005-01-22). "access". Nine Inch Nails. Archived from the original on 2005-03-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20050304030451/http://nin.com/access/1-22/index.html. Retrieved 2008-02-01. 
10. ^ Cohan, Jillian (2006-05-24). "Two tryouts nailed down band spot: Alessandro Cortini is touring with industrial-strength rock act Nine Inch Nails, coming to Wichita on Monday". Wichita Eagle. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32364038_ITM. Retrieved 2008-03-29. 
11. ^ "Alessandro Cortini to leave NIN". The NIN Hotline. 2008-12-14. http://www.theninhotline.net/news/#1229239871. Retrieved 2008-12-16. 
12. ^ Rashidii, Waleed. "Jerome Dillon – New With NIN". Modern Drummer. http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001232. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Kaufman, Gil (2006-05-21). "Ex-NIN Drummer Welcomes You To His Nightmare — Reznor Responds". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526654/03202006/dillon_jerome.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-02-10. 
14. ^ "Robin Finck – Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p435767. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "Robin Finck Is Back". The NIN Hotline. 2008-04-04. http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=08&m=4#1207356977. Retrieved 2008-05-03. 
16. ^ ^{a b} Reuters; Billboard (2008-06-06). "Nine Inch Nails replaces bassist ahead of tour". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 2008-06-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20080610004138/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080606/music_nm/nin_dc_2. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Sanner, Stacey (July 1990). Portrait of a Nine Inch Nail. Alternative Press. 
18. ^ Mehle, Michael (1995-10-17). "Nine Inch Nails gives Bowie boost" (fee required). Rocky Mountain News. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E3B6175E40C4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D. Retrieved 2008-03-29. 
19. ^ Straight, Harry (2000-05-12). "Nine Inch Nails lives up to its name" (fee required). Daytona Beach News-Journal. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NJ&p_theme=nj&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_txt_direct-0=0EB51AB9B0AA40C8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D. Retrieved 2008-03-29. 
20. ^ "Ron Musarra". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p667284. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
21. ^ Reznor, Trent (2005-01-22). "access". Nine Inch Nails. Archived from the original on 2005-03-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20050304030451/http://nin.com/access/1-22/index.html. Retrieved 2008-02-01. 
22. ^ Kaye, Don (September 1996). Nailed! Trent's Posse Pound New York. Kerrang!. 
23. ^ "Welcome, Ilan!". Nine Inch Nails. 2008-11-15. http://www.webcitation.org/5cVj7sL1N. Retrieved 2008-11-21. 
24. ^ Martin, Steve (1990). "Nine Inch Nails". Thrasher. 
25. ^ "Chris Vrenna of Nine Inch Nails". Rhythm. March 1997. 
26. ^ Moss, Coret (2001-09-18). "Vrenna Leaves NIN Behind To Explore What's Uncertain". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448942/20010918/tweaker.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-02-08. 
27. ^ Ramirez, Mike (February 2001). Nothing is Temporary. 2. Blue Divide Magazine. 
28. ^ "Jeff Ward – Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p481615. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Official Nine Inch Nails website