Trent Reznor

Trent Reznor

Trent Reznor is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and composer best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails. He is also associated with How to Destroy Angels and has been active since 1982.

Quick Facts

Canonical Name Trent Reznor
Born May 17, 1965
Birthplace New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States
Country United States
Occupations singer, composer, pianist, singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, vocalist, manufacturer, film score composer, musician
Instruments guitar, piano, drum machine, bass guitar, synthesizer, mellotron, saxophone, cello, double bass, drum, tuba, sousaphone, Indian harmonium, marimba, pan flute, harpsichord, vibraphone, voice
Gender male
Genres rock music, alternative rock, industrial rock, synth-pop, ambient music, alternative metal, american, composer, metal, rock
Associated Acts Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels
Active Years Active since 1982

Identity and Aliases

Name Type Source
Trent Reznor Canonical Name System
Michael Trent Reznor Alias Wikidata
Michael Trent Reznor Legal name MusicBrainz

Biography

Trent Reznor is an American musician from New Castle, Pennsylvania, whose name is closely tied to Nine Inch Nails. Across a career that began in 1982, he has worked as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, record producer and film score composer, shaping a body of work that moves between rock, industrial rock, synth-pop, ambient music and alternative metal.

Reznor’s musical range is reflected in the instruments linked to his name, from guitar and piano to drum machine, synthesizer and voice. His association with Nine Inch Nails remains central, while How to Destroy Angels and earlier band affiliations such as Option 30, The Innocent, Exotic Birds, Lucky Pierre, Tapeworm, Slam Bamboo, 1000 Homo DJs, Pigface, Sound City Players and WitchGang trace a wider path through his career.

He is also connected to a substantial set of film and soundtrack releases, underscoring his work beyond band-centered projects. Those recordings place his compositional side alongside his role as a performer and producer.

Career Timeline

Year / Period Event Detail Source
1965 Born New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States Wikidata
1982 Career Start Active period begins Wikidata
1988–present Member of Nine Inch Nails MusicBrainz
2010–present Member of How to Destroy Angels MusicBrainz
1982–1984 Member of Option 30 MusicBrainz
1985–1985 Member of The Innocent MusicBrainz
1986–1988 Member of Exotic Birds MusicBrainz
1988–1988 Member of Lucky Pierre MusicBrainz
1996–2004 Member of Tapeworm MusicBrainz
Date not specified Member of WitchGang MusicBrainz
Date not specified Member of Sound City Players MusicBrainz
Date not specified Member of Pigface MusicBrainz
Date not specified Member of 1000 Homo DJs MusicBrainz
Date not specified Member of Slam Bamboo MusicBrainz

Musical Roles

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, record producer, vocalist and film score composer.

Role Source
singer Wikidata
composer Wikidata
pianist Wikidata
singer-songwriter Wikidata
guitarist Wikidata
record producer Wikidata
vocalist Wikidata
manufacturer Wikidata
film score composer Wikidata
musician Wikidata

Bands and Projects

Band / Project Relationship Source
Nine Inch Nails Member of Wikidata
How to Destroy Angels Member of Wikidata

Releases and Appearances

MusicBrainz lists several release entries connected to Trent Reznor. These entries may include solo releases, guest appearances, live recordings, and catalogued metadata records.

MusicBrainz-listed Releases and Appearances

Title Year Type Classification Source
The Gorge: Soundtrack From the Apple Original Film 2025 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Challengers: Original Score 2024 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
The Franchise: Soundtrack From the HBO® Original Series 2024 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Queer: Original Score 2024 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Challengers [MIXED] by Boys Noize 2024 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: Original Score 2023 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
The Killer: Original Score 2023 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Empire of Light: Original Score 2022 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Bones and All: Original Score 2022 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Mank: Original Musical Score 2020 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Soul: Original Motion Picture Score 2020 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Bird Box 2019 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Watchmen: Volume 1 2019 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Watchmen: Volume 2 2019 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz
Waves: Original Score 2019 Album metadata_listed MusicBrainz

Recorded Performances & Appearances

MusicBrainz-listed recording entries connected to Trent Reznor include:

Song Title Artist / Group Relationship Source
“I Know” Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
“I Know” (MIXED) Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
(If Only You Could) Save Me Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
(If Only You Could) Save Me + Billboard Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
(The Worst That Could Happen) Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
(You Made It Feel Like) Home Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
[Intro] / [Whisper] / [Outro] Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
[talking] Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
3:14 Every Night Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz
3:14 Every Night (5.1 mix) Trent Reznor Performer MusicBrainz

Musical Style and Instruments

Reznor is associated with rock music, alternative rock, industrial rock, synth-pop, ambient music and alternative metal. His credited instruments point to a layered, textural approach that draws on both electronic tools and acoustic colors.

