Nine Inch Nails

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer

Category: Performer

Inducted: 2020

Inducted by: Iggy Pop

Nominated: 2015   2016   2020

First Eligible: 2015 Ceremony

Inducted Members: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Robin Finck, Chris Vrenna, Danny Lohner, Ilan Rubin, Alessandro Cortini

Snubbed Members: Charlie Clouser


Inducted into Rock Hall Projected in 2015 (ranked #110) .

R.S. Top 500 Albums (?)RankVersion
The Downward Spiral1222020
Pretty Hate Machine4532020
The Downward Spiral2012012

R.S. Top 500 Songs (?)RankVersion
Closer (1994)2702021

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
The Downward Spiral (1994)
The Fragile (1999)
With Teeth (2005)
Year Zero (2007)
The Social Network Soundtrack (2010)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Hesitation Marks (2013)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Head Like a Hole (1989)
Terrible Lie (1989)
Down In It (1989)
Last (1992)
Wish (1992)
Closer (1994)
March of the Pigs (1994)
Hurt (1995)
The Perfect Drug (1997)
Into the Void (1999)
The Hand That Feeds (2005)
Every Day Is Exactly the Same (2005)

Nine Inch Nails @ Wikipedia



Comments

49 comments so far (post your own)

I absolutely think that Nine Inch Nails should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are countless reasons why the man behind the music (Trent Reznor) is a natural born musician who puts his mind, body and soul into every ounce of his musical out pour. For him to never receive this award will be appalling. Nine Inch Nails is the soul purpose of everyone to listen to vinyl again. For the reason that you can't skip on vinyl due to Trent's unique attempt originality of each song. I can't see how anyone can not like Trent Reznor's music. The genius making of The Downward Spiral still gives me goosebumps to this day. Listening to Closer on a record player is epic, which probably one of my least favorite songs because so many people don't know the song title. This type of music ideas shows how different each of his albums are. It is a little mix of retro to begin with, then seeping down to metal. Please do yourself a favor Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and add an extra genius to your museum because generations should remember Trent Reznor's work when his long gone.

Posted by David J. Singleton on Monday, 03/4/2013 @ 20:59pm


Nirvana & NIN - a good combo to make a night for sure. Just hope they don't let Courtney have anything to do with it.

Posted by Carla on Wednesday, 04/24/2013 @ 15:45pm


Saw this act at Voodoo Music festival. They were the headliner on Saturday night. Intense show, what with the brooding music & the lights/smoke etc.

Mr. Reznor had a tight backing band & he played for approx 2 hours. Was dressed in some kind of leather outfit with what looked like Hammer pants (although suitably black & grey). Crowd not as big as for Pearl Jam the previous night. If you like NIN, you need to see them live as I think you would eat it up.

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 11/18/2013 @ 13:25pm


Trent Reznor and NIN are magnificent. Innovation, talent, musical excelence, and influential to a huge list of newer artist. So much deserve it.

Posted by BulmaPunkRocker on Sunday, 07/6/2014 @ 01:42am


They should rightfully be first ballot inductees, but when the Nomcom and voters have dicked around to the point that, at very least, Kraftwerk, the Cure and Joy Division haven't been inducted yet, can you really justify it. They have a huge fail on their hands this year no matter what they do.

Posted by DarinRG on Sunday, 07/6/2014 @ 02:15am


Do they have something against not- USA musicians? Joy Divisiona and The Cure should be in a long time ago!

Posted by BulmaPunkRocker on Sunday, 07/6/2014 @ 21:57pm


the big question is.. who will be listed alongside Trent as members of NIN? who of the revolving cast of musicians will be listed as members of the band? richard patrick? danny lohner? robin finck? chris vrenna? josh freese? allsendro cortini?
will it be strictly studio musicians listed or are people who showed up for a short time (aaron north, etc.) listed as well? time will tell. ive been a fan since day one and its magic every time you press "play" or wait in the audience for the first not at a live show.

Posted by andrew on Thursday, 07/10/2014 @ 20:53pm


I don't think Metallica, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Guns 'N Roses, Nirvana and Green Day will vote for their contemporary Nine Inch Nails. They will most likely vote for their five idols from the 60s-70s: Chicago, Cheap Trick, The Cars, Yes and Deep Purple. Or maybe drop Chicago and add Nine Inch Nails.

