Nine Inch Nails were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a two-hour broadcast on HBO last night. Following an induction speech from Iggy Pop and a video package that included words from St. Vincent, Miley Cyrus, Saul Williams, and others, Trent Reznor accepted the honor on behalf of the band. Watch his full acceptance speech below.
“As I’ve been wrapping my head around Nine Inch Nails being welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I think I was most looking forward to the ceremony itself where the hopefully whole camp, past and present, was going to get together and have a moment. And we’re all stuck in our little boxes staring at our screens,” he said.
He continued: “Even now, music’s always been the thing that keeps me going, and, as an artist, I think the most significant accomplishment or feeling is realising something you’ve created from a fragile and intimate place has reached out, resonated and affected someone else, possibly changing how they see the world. So as to whatever being in a hall of fame means, thank you for the recognition.”
Reznor ended his speech by specifically thanking the band’s fanbase. “For the Nine Inch Nails fans out there, you guys are the best. We’ve wound up in some weird places together, and you’re an intense bunch that can drive me out of my mind, but you’re the best. This journey’s far from over if I have any say in it, so let’s stop fuckin’ around pattin’ ourselves on the back and get to it. Hope to see you all in the flesh soon. Thank you.”
Nine Inch Nails are joined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 by the Notorious B.I.G., Depeche Mode, Whitney Houston, T. Rex, the Doobie Brothers, as well as Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.
