Trent Reznor interview 8 4 1990

This interview was conducted at the Empire concert Club on the occasion of the fourth time Nine Inch Nails played Cleveland. Their first show was at the Phantasy Night Club, the second at the Phantasy Theatre opening for Jesus & Mary Chain, the third at the Phantasy Theatre opening for Peter Murphy and the fourth as headliner at Empire. I'm proud to have been one of the first media outlets to have promoted this excellent band 25 years ago with the release of their debut album 'Pretty Hate Machine.' I knew how big they were going to be from the very first note of the first demo disc I received, 'Down In It' and I featured them on more than one occasion on VidMag TV.

[@pinemarten7509]

Awww baby Trent keeping himself hydrated

[@ryanhudson6903]

Coke? X?

[@hfv6343]

💛

[@namusorke7420]

AHAHHAHSHAVSHSNZJAKA

[@adamak47miller90]

Nine Inch Nails saved my life in high school. I'm 41 and I still listen to them almost everyday and I miss the 80's and 90's some of the best times in my life. I remember when I got the double VHS for the Downward Spiral and I still have it to this day. Best Christmas present ever my mom and dad had to go to a record store in Madison WI. To get for me and my dad put it behind the TV like a Christmas Story. I lived in a home where music was a big part of everyone's life so my parents never said you can't listen to that. My home was my safe place and the outside world was not because I didn't fit in and I didn't play sports I wasn't Ritchie Ritch so I got beet on all the time at school and his music showed me how to open my mind and use that anger in a positive way , most of the time. GODFLESH , SkinnyPuppy , 80's Ministry , The Swans and all them bands that from that time I still have to listen to everyday all the time it's what keeps me feeling hole. I love that my kids are into there music and they like some of my music. Thank you Trent for being you

[@vidmagmedia2156]

Brilliant man. I have that video too and still love NIN. I'm also very impressed with his soundtrack work with Atticus Ross.

[@hardluckwoman0777]

Damn...I feel ya..but I'm a chic n girls are vicious

[@adamukrainetz9272]

I can totally relate to every word... I was lucky enough to meet Trent during The Fragile Tour in Toronto. I am also named Adam... My mom never told me to stop listening to all that great stuff. I too love early Ministry.. as it so happens I am 40 and was bullied in High school too because of many things like what you said. I miss the 80's too and 90's. Let's both of us hold the torch of real music and not all that plastic shit that has been coming out for the last 20 years or so. Cheers :)

[@Blooodhail]

This comment is a year old but it was so nice. Thank you for sharing those precious memories

[@sneathfrilledlizard]

SAME I LOVED THEM SO MUCH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND STILL DO! 🤘❤️😏

[@leeenfield4018]

Met Trent in ~1978 when he was about 13 when his grandmother (IIRC) dropped him off to audition for keyboardist for my friends garage band. Was the sound engineer for the next 3-4 years. Had a 4-track TEAC open reel in my basement "studio" and they spent untold hours recording and overdubbing new wave songs. We were so poor we had one open reel tape that we dumped to cassettes when we filled up the tape. Neither I or any of those original bandmates have ever been able to find any of the tapes. Oh well, so much for the NIN basement tapes.

[@EdgetonWolfeDrezwellington]

Hey man. I've always said, anything is possible if you believe in it. Whether it be music, yourself, someone, talent, the best of the unwanted and ignored or forgotten. It can always be done. It is possible. I do my best with my own music as well. As far as every effect and sound alone, videos, short film, and recently working on a Trilogy horror novel to get published. It can be found, edited, and shared my friend.I promise you man, I have several awkward real stories of running into celebs too. I just don't like to share much of my past, usually unless asked. Besides, your experience is enough alone that could inspire others who watch and share it. Pay it forward. Doesn't matter if anyone cares for the story, its about sharing that moment. In the end, that helps you finally get to share your story, and others enjoy it and believe in you and what you can do to help others. Music isn't a sound, its feeling, emotion, our environment, and how we as artists and musicians freely express what's in our heart, what's on our mind. My life for you, the world. That's life and that's the music.