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/12/2015 @ 13:21pm


Roy, I don't follow your logic about why those bands wouldn't vote for Nine Inch Nails? Proof (probably not) that these are their "idols"? If I remember correctly, didn't Anthony Kiedis publicly endorse Cat Stevens back in 2014 via Twitter? Unless Kiedis said this, I would have never pegged him to vote for Stevens. The point is that you can't stereotype who these voters will rally behind. I can definitely see them voting for Deep Purple, Yes, and Cheap Trick (maybe the Cars), but why Chicago? All the bands you listed (Metallica, RHCP, GNR, Nirvana and Green Day) are either hard-rock, heavy metal or alternative. Trent Renzor would definitely appeal to those voters because he has a similar sound and Renzor's well-respected in modern music. I want NIN to get inducted this year and I think they have a better chance then you're giving them credit for (think about it, they're so many classic rock acts on the ballot that they are bound to cancel one another out. I see Chicago, Yes and other another classic rock band inducted in 2016).

Posted by Nick on Friday, 10/23/2015 @ 21:19pm


Trent Reznor is interesting to me because he's an A-level artist in terms of impact on the sound and evolution of the music of his era (not Nirvana, sea change level, but the first ballot nomination was no mistake), and he's largely the defining voice of Industrial/post-Industrial music, but he doesn't pop up until very late on the genre's timeline.

At the point that he shows up with "Pretty Hate Machine" in 1989 the innovative Industrial artists of the late-70s and very early-80s are largely an esoteric historical echo and the cyberpunk sound of the 80s post-Industrial acts had largely settled into stagnant cliche.

Reznor emerged in a genre that was artistically out of gas and while it rates highly on the innovation scale and highly but more subtly on the influence scale it was a genre that could be very aurally challenging at its most potent and commercially unfriendly on any level.

Industrial wasn't an entirely isolated genre. Outside of genre loyalists the strangeness of Throbbing Gristle's electronic innovations Einsturzende Neubauten's found (or built) object instrumentation were known of, Cabaret Voltaire had dance club success after evolving from 70s experimental sound manipulators to a more accessible and dancable hard synthrock sound. Al Jourgensen was receiving critical praise while Ministry was making its few album trip through post-Industrial on his journey from whispy early-80s synthpop to 90s Electro-metal (where a large amount of Industrial's influence would find its final resting place) and Skinny Puppy and KMFDM, among a few others had fanbases that extended outside the genre.

When Nine Inch Nails and "Pretty Hate Machine" popped up in 1989 Industrial's innovations and evolutions had already happened. Reznor's predecessors had already built the platform that he launched from, but there was something about "Pretty Hate Machine" that felt more immediate and much richer than anything that Reznor's contemporaries and recent predecessors had produced. A broader audience than any Industrial or post-Industrial artist or album had ever had was developing. Perry Farrel picking NIN for the first Lollapalloza tour right as "Alternative" was becoming a safe buzzword and starting a few year run as one of popular music's main areas of focus brought Nine Inch Nails and "Pretty Hate Machine" to an even broader mainstream audience.

In a strange way, "Pretty Hate Machine" began the long death throes of a burnt out Industrial scene and "The Downward Spiral" in 1994 was the flower on the grave. Reznor had leapt from the platform built by his predecessors over the previous decade plus and artistically and commercially surpassed all of them. The most improbable part of it to me is that he was able to take that dying, commercial pariah of a genre to a broad audience, and not only did he not have to dumb it down to find commercial success, he was able to artistically elevate it.

Post-Pretty Hate Machine and well into the 90s there were some genre fan only Industrial artists who emerged (Spahn Ranch is one of the better ones), likable, but lightweight friends and followers (Filter, Prick), genre stalwarts who were still releasing respectable to pretty good albums (Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Front 242), not even remotely Industrial artists being tagged with the label for marketing purposes (Marilyn Manson)and a majority of Industrial's well worn sonic hallmarks flying off into Metal (Ministry and White Zombie shoulder at least an equal amount of amount of credit/blame for that)and Industrial has also had a significant impact on the evolution of EDM, though most of that follows other routes than Trent Reznor back to the earlier Industrial, post-Industrial and EBM artists.

