Features
Reznor Spitting Nails
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor was apparently spitting nails before his band’s show at Reading Festival Aug. 25, claiming NIN had been “fucked” on the production.
Photo: Courtesy Festival Republic
The incident was first reported by NME, which quoted Reznor’s tweet saying, “Should be an unusual show tonight at Reading… the lying promoter and the band following us (whoever the fuck they are) fucked us on our production.” Biffy Clyro was to play after NIN.
Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, which produces the twinned Reading and Leeds Festivals, has since told NME that there’s “no truth” in Reznor’s statements.
“The contract hasn’t changed since they signed up to it,” Benn said. Benn wouldn’t be goaded when NME asked if Reznor was perhaps feeling a bit sore about playing before a band he hadn’t heard of.
Festival Republic’s post-festivals statement included Benn saying he was “blown away by Biffy Clyro’s first Reading & Leeds headline set.” NIN wasn’t among the other acts listed among Benn’s highlights of the weekend.
He described the festivals as having a “great year.”
Reading sold out all its 90,000 tickets, while Leeds – the younger of the two events – didn’t fall far from selling out its 80,000 capacity. The first Leeds day sold out. Other acts apparently content with the production Aug. 23-25 included Green Day, Deftones, Eminem, Skrillex, Haim, Johnny Marr, and Palma Violets.