[@EdgetonWolfeDrezwellington]

Always a way, man. Remember who else was there. Not me, unfortunately. Im always up for new sounds and ideas with music though. Always do my best to create and sound different in music. Maybe try and track down other friends bat that time. Use Facebook, or Google, any sorta social media like KZbin, or Instagram. Need ideas, help, I'm here if needed, man. No prob.

[@morganophelia5963]

wow he was 19 when i was born then i was born in 84 im 39 now lol

[@Crunkachu]

​@@EdgetonWolfeDrezwellington👍🏼

[@yaminthein7833]

Damn, he was articulate. Even back then in those younger times. An intelligent and talented man. Rarity.

[@VidMagTV]

Yes, he's always been able to be concise and he's very intelligent.

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

Yamin Thein it’s almost like he’s being interviewed or something. The way he uses words and answers questions. Wow!

[@Marina_IC_XC_NIKA]

He is and always has been "too intelligent" for the industry. Trent is genuine and he has had to overcome and defend his differences vs. Hollywierd. That place is way more fucked up than he will ever be. It's no wonder to me why he and Mariqueen refuse red carpet events & enjoy time together. Love is sanity in a hell hole like Hollywood. Bunch of soulless, Illuminati puppets and soul stabbing psychos.

[@felipecavalera8729]

@@Marina_IC_XC_NIKA but he has been on red carpets and make music for disney

[@Marina_IC_XC_NIKA]

@@felipecavalera8729 🤣

[@VidMagTV]

thank you everybody for your comments. It took me previous 4 tours before I finally landed this interview on their fifth time in Cleveland, and I was very happy to get it. I'm glad you all liked it. be sure to check out the rest of the stuff that I have on my channel there's more really cool material on here.

[@mudturtlevision]

+Jeff Reding Dude wait you are the guy in the video posting this on youtube 25 years later? fucking epic

[@bushmaster591]

damn man Trent's thirsty..........lol.........

[@philophilesapiens7700]

Wow dude, what is your name VidMag Media and how old are you? This is a fantastic video.

[@isabellaswan2526]

Wow. I don't remember this gig - but I do remember Trent f#ck!ng my brains out, most of the Tour. Always in love with you, Trent.

[@billiemook]

What club did the interview take place at?

[@4SonnyD]

The way he speaks has barely changed between him as a young man and his voice 30+ years later. So many other rock stars sound completely different in old interviews.

[@standinsilence]

He doesnt sound as nasally now as he does here.

[@Qliphirot]

His voice was deep at very young age

[@ArrcanarStudios]

shame on people calling Trent ugly.

[@jasonlancaster4171]

People really say that?

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

ArrcanarStudios who cares. I’m watching because I like the music.

[@rainbowrotcod]

who says that?

[@counterfeitmistress7140]

Hottie then. Hottie now. One of my biggest rockstar crushes.

[@deepcovergecko]

Trent Looks hot, as always

[@junkystuff3628]

My god, I never thought I’d come across a video where Reznor is dressed like this. My god. Thank you, 1990.

[@VidMagTV]

Yeah, he was casual for the interview. Far cry from his Woodstock 94 performance where he was all covered in mud, yeah?

[@junkystuff3628]

VidMag Media oh, certainly. He has much more of that “late ‘80s, very early ‘90s pre-Nirvana goth look.” The kind that I would expect from an artist influenced by both the Cure and Ministry.

[@VidMagTV]

@@junkystuff3628 not so sure about The Cure but Ministry for sure. Trent took the template Ministry created and blew it up. Industrial music was never the same after Nine Inch Nails. But then, he was in an 80s cover band before he moved to Cleveland (Option 30) that's actually pretty hilarious given what he came to be known for!!!

[@dylanr.976]

@@junkystuff3628 and depeche mode

[@zeitok8]

Wow man i love when rare old footage of NIN appears, thank you so much, this is great.

[@empress9554]

Awww little Trent he’s such a baby here

[@pinemarten7509]

Eve Marie Post before he was flaming hot he was a cute baby 💖

[@MannaMusicOfficial]

Slam Bamboo is the hip new up and coming rage

[@VidMagTV]

Oh yeah, I forgot about them. I always think of Exotic Birds.