I almost find it easier at this point to view Reznor more in terms of being a singer/songwriter with an Industrial influence, than as simply being an Industrial act, but there's no mistaking his origins and how improbable his success and influence have been because of it. He strangely rendered his origin genre obsolete and irrelevant from that point forward by creating its most artistically rich and impressive body of work.

Posted by DarinRG on Monday, 11/9/2015 @ 02:19am


Is it odd that Trent Reznor announces a day after his second Rock Hall rejection that NIN will return in 2016? Even though Trent could be the only one inducted from that group

Posted by Jason Voigt on Friday, 12/18/2015 @ 21:30pm


OK- the percentage should be a lot higher for this band, no? It's been nominated both years since becoming eligible. I mean, it certainly has a greater chance than an act like Britney Spears. lol

Posted by JR on Sunday, 12/20/2015 @ 09:11am


Although, NIN - or simply just Trent himself - is not in the HOF yet. But if Bowie was still around right now, he woulda been a great fit to do an induction speech for them.

Posted by The Dude on Thursday, 05/3/2018 @ 12:07pm


List of NIN members

CURRENT:

Trent Reznor - Lead Vocals and multiple instruments
Atticus Ross - Keyboards, Programming, and synths
Robin Finck - Guitar, bass, and multiple instruments
Alessandro Cortini - Keyboards and multiple instruments
Ilan Rubin - Drums and multiple instruments

FORMER:

Chris Vrenna - Drums, samples, keyboards
Ron Musarra - Drums
Richard Patrick- Guitar
Gary Talpas - Keyboards
Nick Rushe - Keyboards
David Haymes - Keyboards
Lee Mars - Keyboards
James Woolley - Synths
Jeff Ward - Drums
Danny Lohner - Guitar, bass, and synths
Charlie Clouser - Multiple instruments
Jerome Dillon - Drums and Guitar
Jeordie “Twiggy” White - Guitar, bass and Synths
Aaron North - Guitar
Josh Freese - Drums
Alex Carapetis - Drums
Justin Meldel-Johnson - Bass
Josh Eustis - Drums
Pino Palladino - Bass

Once the band gets in at some point, I could see Trent, Atticus, Robin, Ilan, Alessandro, Chris, Richard, Danny, Charlie, and Jerome as the inducted members.

Whaddaya think?




Posted by The Dude on Thursday, 07/5/2018 @ 11:39am


They should get in just because of the NIN trilogy:

Not The Actual Events (2016)
Add Violence (2017)
Bad Witch (2018)

Posted by Michael on Sunday, 09/30/2018 @ 12:47pm


@ Michael

They should get in, but I don't think 2019 will be their year.

Posted by The Dude on Monday, 10/1/2018 @ 09:57am


Welp, NIN isn't getting nominated any time soon.

Posted by Michael on Saturday, 10/20/2018 @ 14:10pm


Michael,

I am guessing you are talking about that interview? I found it odd how he acted like he did not care but at the same time emphasized it was nice to be appreciated. If you are going to slam the Hall at least go all out.

Posted by Chris F. on Saturday, 10/20/2018 @ 14:23pm


Trent has a funky attitude when it comes to award ceremonies, but I still think NIN will receive an induction when we get enough acts to support and vote for them.

Posted by The Dude on Saturday, 10/20/2018 @ 15:15pm


Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile will turn twenty in September.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 01/1/2019 @ 23:28pm


I just love some of the comments on this page. To the person who said that they wished they could have seen them live? Yeah, while The Downward Spiral Tour was nice, the 2 times I saw them in 1991 were far more impressive, the first time in January in Miami at a club that held probably 500 or so people, and the second time at the inaugural Lollapalooza in Cleveland. Both were nuts. Was slated to meet Trent in 1994 in Columbus as my friend was doing lights for Manson but that was the show where his dog died. Didn't see him again until 2005 playing with Bauhaus. That was an epic show. Then, the NIN/JA tour.

Regardless, he should be in. I also think The Dude has it right up above with his list of members, maybe add in Aaron North but that's about it. Twiggy was there during a big period for the With Teeth tour but he also then did some stuuuupid shiz later so screw him. Manson is never getting in. Jerome Dillon absolutely has to get in. Richard Patrick and Chris Vrenna too, and the rest of that list is spot on.

