After hitting out at one of the biggest names in pop last week, Trent Reznor has now turned his ire on Kanye West and the Weeknd for reasons much less dire, claiming the pair of megastars "ripped off" Nine Inch Nails' live shows.
Speaking with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music, Reznor discussed his group being early adopters of "screens and experimental production techniques" before commenting on the widespread usage by artists today.
"I remember us watching a string of bands on Coachella from the comfort of our couch. And every band has a video playing behind them. And every band is synced up with a convenient, polite lighting package, you know?" he said. "And I saw Kanye West blatantly rip off — and the Weeknd rip off — our tours production-wise, which I'll say without any hesitation. And they know."
Pitchfork points out that both West and NIN have worked with production designer Martin Phillips in the past, who is also recognized for creating Daft Punk's iconic pyramid stage piece.
Reznor might not be reaching with these claims. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Sooner Routhier and Robert Long, the lighting and production designer for the Weeknd's "Starboy: Legend of the Fall" tour credited Reznor for inspiring their design work.
"We've always called [the Weeknd's] aesthetic the Nine Inch Nails of R&B," they said. "His music has so many dynamics and the visuals and lighting have to reflect that. But, it still has to be simple."
Nine Inch Nails recently released the band's new effort Bad Witch.
Speaking with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music, Reznor discussed his group being early adopters of "screens and experimental production techniques" before commenting on the widespread usage by artists today.
"I remember us watching a string of bands on Coachella from the comfort of our couch. And every band has a video playing behind them. And every band is synced up with a convenient, polite lighting package, you know?" he said. "And I saw Kanye West blatantly rip off — and the Weeknd rip off — our tours production-wise, which I'll say without any hesitation. And they know."
Pitchfork points out that both West and NIN have worked with production designer Martin Phillips in the past, who is also recognized for creating Daft Punk's iconic pyramid stage piece.
Reznor might not be reaching with these claims. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Sooner Routhier and Robert Long, the lighting and production designer for the Weeknd's "Starboy: Legend of the Fall" tour credited Reznor for inspiring their design work.
"We've always called [the Weeknd's] aesthetic the Nine Inch Nails of R&B," they said. "His music has so many dynamics and the visuals and lighting have to reflect that. But, it still has to be simple."
Nine Inch Nails recently released the band's new effort Bad Witch.