[@somewhatdamaged9764]

Sin is one of his best videos.. I love how reznor hates mtv and commercialized music videos making beautiful artistic representations instead.. Great interview

[@cutmythroat.itmakesyouhuma8739]

Pfft you're so gullible. He's as pop as it gets. Ripoff real artists to seem interesting & make money. He's a synth poptart who pretends he's tortured to seem "cool" it's pathetic. He even had a cry cos Marilyn Manson got raped as a child & he didn't. Pfft you worship a fkn wanker.

[@iamisandisnt]

"I have no worldly beliefs, I'm not really interested in changing the world in any way" HAH. That's how you get them, Trent.

[@dufung3980]

He became such a little man(as in growing from boyhood not saying a small man, quite otherwise) so quickly.

[@crnkmnky]

Two guys, talkin’ about music, in sexy pants.

[@n.dend.30]

Now I'm Nothing.......wave, wave, wave, wave goodbye........ great interview thank you

[@vidmagmedia2156]

Thank you!!!

[@emorgoth2k971]

"What do you think of Disney -- would you score one of their movies if given a shot?"

[@phosmana1]

I was at this show! Great performance and the opening band Die Warzau where a good match. The Empire Club was a cool venue.

[@VidMagTV]

Yeah, I miss the Empire, and Babylon A-Go-Go too. I also filmed Pigface there, though Trent didn't play with them at that show, even though he was one of the rotating members.

[@tabanger]

Very nice interview. You were very well informed and prepared, and as a result, got some good answers and information from him.

[@elainerichard7211]

well done, so much information from Trent

[@VidMagTV]

Elaine Richard. Thank you Elaine.

[@heytheremogwai]

Jesus Christ. 1990. This looks like it was filmed in the 60s.

[@rumshutt3r]

heytheremogwai except if it was recorded in the sixties on like 16mm it'd probably look a lot better.

[@Losttracks2]

I like how everyone ignores transcoding and other forms of quality degradation these videos probably go through lol

[@starmachines]

"you did everything, right?" "yep" riiiiight.

[@bryanketler9354]

I was in a band called Threshold and we were fortunate enough to play at the Phantasy nightclub a few times. Michelle was very kind to us. She even had us put together a package of our music and some stickers and whatnot and she gave it to Trent. It never went anywhere but it was a very good time in my life. I'm thankful for those years.

[@rustyvkane3471]

I was at the ritz nyc for nin opening for peter murphy.trent and his band stood next to me for peter's set .hard to believe it was 30 years ago!

[@VidMagTV]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I interviewed Peter when they played Cleveland but it was audio only. The next time NIN played Cleveland, later that tour, was when I did this interview. It was their official record release party.

[@morganreigns1984]

This was a month and a half before I turned 6 LOL

[@menschman98]

I didn't expect to hear him mention the Sin video

[@kiwistorm7754]

Thanks so much for uploading this amazing interview. Great to see that he was as articulate back then as he is now. Love his art back then right through until now. An amazingly accomplished and humble guy. Would love to see him live. 20/10 for the interview!

[@mheberling5939]

I recognized this location at the Empire. I did not attend this show, but I did attend the headlining gig 6 months later at the Phantasy Theater in January 91. Good interview!

[@VidMagTV]

Yeah, I saw all three Phantasy shows - including the very first at the night club. That was his first Cleveland gig after playing the CMJ festival in New York. I still wish he would have debuted the band in Cleveland, but at least he did his first non-showcase show here.

[@TRKJSR]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@6SeaNaeS9]

great interview thanks for uploading

[@matthewgelfer4955]

Trent is just a kid here. So cool to see. Thanks for posting!

[@joshkeyes140]

Terrific interview.

[@rainbowrotcod]

I have no words !!!!!!!! Take my smiley!!!!!!! :))))))))

[@haloseed0800]

Oh this is beautiful!

[@Alexandra_Todorova]

He sure drinks a lot of water :D

[@dickjohnson6999]

+97gnr That's not water...

[@greckendale]

+97gnr Hes said in another interview, its the best way to heal your throat after a show.

[@dickjohnson6999]

He's drinking vodka out of that, you dumbass.

[@johnacove]

+97gnr and has a very itchy neck :D

[@Alexandra_Todorova]

+John Cove Oh wow, I hadn't noticed that :D

[@MetalSchoolChannel]

Awesome interview!