Posted by Gary on Saturday, 01/5/2019 @ 03:37am


@ Gary

I’ve seen NIN once along with Paramore at Voodoo Fest and Trent Reznor once lived in NOLA. He still puts on a great show, but I’d love to experience his early live performances If I was born at a different time - not online.

I actually got into them when I’ve first head “The Hand That Feeds” at fourteen or fifteen (now twenty-eight). With Teeth, Pretty Hate Machine and of course, The Downward Spiral were the first three NIN albums I’ve brought physically at my local Best Buy. And that later got me into other industrial bands like Ministry, Stabbing Westward, Godflesh and the genre’s equivalent to the Beatles, Throbbing Gristle.

I still think Trent and the company will get inducted into the HOF once there are enough enough support at the Voting Body. They need to pick up more new wave (Duran Duran, Depeche Mode) and even prog bands (Jethro Tull, King Crimson) to make it happen other than their peers from the 90’s, since those genres partly influenced them.

Posted by The Dude on Saturday, 01/5/2019 @ 11:35am


Trent is gonna induct the Cure? I’ll add NIN for my nomination on the nominees for the class of 2020.

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 03/12/2019 @ 22:43pm


*Prediction

Posted by The Dude on Tuesday, 03/12/2019 @ 22:45pm


Anyone who was lucky to see the Broken movie before it was uploaded online?

BROKEN: The Horrifying Nine Inch Nails Movie Trent Reznor Doesn’t (Officially) Want You to See

http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2016/05/04/the-horrifying-nine-inch-nails-movie-trent-reznor-doesnt-officially-want-you-to-see/

Posted by The Dude on Friday, 03/15/2019 @ 02:52am


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RUtr_PxDjU

Understanding Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral

Posted by The Dude on Wednesday, 04/3/2019 @ 11:27am


http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5427

According to Prog Archives, NIN is a “Crossover Prog” band other than industrial and alternative rock. Not really surprised about that, since Trent Reznor is a fan of Pink Floyd and Rush. Looking at the current voting body and the band’s core member induction for the Cure, it now makes sense to give them another nomination. But the the million dollar question is this: Are the votes there yet and do they have to wait a few more years until they have enough?

Posted by The Dude on Monday, 05/27/2019 @ 21:20pm


RIAA Gold & Platinum Total: Nine Inch Nails

ALBUMS

Pretty Hate Machine- 3x Platinum
The Downward Spiral- 4x Platinum
The Fragile- 2x Platinum
With Teeth- Gold
Further Down the Spiral- Gold

EP'S

Broken- Platinum

Total: 11 Million

Yeah, they really need to give NIN an update.

Posted by The Dude on Saturday, 06/22/2019 @ 13:19pm



With Teeth sold over a million copies here, and it needs to go platinum. Year Zero is also eligible for gold.

Posted by The Dude on Wednesday, 09/4/2019 @ 15:40pm


2020 nominee. They DESERVE to be in there.

Posted by Liam on Wednesday, 10/16/2019 @ 22:25pm


I guess Trent Reznor will be getting 10 extra votes from The Cure.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/17/2019 @ 17:10pm


Is it true that Trent Reznor is the only person nominated for Nine Inch Nails, and why is that the case?

Posted by Will N. on Wednesday, 10.16.19 @ 12:30pm

Yes. Trent Reznor named himself Nine Inch Nails. The band members are sidemen.

I have a feeling Trent Reznor will be telling the Rock Hall which members of his band to induct, if and when he gets enough votes for induction.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/17/2019 @ 17:21pm


Why is only Reznor being inducted?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, 01/21/2020 @ 13:55pm


Because NIN is a one man band. The other people just play in concerts.

Posted by Follower on Tuesday, 01/21/2020 @ 20:03pm


Rest in Peace Bill Rieflin (touring drummer, not inducted into the R&R HoF), 1960-2020.

Posted by Joe on Wednesday, 03/25/2020 @ 04:53am


Correction for FRL: Ilan Rubin is 32 years old, not 52. He's the first millennial to be inducted.

Posted by The Dude on Wednesday, 09/2/2020 @ 10:33am


Not only that, that makes him the first inductee to be born after the Hall began inducting artists. Historic!

