Adrian Belew quits Nine Inch Nails
Guitarist is second member of band to quit since frontman Trent Reznor’s departure
Mere hours after Nine Inch Nails released a new single, Adrian Belew revealed that he’s left the recently revived group ahead of an extensive world tour set to begin next month.
The guitarist, best known for his work with the influential prog-rock band King Crimson, announced his departure in a tersely worded post on Facebook.
“Concerning me being part of the 2013 Nine Inch Nails band: it didn’t work,” he wrote on Thursday.
Belew is the second member of Nine Inch Nails to quit since frontman Trent Reznor reconvened the LA-based group earlier this year.
Last month bassist Eric Avery pulled out, writing on Facebook that he “got overwhelmed” and that he wanted to “focus on my musical life here in LA.”
Robin Finck, who’d played with Nine Inch Nails previously, stepped in quickly to replace Avery; Reznor hasn’t said who (if anyone) will take over for Belew. Minus the guitarist, the band now includes Reznor, Finck, Josh Eustis, Alessandro Cortini and Ilan Rubin.
Late Wednesday evening Nine Inch Nails released “Came Back Haunted,” the lead single from a new album to be released September 3. Titled “Hesitation Marks,” the disc will serve as the group’s follow-up to 2008’s “The Slip.”
