Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has shared some heartfelt reflections on the late David Bowie, who passed away earlier this month aged 69, and who Reznor credits with helping him get sober.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Reznor says that he “was a mess” during NIN’s co-headlining Outside tour with Bowie in 1995 and 1996 — “the peak of Nine Inch Nails’ newfound rocket ship of fame”.
“The line starts to blur between the guy onstage and the person you used to be,” Reznor says. “My way of dealing with life was to numb myself with drugs and alcohol, because it made me feel better and more equipped to deal with everything.
“My career was skyrocketing, but the scaffolding that was holding me up as a person was starting to collapse. I wasn’t fully aware of how bad it was getting, but I knew, in my heart, that I was on an unsustainable, reckless, self-destructive path.”
Reznor says that when he met Bowie, the late muso had already been through a similar experience and was now “content” and “at peace with himself”.
“There were a number of times where the two of us were alone, and he said some things that weren’t scolding, but pieces of wisdom that stuck with me: ‘You know, there is a better way here, and it doesn’t have to end in despair or in death, in the bottom.'”
Reznor explains that he “hit bottom” a year later, before getting clean and feeling “a tremendous amount of shame” for his actions and missed opportunities.
“I thought back to the time when we were together a lot, and I wonder what that could have been like if I was at 100 percent,” Reznor says, before recounting how he tried to thank Bowie for getting him through his addiction.
“I started to say, ‘Hey listen, I’ve been clean for…’ I don’t even think I finished the sentence; I got a big hug. And he said, ‘I knew. I knew you’d do that. I knew you’d come out of that.’ I have goosebumps right now just thinking about it. It was another very important moment in my life.”
Speaking about his collaborations with Bowie, Reznor says, “I didn’t think we were done. It feels like the loss of a mentor, fatherly figure, someone looking out for you, reminding you that in a world where the bar keeps seeming to be lower, where stupidity has got a foothold, there is room for excellence and uncompromising vision.”
Elsewhere in his reflections, Reznor remembers the moment that Bowie first suggested they collaborate, as well as what Reznor says is “one of the greatest moments of my life” — when Bowie sung with him on Hurt. Catch footage of that very moment below, and to read all of Reznor’s reflections on Bowie head to Rolling Stone.
While Bowie reportedly planned “a long list of unscheduled musical releases” before his death which might arrive in the coming years, new NIN music is coming this year, as well as “other stuff, too”.
Watch: Nine Inch Nails – Hurt (With David Bowie, 1994)
Gallery: 25 Iconic Pictures of David Bowie
30 Iconic Bowie Photos
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David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 1971: A pre-glam David Bowie jams at a party thrown by publicist and future nightclub impresario and DJ Rodney Bingenheimer at lawyer Paul Figen's house in January 1971, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
Singer David Bowie being interviewed at home in Beckenham, London on April 24, 1972. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
English model Twiggy poses with David Bowie in Paris for the cover of his 'Pin Ups' album, 1973. (Photo by Justin de Villeneuve/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
3rd July 1973: Adoring fans reaching out to touch the hand of the English pop star, David Bowie, during the concert at the Hammersmith Odeon where Bowie announced that he was retiring his alter-ego 'Ziggy Stardust'. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
Angie Bowie, Zowie Bowie (Duncan Jones) and David Bowie (wearing an eyepatch) appear at a press conference at the Amstel Hotel on 7th February 1974 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
John Lennon and David Bowie during The 17th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Uris Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Photo of David BOWIE; performing live onstage on the Low/Heroes 1978 World Tour at R.A.S. Showgrounds (Photo by Bob King/Redferns) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL -- "The 1980 Floor Show staring David Bowie" Episode 210 -- Aired: 11/16/73 -- Pictured: David Bowie with the Astronettes during his last show as Ziggy Stardust filmed mostly at The Marquee Club in London, England from October 18-20, 1973 -- (Photo by: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
British rock singer and actor David Bowie (R) has a drink backstage with Paul Simonon, the bassist from British punk rock band The Clash, following the group's concert at Shea Stadium, Queens, New York City, circa 1982. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
David Bowie performing on stage in Winnipeg, 1983. (Photo by Denis O'Regan/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
UNITED STATES: Singer and musician David Bowie with Bob Dylan (left), circa 1985. (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
English singer David Bowie performing at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, 13th July 1985. The concert raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. (Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
LONDON - JUNE 20: Mick Jagger and David Bowie performing on stage at The Prince's Trust 10th Birthday Party at Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom on 20th June 1986. Behind them from left to right are: Francis Rossi, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Adams, Midge Ure, John Illsley, Eric Clapton. (Photo by Brian Cooke/Redferns) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
Actors David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly in a scene from the movie 'Labyrinth', 1986. (Photo by Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
David Bowie at the Berlin Wall, 1987. (Photo by Denis O'Regan/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
English singer David Bowie leans out of a window to pass autographs to fans during a visit to, Brixton, London, 6th July 1989. Bowie is visiting his birthplace for the opening of the new Brixton community centre, which he helped fund. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
David Bowie performing with Nine Inch Nails 1995 (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
Billy Corgan, David Bowie and Lou Reed (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
David Bowie during David Bowie's 50th Birthday Celebration Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
Dave Grohl and David Bowie during David Bowie's 50th Birthday Celebration Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
English singer David Bowie with American rapper Diddy (Sean Combs) in a recording studio, circa 2001. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
David Bowie during David Bowie "Reality Tour" at Madison Square Garden - Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
NEWPORT, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: David Bowie performs on stage on the third and final day of "The Nokia Isle of Wight Festival 2004" at Seaclose Park, on June 13, 2004 in Newport, UK. The third annual rock festival takes place during the Isle of Wight Festival which runs from June 4-19. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) -
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
The last picture of David Bowie taken by his wife Iman last Friday on his 69th birthday.
