Nine Inch Nails Redefine Industrial Rock at Chicago’s United Center with “Peel It Back” Tour
CHICAGO, IL — For nearly four decades, Nine Inch Nails (NIN) has stood as one of music’s most relentless innovators. On Tuesday and Wednesday night, the band returned to Chicago’s United Center with their “Peel It Back” Tour, proving that frontman Trent Reznor and company remain fearless in their pursuit of reinvention.
Breaking Tradition with a Risky Opener
Few bands would dare rework their most recognizable hit. But NIN launched into “Closer” not as the snarling ‘90s anthem of rebellion but as a stripped-down, bass-driven remix performed on a smaller, secondary stage. With Reznor joined by collaborator Atticus Ross and tour opener Boys Noize, the track morphed into a pulsating club mix — both disorienting and exhilarating. This move set the tone for the night: NIN would not simply revisit their catalog; they would reshape it in real time.
A Cinematic Evolution
Over the years, Reznor and Ross have built acclaimed careers as composers, scoring films like The Social Network, Gone Girl, and Soul. That cinematic influence is now fully woven into NIN’s DNA. The setlist included “As Alive As You Need Me To Be”, from the upcoming Tron: Ares soundtrack, marking the first time NIN has been credited as official composers. The performance blurred the line between industrial rock and orchestral scoring, transforming the concert into a multidimensional audio-visual experience.
Dual Stages, Dual Identities
The stage design reflected this duality. One platform served as a massive industrial rock arena, complete with blitzkrieg versions of “March of the Pigs” and “Heresy”, surrounded by strobe effects and massive video screens. The other — a smaller, intimate stage in the middle of the arena — saw Reznor strip back the fury for moments of haunting beauty. On tracks like “A Minute to Breathe” and a delicate piano-led version of “Ruiner”, the band revealed a restrained, almost symphonic side that captivated the crowd.
Old Fury Meets New Vision
Despite the experimentation, NIN didn’t abandon the aggressive force that made them icons. Fan favorites like “Wish”, “Gave Up”, and “Head Like a Hole” unleashed mosh pits that shook the United Center, while a devastating version of “The Perfect Drug” tested drummer Josh Freese, who rejoined the band for the first time since 2008. The setlist also paid homage to NIN’s roots with covers such as David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans”, culminating in the emotional closer “Hurt”, leaving the audience in stunned silence.
A Testament to Reznor’s Fearless Vision
Reznor has never played it safe. From pioneering industrial rock in the late ‘80s to redefining himself as an Oscar-winning composer, he has always embraced risk. The “Peel It Back” Tour embodies this philosophy: a daring combination of nostalgia, reinvention, and forward motion. Rather than lean on past glories, NIN continues to evolve, ensuring their music feels urgent and alive nearly 40 years into their career.
The Verdict
At the United Center, Nine Inch Nails delivered not just a concert but an artistic statement. Their willingness to experiment, blur genres, and reinvent their classics demonstrates why they remain one of the most vital acts in modern music. It was a reminder that for Reznor and NIN, the journey is never about looking back — it’s always about what’s next.
Were you at the United Center for Nine Inch Nails’ “Peel It Back” Tour? What did you think of the reimagined songs and cinematic stage design? Share your thoughts in the comments — and for more live music reviews and coverage, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.