Posted by RG on Wednesday, 09/2/2020 @ 12:05pm


NINE INCH NAILS

1. Trent Reznor
2. Atticus Ross
3. Robin Finck
4. Chris Vrenna
5. Danny Lohner
6. Ilan Rubin
7. Alessandro Cortini

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 09/2/2020 @ 14:42pm


They just announced that six more members are being inducted. Glad to hear it!

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, 09/2/2020 @ 22:49pm


Where is the link with the official announcement from the Rock Hall about the additional members of Nine Inch Nails being inducted?

There is no list of names showing on the NIN rock hall bio page

https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/nine-inch-nails

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 09/3/2020 @ 09:22am


Anyone disappointed the Hall omitted Richard Patrick from Filter? He's arguably the second most familiar member from NIN behind Trent Reznor, and would make a little bit of extra differences for acts of the 80's, 90's and beyond.

Posted by The Dude on Thursday, 09/3/2020 @ 11:09am


NINE INCH NAILS ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES AND THE ALBUMS THEY PERFORMED ON (1989-2020)

1. Trent Reznor
2. Chris Vrenna - Pretty Hate Machine (1989) * Broken (1992) * The Downward Spiral (1994)
3. Danny Lohner - The Downward Spiral (1994) * The Fragile (1999)

4. Atticus Ross - With Teeth (2005) * Year Zero (2007) * Ghosts I-IV (2008) * The Slip (2008) * Hesitation Marks (2013) * Not The Actual Events (2016) * Add Violence (2017) * Bad Witch (2018) * Ghosts V (2020) * Ghosts VI (2020)

5. Alessandro Cortini - Ghosts I-IV (2008) * The Slip (2008) * Hesitation Marks (2013)
6. Robin Finck - The Slip (2008)
7. Ilan Rubin - Hesitation Marks (2013)

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 09/3/2020 @ 12:47pm


NINE INCH NAILS - ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME - 7 MEMBERS - 14 ALBUMS

1 Inductee for all 14 albums
2 Inductees for Pretty Hate Machine
2 Inductees for Broken
3 Inductees for The Downward Spiral
2 Inductees for The Fragile
2 Inductees for With Teeth
2 Inductees for Year Zero
3 Inductees for Ghosts I-IV
4 Inductees for The Slip
4 Inductees for Hesitation Marks
2 Inductees for Not The Actual Events
2 Inductees for Add Violence
2 Inductees for Bad Witch
2 Inductees for Ghosts V
2 Inductees for Ghosts VI

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 09/3/2020 @ 13:04pm


Anyone disappointed the Hall omitted Richard Patrick from Filter? He's arguably the second most familiar member from NIN behind Trent Reznor, and would make a little bit of extra differences for acts of the 80's, 90's and beyond.

Posted by The Dude on Thursday, 09.3.20 @ 11:09am

He only performed on one track from the first NIN album and performed in concerts. He will be inducted with Filter. The Rock Hall doesn't think he deserves two inductions. Adrian Belew will be inducted with King Crimson.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 09/3/2020 @ 13:14pm


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0RUtr_PxDjU

@ Roy

Richard is more Hall Material with NIN than his own band; he was on the first four music videos and was partly an inspiration of the song "Piggy."

Posted by The Dude on Saturday, 09/5/2020 @ 19:50pm


Apparently it was Trent Reznor who told the Rock Hall which members of his band to induct.

San Diego's Ilan Rubin will be youngest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee ever as member of Nine Inch Nails

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2020-09-04/san-diegos-ilan-rubin-will-be-youngest-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-inductee-ever-as-member-of-nine-inch-nails

This includes an interview with Ilan Rubin and confirms that it was Trent Reznor who lobbied the Rock Hall for the additional inductions.

Filter's Richard Patrick is Angry About Nine Inch Nails Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snub

https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/09/04/filters-richard-patrick-is-angry-about-nine-inch-nails-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-snub/

Posted by Roy on Monday, 09/7/2020 @ 05:24am


Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductees in Conversation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOlqBkaY6YY

Posted by Roy on Friday, 11/6/2020 @ 01:23am


Patrick may well have been snubbed but that's curtains for his chances unless he gets in as a sideman. Filter ain't getting in.

Posted by David W Richman on Saturday, 02/5/2022 @ 03:16am


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Future Rock Legends is your home for Nine Inch Nails and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


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