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February 24, 2005 11:40 AM Subscribe
So, are there nine nails, all one inch long, or is there an undisclosed number of nails, all nine inches long?
According to Trent Reznor:
"I don't know if you've ever tried to think of band names, but usually you think you have a great one and you look at it the next day and it's stupid. I had about 200 of those. nine inch nails lasted the two-week test, looked great in print, and could be abbreviated easily. It really doesn't have any literal meaning. It seemed kind of frightening. [In his best he-man voice] Tough and manly! It's a curse trying to come up with band names."
posted by Jairus at 11:49 AM on February 24, 2005
"I don't know if you've ever tried to think of band names, but usually you think you have a great one and you look at it the next day and it's stupid. I had about 200 of those. nine inch nails lasted the two-week test, looked great in print, and could be abbreviated easily. It really doesn't have any literal meaning. It seemed kind of frightening. [In his best he-man voice] Tough and manly! It's a curse trying to come up with band names."
posted by Jairus at 11:49 AM on February 24, 2005
Nine-inch nails are much more appropriately scary than nine inch nails.
posted by amandaudoff at 11:53 AM on February 24, 2005
posted by amandaudoff at 11:53 AM on February 24, 2005
I keep seeing the quote Jairus just provided in copies of the (unofficial) NIN FAQ all over the 'net. Does anyone know what specific interview that quote is from?
I figure in Quake the nails had to be nine inches long, at least, because it seems irrelevent that the nail gun would be nine inches and the player certainly wasn't wielding nine at a time.
posted by DyRE at 11:56 AM on February 24, 2005
I figure in Quake the nails had to be nine inches long, at least, because it seems irrelevent that the nail gun would be nine inches and the player certainly wasn't wielding nine at a time.
posted by DyRE at 11:56 AM on February 24, 2005
It's from an Axcess Magazine interview, as I recall.
posted by Jairus at 12:02 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by Jairus at 12:02 PM on February 24, 2005
I was under the impression that he came up with the NIN logo first, and then found suitable words to make it an acronym (which is where "Now I'm Nothing" comes from as well).
But no, definitely, it's got nothing to do with actual nails of any size.
posted by m0nm0n at 12:06 PM on February 24, 2005
But no, definitely, it's got nothing to do with actual nails of any size.
posted by m0nm0n at 12:06 PM on February 24, 2005
...in other news, have you seen the new shots of his studio?
I need a wall of plugs and knobs.
posted by Jairus at 12:10 PM on February 24, 2005
I need a wall of plugs and knobs.
posted by Jairus at 12:10 PM on February 24, 2005
Can't wait for the new CD. And the new DVD that's been delayed for so long.
posted by eas98 at 12:38 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by eas98 at 12:38 PM on February 24, 2005
That wall of plugs probably goes great with that massive pile of effects pedals posted a while back.
posted by DyRE at 12:44 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by DyRE at 12:44 PM on February 24, 2005
Wikipedia explains...
For what it's worth and I would only imagine this is due to the Jesus on the cross reference, I was told that the nails used to nail down the tops of wood coffins are/were nine inches long.
posted by pwb503 at 1:05 PM on February 24, 2005
For what it's worth and I would only imagine this is due to the Jesus on the cross reference, I was told that the nails used to nail down the tops of wood coffins are/were nine inches long.
posted by pwb503 at 1:05 PM on February 24, 2005
Huh. I always thought it was referring to nine-inch fingernails. You know, the whole scary industrial-goth thing. I guess I never thought much about it. Well, I'm an idiot.
Thanks, so now I have to go back and hit "refresh" on the last decade or so. I wonder how I will be different?
posted by hellbient at 1:15 PM on February 24, 2005
Thanks, so now I have to go back and hit "refresh" on the last decade or so. I wonder how I will be different?
posted by hellbient at 1:15 PM on February 24, 2005
I always thought it related to the crucifixion -- not sure why. It appears from at least one source that the nails actually used would be around 4.5 inches long, though.
posted by felix at 1:20 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by felix at 1:20 PM on February 24, 2005
hellbient: I thought that too until I saw the the Nine Inch Nailgun in quake.
posted by abcde at 1:20 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by abcde at 1:20 PM on February 24, 2005
I always thought it was a slang term for a penis. I might've read that somewhere ten or so years ago, but I don't remember.
posted by Zosia Blue at 2:56 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by Zosia Blue at 2:56 PM on February 24, 2005
As Courtney Love once said: "More like three inch nails, right, Trent?"
posted by jokeefe at 3:00 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by jokeefe at 3:00 PM on February 24, 2005
What Zosia Blue said. "Nailing". "Nine inch". Seemed like a very phallic reference.
posted by Melinika at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by Melinika at 3:14 PM on February 24, 2005
That you're all coming up with meanings for it is sort of the intended effect, I always thought. It doesn't always pay to be specific in art.
posted by dong_resin at 3:22 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by dong_resin at 3:22 PM on February 24, 2005
Nine Inch Nails predates Quake, BTW. Reznor worked on the sound effects or music for it (I forget which), which is why there are NIN references in it.
posted by electro at 4:56 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by electro at 4:56 PM on February 24, 2005
It appears from at least one source that the nails actually used would be around 4.5 inches long, though.
How would this correctly be known. Since most crucifixions consist of the hands and feet being bounded to the cross by rope. In crucifixion, death comes as one suffocated by the body’s weight crushing the lungs.
posted by thomcatspike at 5:03 PM on February 24, 2005
How would this correctly be known. Since most crucifixions consist of the hands and feet being bounded to the cross by rope. In crucifixion, death comes as one suffocated by the body’s weight crushing the lungs.
posted by thomcatspike at 5:03 PM on February 24, 2005
suffocates
posted by thomcatspike at 5:04 PM on February 24, 2005
posted by thomcatspike at 5:04 PM on February 24, 2005
Tori Amos also uses the expression 'nine inch nails' in her song Crucify. I've been curious about it for years, but I like the crucifiction/coffin explanation (especially as she's a minister's daughter). Thx, AskMe!
posted by widdershins at 8:48 AM on February 25, 2005
posted by widdershins at 8:48 AM on February 25, 2005
widdershins, isn't it in "Precious Things" that she says "with their NINE-INCH nails and little fascist panties tucked inside the heart of every nice girl," not "Crucify."
She says "made my own pretty hate machine" in one of her songs too. "Caught A Lite Sneeze" (or is it dream?) I think.
posted by DyRE at 12:03 PM on February 25, 2005
She says "made my own pretty hate machine" in one of her songs too. "Caught A Lite Sneeze" (or is it dream?) I think.
posted by DyRE at 12:03 PM on February 25, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lexalexander at 11:43 AM on February 24, 2005