Pitchfork

Photo by Rob Sheridan

Looks like the transmedia onslaught surrounding Nine Inch Nails' 2007 LP Year Zero (only the fourth-most-recent NIN release, believe it or not) won't stop with that crazy alternate reality game.

As noted in a recent New York Times report, Trent Reznor has his eye on creating a cable television series to "tell the entire [Year Zero] story." Quentin Tarantino's producer buddy Lawrence Bender joins Reznor in the endeavor, but that's all we know of it for now. The NIN man was previously rumored to be considering a Year Zero feature film project, but we suppose he's shelved that so as not to spread himself too thin. Or maybe he doesn't want to put all his eggs in one basket? So many adages to choose from!

While the Times had Trent around, they also took a peek at what the forthcoming Nine Inch Nails "Lights in the Sky" tour with all those rad opening bands may have to offer. Reznor is working with Montreal-based production company Moment Factory on what sounds like a pretty mind-blowing stage setup. Spectacles discussed include "three giant video screens" and "disorienting effects," including some kind of moving video frame that can alter the sound of an instrument as it passes over. Nutty! As Reznor puts it, "What I'm trying to do is use the stage as an interactive instrument. I'm in the world of science fiction now."

And if you're wondering what said tour and said rad opening acts have to offer musically, look no further than the free five-song Lights in the Sky mp3 tour sampler Mr. Reznor recently posted to the NIN site. In addition to a Nails cut off The Slip and hot joints from Deerhunter, Crystal Castles, A Place to Bury Strangers, and Does It Offend You, Yeah? (including a couple Forkcast favorites), the Lights sampler also packs in artwork and enticing "digital extras." DRM-free too! All for the price of your e-privacy.

Nine Inch Nails hit the road beginning July 25.

NIN:

07-25 Pemberton, British Columbia - Pemberton Festival
07-26 Seattle, WA - Key Arena at Seattle Center *
07-28 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place *
07-29 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome *
07-31 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre *
08-02 Minneapolis, MN - Target Center *
08-03 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-05 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre %
08-07 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena %
08-08 Worcester, MA - DCU Center %
08-09-10 Baltimore, MD - Pimlico Race Course (Virgin Mobile Festival)
08-12 Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Civic Coliseum %
08-13 Duluth, GA - Gwinnett Arena %
08-15 Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center #
08-16 Houston, TX - Toyota Center #
08-18 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center #
08-20 Saint Louis, MO - Scottrade Center #
08-22 Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
08-23 Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills #
08-25 Toledo, OH - Seagate Convention Center #
08-27 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center $
08-29 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center $
08-31 Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena ^
09-02 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater %
09-03 Salt Lake, City UT - The E Center of West Valley %
09-05 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena %
09-06 Inglewood, CA - The Forum %
10-24-26 New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music Experience

* with Crystal Castles
% with Deerhunter
# with A Place to Bury Strangers
$ with Does It Offend You, Yeah?
^ with White Williams