[@averyacid6727]

This was an amazing interview thank you

[@vidmagmedia2156]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the feedback.

[@santiagofernandez8551]

One of the best interviews..

[@VidMagTV]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@Camden1313]

Thank you for the upload. Its great to see these classic interviews.

[@VidMagTV]

Thank you. I fought hard and long to land this one - four tours - and I thought he was very insightful. Glad you like it.

[@nin615]

Videotape quality and tracking sound makes this interesting

[@mckennakessler339]

Wish I was that water bottle

[@philophilesapiens7700]

Err...............are you male or female McKenna Kessler? LOL

[@aleka..]

Philophile Sapiens does it really matter?

[@standinsilence]

@@aleka.. Of course it matters. Im pretty sure Trent only lets girls go there between his legs.

[@NbrgamingBlogspot]

that was great

[@jasonpeters3558]

Best album ever made

[@marccooper76]

Best answers for being a musician ever. Thanks trent. Brilliant

[@marccooper76]

It might he a load of crap. Then the downward spiral comes out 3 yrs. Later

[@janedoe9266]

I was born this year Trent is a legend

[@user-fo5ux1jp1d]

I remember why he was my first huge musician crush at 12.

[@MailOrderKidney]

This is great, thanks for sharing!

[@sirianfelixbrightonesquire3247]

Just a few years changed him a lot LOL. From exotic birds to legendary artist. I wonder how many angry songs were about those years LOL

[@philophilesapiens7700]

Trent looks really hot! Dis is fucking gold!

[@crimsonrebirthbs]

Trent in cuffed jean shorts...Priceless. So nice to learn the journey of NIN

[@ZillMob]

It was just constantly summer in the 90’s

[@eboethrasher]

What I would not have given to see him playing up in the Night Club, I've played up there and it would have been surreal to see him with the pirate ship and everything haha.

[@VidMagTV]

It was great and it was packed!!!!!!!!!!

[@hudsonsirheshicks2653]

Grew up on NIN and love them but it’s only lately I’ve realized how much Trent “borrowed” his look and soundscape atmospheres off Skinny Puppy’s Ogre.

[@vidmagmedia2156]

Actually I'm thinking it's the other way 'round. I think that Trent took his inspiration from Ministry then blew it up and everyone else followed suit.

[@cutmythroat.itmakesyouhuma8739]

It's a "copy of a copy." So ironical, hypocritical that it bitches about poptarts wot are no different from itself. Rips off real artists & tries to pass it off as art. Fkn gross. & Eejits believe that it's real cos it pretends to be.. pfft wot a joke

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

$78 nine muise rock 🎸 ♥

[@Danny-wv8ec]

Great interview!! Thanks. Trent seems smart and down to earth

[@SIl_Ae]

Hey, I was born exactly 4 years later

[@blacklightburns100]

me too ;)

[@missyr797]

This was on my 8th bday lol

[@turnleftaticeland]

this was exactly 10 years before i was born hi birthday gang

[@praetentious2925]

Nope

[@sibbyeskie]

4:00 you know you have anxiety when you think you screwed up a word like “ground” so bad that you have to correct yourself, and you just said “ground” with slightly different emphasis.

[@DiZZoLabs]

Bow down before the one you serve!!!

[@JennMM]

🌺

[@jeannetpierre1]

Trent is wonderful.

[@jennyjones2439]

He was a fucking genius from the start!!!

[@cutmythroat.itmakesyouhuma8739]

Biting evryone else's style of dress & music ain't genius. It's calculative, strategic. NOT art. It's a fkn businessman. FAUXartist. Tryhard. Fkn wannabe. That ain't art nor genius.

[@ColinCayvzmusic1111]

Sent a few tapes out... got a record deal. No big deal. LOL

[@VidMagTV]

I disagree. It was a BIG deal. He changed the face of music. He took what Ministry started and transformed it. When no less a figure than David Bowie wants to work with you, that's enough of a ringing endorsement for me.

[@amandadyson8558]

Yes, acted like it's just that easy. For him I understand why they just "gave" him a record deal.

