Top 10 Music Artists that Influenced Trent Reznor

Trent Reznor is one of the most influential artists in music. But sometimes we all should acknowledge a great artist's influences to see where that artist would be today if it wasn't for them. And these are ten of Trent Reznor's main musical influences.

Trent Reznor is the lead singer for the band Nine Inch Nails.
The Top Ten
1 David Bowie David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016) was an English singer born in London, the son of a fundraiser and a waitress. He is credited for his experimental and creative musical discography which has won praise and accolades for many critics and fans. The man who the world knew as David Bowie was an actor, a painter, a philosopher, and many other things. But first and foremost, and what he was known for most, he was a rock star, covering every genre from psychedelic folk to industrial. His influence on fashion, music, and pop culture in general remains as his legacy--along, of course, with his unforgettable music.

He is a fan of Bowie and has cited Low as one of his favorite albums. He also recalls how Bowie helped him get sober.

2 Rush Rush was a Canadian progressive rock band that was formed in 1968. The band has had an iconic lineup since 1975, which included Neil Peart (Drums, Percussion), Geddy Lee (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards), and the guitarist, Alex Lifeson. Peart passed away after a 3 year battle with brain cancer in January of 2020. Because of this, Lee says there are no plans to keep the band going, so Rush is most likely defunct. The band has become one of the most well-known progressive rock bands in the world, with such albums as "2112", "Hemispheres" and "Moving Pictures". More than half of their albums have gone gold or platinum, as certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America).

Trent has considered Rush to be one of his favorite bands and has cited their album Signals as a major influence on how to incorporate keyboards and synthesizers into hard rock.

3 Ministry Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer and only original member Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a new wave synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the mid-1980s. In late 1990s and after that, Ministry have explored other metal genres, most notably thrash metal.

One of NIN's earliest influences and the inspiration for the band's name. It was inspired by a quote by Al Jourgensen: "Listening to Ministry is like having a nine inch nail hammered into your head like a hole."

4 Gary Numan Gary Anthony James Webb, professionally known as Gary Numan, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer and artist.

Trent has frequently admitted that Gary Numan's Telekon was constantly being played while working on his first NIN album. NIN have many a time played a Numan track live. On several occassions with the man himself singing the song. And in other cases with the bassplayer that became instantly a highly demanded session player AFTER he first played on a Gary Numan album (Pino Palladino on 1982's "I, Assassin" also toured with NIN, decades later).

Gary numan is probably one of the most influencial artists out there, it is only recently he is getting the praise he deserves after such a long time

Trent said that he knew he wanted to make music with synthesizers after hearing Cars.

5 Skinny Puppy Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial music group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1982. The group is widely considered to be one of the founders of the electro-industrial genre.

Another influence on NIN. NIN's debut single Down in It was heavily influenced by Dig It.

6 Queen Queen are an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals). Before forming into Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury was a fan of Smile and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and recording techniques. He then joined the band in 1970, suggested "Queen" as a new band name, and adopted his familiar stage name. John Deacon was also recruited to complete the line-up. ...read more.

Trent stated that Freddie Mercury's death meant more to him than John Lennon's and covered Queen's Get Down Make Love.

7 Coil Coil were an experimental group consisting of Jhonn Balance and Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, the latter of Throbbing Gristle fame. Formed in 1982, the duo went on to create well-celebrated albums such as 1987's Horse Rotovator, 1991's Love's Secret Domain, 1999's Musick To Play In The Dark, as well as its 2000 follow-up, Musick To Play In The Dark², and 2005's The Ape Of Naples. ...read more.

Trent expressed the significant influence that Coil had on his work, saying that Horse Rotorvator was "deeply influential".

8 The Cure The Cure are an English post-punk/gothic rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1978. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member.
9 Throbbing Gristle Throbbing Gristle were an English music and visual arts group formed in 1976 in Kingston upon Hull. The band comprised Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson and Chris Carter.

Pioneers of industrial music. Trent admitted to borrowing techniques from them.

10 Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic and synth-pop band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke.

The Halo numbers (numbers assigned to the pieces of the NIN discography in the order that they're released) were inspired by a similar system Depeche Mode used by using STUMM for albums and BONG for singles.

The Contenders
11 Joy Division Joy Division were an English post-punk band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band consisted of singer Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer Stephen Morris.
12 Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. The band consisted of 5 members - David Gilmour (Vocals and Guitar), Syd Barrett (Vocals and Guitar), Nick Mason (Drums), Roger Waters (Vocals and Bass), and Richard Wright (Vocals and Keyboard). Barrett was replaced by Gilmour in 1968. ...read more.

Pink Floyd's The Wall was one of the main inspirations for The Downward Spiral.

13 Test Dept
14 Soft Cell Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s, consisting of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball.
15 Devo Devo is an American rock band from Akron, Ohio formed in 1973. Their classic lineup consisted of two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales, along with Alan Myers. The band had a No. 14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", the song that gave the band mainstream popularity.
16 Prince Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21st, 2016) was an American musician, best known for being one of the most popular and influential artists from the 80s, with songs such as "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "1999", and "When Doves Cry" .
17 Adam Ant
18 The Cars The Cars were an American rock band that emerged from the new wave scene in the late 1970s. The band originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1976, with singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter Ric Ocasek, singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer ...read more.
19 The Jesus and Mary Chain The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid.
20 My Bloody Valentine My Bloody Valentine is a Irish shoegazing band from Dublin, formed in 1983, which consists of guitarist, producer, samplist, and vocalist Kevin Shields, drummer and samplist Colm Ó Cíosóig, bassist Debbie Googe, and later on in their early career vocalist, and guitarist Bilinda Butcher. ...read more.
21 Pere Ubu
22 Killing Joke Killing Joke are an English rock band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England. The original line-up included Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Geordie Walker and Youth.
23 Kraftwerk Kraftwerk is a German electronic music band formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970 in Düsseldorf. The band was fronted by both Hütter and Schneider until Schneider's departure in 2008.
24 Erasure Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of singer and songwriter Andy Bell and songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke.
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