Ever since Trent Reznor announced that he’d be taking a revitalised Nine Inch Nails back on the road for a 2013 world tour, kick-starting with an Australia-skirting appearance at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival, the big question has been when NIN’s tour would check in Down Under.
A notion that only peaked with Reznor revealing that he’d secretly been working, and finished, a brand new studio album, saying that Hesitation Marks, the first new NIN material since 2008’s the Slip, is “frankly fucking great.”
Now, following on from the release of the David Lynch-directed, epilepsy warning video for lead single ‘Came Back Haunted’ and extra dates to the NIN 2013 Tension Tour amidst members quitting the lineup before they embark on their global tour, the first rumours have solidified for an Australian tour.
Triple M music reporter-come-rumour monger Nui Te Koha tells the rock radio station that “Soundwave festival is close to securing Nine Inch Nails,” boldly calling out the industrial rock titans as potential headliners for AJ Maddah’s monster-sized touring festival next February.
Soundwave promoter and serial twitter AJ Maddah has already said that the 2014 lineup is ”pretty much full”, while noting his interest of booking Nine Inch Nails for the festival back in March, simply saying “would love to have them back at SW.” “Soundwave festival is close to securing Nine Inch Nails”
It was as part of the 2009 Soundwave lineup that Nine Inch Nails last visited Australian shores, on a bill alongside Alice In Chains, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Bloodhound Gang, and many more.
There’s little other information from Triple M on the matter, meaning it’s just a word and a prayer at this stage, but they do also throw a few other names in the hat regarding the Soundwave 2014 lineup, including Warnnambool rockers Airbourne, a return from emo-pop overlords Fall Out Boy, as well as the reunited Skunk Anansie and Jacksonville, Florida hard rock act Shinedown.
Despite being eight months away, Soundwave honcho AJ Maddah has confirmed the dates for the 2014 edition in between keeping busy with his responsibilities in announcing the Massive Attack-headlined Harvest 2013 lineup and dealing with the lineup leaks over the Australian return of the Vans Warped Tour this November/December.
Soundwave 2014 will “start sat Feb 22. Dates will follow same pattern as this year,” according to Maddah’s busy twitter feed. The “same pattern” being starting at Brisbane RNA Showgrounds, then Sydney’s Olympic Park the next day, before heading to Melbourne, Adelaide, and finishing up on in Perth amidst controversy surrounding power cuts that affected band’s sets. Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah has already said that the 2014 lineup is ”pretty much full”
Maddah has also siad it’s going to be difficult to top the 10th anniversary lineup of Soundwave 2013, which brought huge attendance numbers. But Soundwave 2014 will have some innovations, chiefly in the introduction of a new Japanese metal stage, featuring X Japan and and Maximum The Hormone, as Maddah himself let slip in August.
Other likely confirmations for the Soundwave 2014 bill include Danish act Volbeat, (“almost confirmed,” says Maddah), and American heavy metal outfit Godsmack (“they were in at 1 point, but had to pull out. SW14″), and Swedish glam metal outfit Crashdiet who revealed via social media their potential involvement. Other industry whispers have name checked British hardcore act Lower Than Atlantis, fellow English alt-rock outfit Don Broco, Swedish metallers Dead By April.
Trent Reznor and the Nine Inch Nails team are no doubt busily preparing for their live debut this July in a headline slot at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival, with a ‘newly invigorated’ lineup featuring Reznor, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis, Ilan Rubin and former NIN associate Robin Finck, replacing bassist Eric Avery who, along with King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, quit the band ahead of their 2013 tour.
Hesitation Marks, the band’s first record for new label Columbia Records, is due August 30th and lead single ‘Came Back Haunted‘ is up for grabs as a free download to those who pre-order the album from the official Nine Inch Nails store or from iTunes.
Soundwave 2014 Dates
venues TBA
Saturday 22nd February – Brisbane
Sunday 23rd February – Sydney
Friday 28th February – Melbourne
Saturday 1st March – Adelaide
Monday 3rd March – Perth