[@Vaisin]

@@VidMagTV Man, even freakin' David Bowie wanted to work with Trent. Trent Reznor has become a legend on his own right

[@woodenspoonenthusiast72]

Weird to see him not wearing boots

[@chickensoupboi]

Completely unrelated, love both the profile pic and name.

[@nickfuller]

"I just started writing songs in my room...then I worked in a studio...in 6 months I got a record deal..." this, folks, is how reality unfolds...:P

[@rubbersoul420]

It looks like they traded clothing right before the interview.

[@emilylibra9838]

His haaaaaiiiirrrr xD

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

Peggy guardado

[@idealfather3547]

I had a ons to closer.

[@redplague]

Wait a minute, I thought Trent worked as a cleaner in the studio, not the engineer? He's said in interviews that he cleaned toilets or was he on about somewhere else?

[@furnacecreek1035]

redplague the way studio tenure works, you have to pay the dues, so he did both. Even folks with proper recording engineering degrees would not walk in and take over - you have to dig your way out of the trenches

[@VidMagTV]

@@furnacecreek1035 not entirely sure about that in Trent's case because, at the time he was in another band, Exotic Birds, and they well-known in the local music scene. He might have done that before he came to Cleveland from Mercer, Pennsylvania, where his parents operated a manufacturing plant making heating and cooling units while he was in a cover band called Option 30.

[@thebluelibra5686]

@@VidMagTV Woah, I just made a connection - I worked in a few warehouses that had Reznor heaters, and I always wondered if there was a connection. Had no idea that his Dad founded the company that makes those products.

[@SoulDelSol]

@@thebluelibra5686 think it was more like grandad than dad

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

🍜🍜

[@crawlingamongthestars3736]

Why does the interviewer looks like belongs in Studio 54?

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

🍪🍪🍪

[@sleepisoptional]

jorts. that is all

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

42 Peggy guardado Nov 11 25 78

[@fredbissnette3104]

So kool

[@TyroneCLove]

Was this before of after the show ?

[@VidMagTV]

TyroneCLove we did this before the show

[@philophilesapiens7700]

Wow, thanks. I guessed this was after the show. I was wrong!

[@XXthekingofyouXX]

Will someone give Trent a sandwich?? My arms are bigger than his legs! 😉

[@Qliphirot]

He started to get bulkier in the late 90's

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

Eating soup

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

Chinese food Chinese Chinese food beff

[@peggymonsterwihetmonsterbv5043]

Okay emergency now u nine

[@colleendito2046]

3:50 "a brand new musical style" shit, it was a brand new genre, Trent had skills no one had at that time. He nailed it (pun intended) I saw NIN at least 8x in 1990, and it went like that until early 2000's. At 56, im not to into "bad with, ghosts" etc. However most of his collaboration with Atticus Ross, I love. He looks so cute I could eat him with a spoon, yum, still sexy too.

[@VidMagTV]

I completely agree with you. And that's why I asked the question. He took what Ministry had been doing and elevated it to a new level. Ministry basically 'created' the industrial sound but Nine Inch Nails made it a thing. I was kind of surprised by his response to that question. And, by the way, I was at their first Cleveland performance at a night club before they started playing big shows such as the tours with Jesus and Mary Chain and Peter Murphy (which I also saw) in a theatre setting, along with their performance on the first Lollapalooza tour and then the tour with David Bowie, which I thought was absolutely brilliant. The way they transitioned from NIN to Bowie by bringing on members of Bowie's band while sending members of NIN offstage before Bowie was left was unique and a seamless transition. I think he undersold his influence. And I also agree about the soundtrack work he's done with Atticus Ross. I think it's brilliant stuff.

[@colleendito2046]

VidMag Media was that you doing the interview? If so, lucky you! I first heard NIN on college radio and it literally changed my life. I was at the first Lollapalloza (sp).Sadly I was unable to see any of the Bowie shows. I know Trent was into "Scary Monsters" same time I was, and PM's "Deep" as well, so I was thrilled at Trents collaboration. Thanks for telling me about the Cleveland show, how Im jealous (kidding, sorta).

[@colleendito2046]

VidMag Media just subbed

[@curassavica]

@@vidmagmedia2156 LOL, they were saying they’d just “subbed” as in, _subscribed_ to your channel.

