I just had to come write something after re-watching some footage of the first two songs Nine Inch Nails played at the O2 arena - one of the shows I saw. Tomorrow is possibly the last NIN show ever, and I don’t think you, dear reader, unless you are a fan, will realise the impact of that. They are simply the best live band I have ever seen and probably ever will see. The energy and impact of that music, the performance, the everything, it’s so intense, so absolutely incredibly fucking amazing.
I will never forget the moment Trent walked onto the stage at the O2. Ilan, though most thought he was justa roadie, was playing the drums justa little too hard to be only sounchecking, when, with he house lights still on and no warning whatsofuckingever, Trent just walked out onto the stage, grabbed the mike and started singing. Now I’m Nothing hadn’t been performed on stage since 1991, never recorded in the studio. The two live versions are the only recordings. It was follwed by Terrible Lie back then and it was in London, too. Oh, and then at the end of his first song, Trent smashed his guitar sideways into his mic stand, knocking it off stage, then hurled his guitar up into the air where it presumably crashed back onto the stage and broke - I didn’t see it land. As czi2001 from YouTube put it, there’s nothing like perfoming your first song like it’s the last.
Sure, the big hits like Head Like A Hole and Hand That Feeds were played, but less famous songs like Reptile, David Bowie’s I’m Afraid Of Americans [which was remixed by NIN, and Trent appeared in the video], The Becoming, The Big Come Down and La Mer also featured on the set list. Trent didn’t lie when he said it was a set for the fans. And he thanked the audience for coming out with sincerity that honestly did seem to come form the bottom of his heart. If you can find a band who do much more for their fans, I’d like to see them - remembering that the Nails’ latest full studio album was completely free, and that Trent quit his label [Interscope] for ripping off the fans.
There’s no way to describe exactly how much this band mean to me. “Everything” might well be an understatement. And seeing Trent Reznor, the genius behind it all, in person, sweating and screaming on stage, was clearly the best moment of my entire life.
Ah, they are just awesome.
[On a side note, and considering the fact that without Trent this band would not have got so far - he fucking boosted them up to stardom - I am going to see Marilyn fucking Manson in December!! I’ve loved both bands for the same amount of time, pretty much, and while NIN have always been my favourite - I think since I first heard just one of their songs - Marilyn Manson are another band with a special place in my heart. Plus Manson himslef is ridiculously interesting. I mean, have you read Long Hard Road Out Of Hell? It’s just mind blowing, the experiences in there, how utterly fucked up and twisted his world is, and his views on that world. Incredible.]
