Nine Inch Nails (abbreviated as NIN) are
an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in
Cleveland, Ohio, USA. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and
instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and
remains solely responsible for its musical direction. After recording a new
album, Reznor usually assembles a live band to perform with him; this live
component is a separate entity from Nine Inch Nails in the recording
studio. On stage, NIN often employs spectacular visual elements to
accompany its performances, which frequently culminate with the band using
instrumental destruction.
Several rumors have persisted about
the origins of the name "Nine Inch Nails", one being that Reznor chose to
reference the story of Jesus' crucifixion with nine inch
spikes.