Trent Reznor isn’t too fond of Kanye West. In fact, in a new interview with BBC Radio 6 Music he calls out the rapper and The Weeknd for “blatantly ripping off” Nine Inch Nails‘ live shows.
The band’s experimental and innovative production techniques have certainly caught the eyes of audiences across the world. Nine Inch Nails have been on the forefront of what’s cool for decades. While they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Reznor doesn’t seem too pleased in the clip below.
Here’s what he has to say: “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? 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.”
Yeezy and The Weeknd performed at Coachella together in 2015, so that could very well be the performance Reznor is referencing here.
That’s not all he’s worked up about though… Just last week Reznor unloaded to The Guardian about the current state of the nation and pop music. Kanye West was inevitably brought up, as well as his new album, ye. The NIN frontman said it “sucked.” And added, “The guy’s lost his fucking mind.”
In the past, Nine Inch Nails and Kanye have both worked with the famous creator of Daft Punk’s iconic pyramid, production designer Martin Phillips. Could it be they have similar taste when it comes to creative live, immersive experiences on tour?
Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor On Kanye West & The Weeknd
Full interview: http://bbc.co.uk/6music
Did @kanyewest and @theweeknd "blatantly" rip off @nineinchnails' live show?
Weds, Noon BST: Nine Inch Nails' @trent_reznor and Atticus Ross spend some time chatting to @laurenlaverne.
💻📱 Listen worldwide https://t.co/Dd2jiILcDV pic.twitter.com/S7ChPCAwPG
— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) June 26, 2018
H/T: Pitchfork | Photo courtesy of Coachella