[@jasonpeters3558]

"I hate MTV." Lol, such irony in Trent's statement. Flash Forward 4 years? MTV made Trent a multi millionaire

[@sparrowhawk81]

Oh man he wants to be Ogre so bad.

[@vidmagmedia2156]

Oh come on. He was doing this long before almost alll the other industrail bands of the time other than Ministry. And Trent set the bar mighty high for anybody to even come close - Ogre doesn't.

[@sparrowhawk81]

@@vidmagmedia2156 I have no problem with either Trent reznor or ogre. Ogre is insanely talented and Trent is my musical idol. I meant nothing personal by it. However if you think Trent was doing this kind of thing before ogre....I dunno what to tell you. Down in it was Trent's first single in 1989. Skinny puppy's back and forth came out in 1983. Up until nin Trent was in some "pay the bills" bands. Not knocking him, again....but come on.

[@rainbowrotcod]

I don't think he was trying to be Ogre. He was definitely inspired by him, though... they certainly respect eachother, considering their collaboration in Pigface. Bottom line, NIN and SP sound completely different from one another these days and I'm getting pretty tired of people angrily comparing Trent where it's unennessecary. But nevermind me. Its all been said and done before, right?

[@frogginbullfish3372]

His hair cut was atrocious in this interview.

[@maddyboombaddybaddy6532]

SnowyIsSleepy i think its rad

[@gremlinrat420]

It's basically the haircut I have now, asshole

[@sandramalmeister4353]

I think he is hot any time any hair do.

[@thesillysadist3389]

+CheezyTrees loll same

[@bearfrozenbones]

Its d o p e

[@exploreroscar516]

Is it me or does Trent sound like Corey Taylor here?

[@Marina_IC_XC_NIKA]

It's no wonder why his legs are truly expressing what's going on...say "hi" Trent 🙄 Another, brainless corporate interview that he worked to translate into. It's no wonder why artists are driven to "insanity" which may include all of the symptoms in small print below the pharmaceutical commercials that you need serious strength to shit out of your consciousness every day.

[@VidMagTV]

I take offence at what you said. I busted my ass to get this interview and I"m NOT corporate media. VidMag Television is a sole proprietorship run by me and Trent gave great answersw to my questinos. This was done at the beginning of the band's career, the fourth time they played Cleveland and his label, TVT, was NOT a major label and wasn't being distributed by any of the majors. They WERE NOT corporate bullshit.

[@Marina_IC_XC_NIKA]

@@VidMagTV To take offense is your choice; I'm not making you do or feel anything. I made an observation and I still believe in it. You don't have to and I don't have to change my mind because you want me to believe that interviewers are useful.

[@standinsilence]

Catfight!!

[@riversutcliffe9520]

Don't think ur any good but good videos

[@jasonpeters3558]

Like most cool bands? They all owe Kurt Cobain so much. No Nirvana? NIN is no where as successful

[@VidMagTV]

Jason Peter's I don't know that I would agree with you. NIN were very successful and highly influential. After Pretty Hate Machine broke big, suddenly there were a ton of industrial bands. Ministry may have started it but NIN took it to the next level. Then we got Front 242, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface, Skinny Puppy, Butthole Surfers and many more.

[@maddyboombaddybaddy6532]

Jason Peter's NIN success was wau beyond nirvana the hell u talkin about?

[@KedViper]

First of all, Nirvana and NIN are totally different genres. Second, popularity doesn't necessarily make something good. Third, Nirvana owed a lot to bands that came before him as well.

[@06mrselfdestruct]

Jason Peter's I agree with your statement about most bands owing Nirvana for success, but NIN and Nirvana's first album's came out in 1989, Pretty Hate Machine sold way more copies than Bleach, and NIN became pretty big, Nirvana didn't become huge until late September or October of 1991, after Smells like teen spirit on MTV. So NIN's success was actually before Nirvana's...

[@Cyborg-zg6ml]

No they don't. nirvana may have came before NIN but only a year before. besides NIN was more inspired by skinny puppy and Depeche mode.

[@vidmagmedia2156]

thank you Michael appreciate that. I worked hard to get this interview and it worked out really really well.

[@vidmagmedia2156]

yes mudturtle, I did the interview.