Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were asked about David Bowie, Chris Cornell, and Chester Bennington’s deaths in a new 101 WKQX interview. Alternative Nation transcribed their comments.
The interviewer brought up Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington’s deaths, and asked how NIN deal with feelings of being isolated on the road, and being far from the things that ground you. The interviewer mentioned having feelings in the past of like he was spinning out on road, and like he needed to get back home.
Trent Reznor responded, “Me too. I just feel, as an adult, you have a responsibility to yourself to handle your business, take care of yourself. I know firsthand how distorted this lifestyle can get, traveling, being on tour is an isolating experience and weird, that’s probably outside the norm of what traditional occupations are. But I do feel the need to, I mean we’ve both learned to take care of ourselves.
I’m not saying that in any way that’s disrespectful to any of the people you mentioned, but I know at points in our lives we have had to say, ‘Stop. We’ve got to figure this out.’ It’s not fun, it’s not pleasant, it’s terrifying. But the lesson taken away from that process is that at the end of the day you are responsible for yourself.”
Atticus Ross added, “And sometimes others.”
Reznor said, “That’s true. Yeah, that’s right. That’s absolutely right, particularly family etc. So I can’t comment on who knows what those people were going through. I feel terrible that it happened, and I feel terrible for the people around them.”