Genres

rock music alternative rock industrial rock synth-pop ambient music alternative metal american composer metal rock

Instruments

guitar piano drum machine bass guitar synthesizer mellotron saxophone cello double bass drum tuba sousaphone Indian harmonium marimba pan flute harpsichord vibraphone voice

Collaborations and Guest Relationships

Artist Relationship Source
Mariqueen Maandig Married MusicBrainz
Nine Inch Nails Tribute MusicBrainz

External Identifiers & Authority Control

Trent Reznor has profile links associated with MusicBrainz, Discogs, Spotify, IMDb, VIAF, ISNI, GND and the Library of Congress.

Platform Identifier Purpose Source Confidence Link
MusicBrainz bc880664-6751-4998-984d-ebdbff15d229 Music metadata Wikidata High View Profile
Discogs 27457 Discography database Wikidata High View Profile
Spotify 0hRijdwO8UsJMudc3476ma Streaming profile Wikidata High View Profile
IMDb nm0722153 Film/media profile Wikidata High View Profile
VIAF 85578395 Authority control Wikidata High View Profile
ISNI 0000000114506262 Authority control Wikidata High View Profile
GND 133775291 Authority control Wikidata High View Profile
Library of Congress no96009628 Authority control Wikidata High View Profile

Semantic Graph Data (Knowledge Graph)

Subject Predicate Object Source Confidence
Trent Reznor citizenship United States Wikidata high
Trent Reznor date_of_birth May 17, 1965 Wikidata high
Trent Reznor family_name Reznor Wikidata high
Trent Reznor gender male Wikidata high
Trent Reznor given_name Michael Wikidata high
Trent Reznor place_of_birth New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States Wikidata high
Trent Reznor member_of Nine Inch Nails Wikidata high
Trent Reznor member_of How to Destroy Angels Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument guitar Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument piano Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument drum machine Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument bass guitar Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument synthesizer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument mellotron Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument saxophone Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument cello Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument double bass Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument drum Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument tuba Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument sousaphone Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument Indian harmonium Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument marimba Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument pan flute Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument harpsichord Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument vibraphone Wikidata high
Trent Reznor instrument voice Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation singer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation composer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation pianist Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation singer-songwriter Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation guitarist Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation record producer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation vocalist Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation manufacturer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation film score composer Wikidata high
Trent Reznor occupation musician Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre rock music Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre alternative rock Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre industrial rock Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre synth-pop Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre ambient music Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre alternative metal Wikidata high
Trent Reznor genre american MusicBrainz medium
Trent Reznor genre composer MusicBrainz medium
Trent Reznor genre industrial rock MusicBrainz medium
Trent Reznor genre metal MusicBrainz medium
Trent Reznor genre rock MusicBrainz medium
Trent Reznor member of band Option 30 MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band The Innocent MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Exotic Birds MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Lucky Pierre MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Nine Inch Nails MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Tapeworm MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band How to Destroy Angels MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Slam Bamboo MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band 1000 Homo DJs MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Pigface MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band Sound City Players MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor member of band WitchGang MusicBrainz high
Trent Reznor sameAs MusicBrainz Artist ID: bc880664-6751-4998-984d-ebdbff15d229 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs Discogs Artist ID: 27457 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs Spotify Artist ID: 0hRijdwO8UsJMudc3476ma Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs IMDb Artist ID: nm0722153 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs VIAF Artist ID: 85578395 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs ISNI Artist ID: 0000000114506262 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs GND Artist ID: 133775291 Wikidata High
Trent Reznor sameAs Library of Congress Artist ID: no96009628 Wikidata High

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Trent Reznor best known for?

A: He is best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails. He is also associated with How to Destroy Angels.

Q: What kind of artist is Trent Reznor?

A: He is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and composer. His work also includes film scoring.

Q: Where is Trent Reznor from?

A: He was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States.

Q: When was Trent Reznor born?

A: He was born on May 17, 1965.

Q: What instruments is Trent Reznor associated with?

A: His credits include guitar, piano, drum machine, bass guitar, synthesizer, mellotron and voice. He is also linked with several orchestral and keyboard instruments.

Q: What genres is Trent Reznor linked to?

A: He is associated with rock music, alternative rock, industrial rock, synth-pop, ambient music and alternative metal.

Q: Which bands has Trent Reznor been associated with?

A: His band associations include Nine Inch Nails and How to Destroy Angels. Earlier and related projects include Option 30, The Innocent and Pigface.

Q: What is Trent Reznor’s country of citizenship?

A: He is a citizen of the United States.

Data Quality and Sources

Quality Score
92/100
Last Updated
May 27, 2026
Entity Stats
59 Facts
8 Identifiers
64 Relationships
Primary Sources
Wikidata, MusicBrainz, Discogs, GuitarRank Editorial