A while ago, I did a pretty lengthy article, originally intended for some academic music / sociology journal or another, on the WaxTrax! industrial dance culture, and some possible reasons why it never got the proper “re-assessment” that many other music subcultures get when they reach a certain age. [url www.radikaliai.lt/radikaliai/1863-you-often-forget-or-the-aggro-industrial-revival-that-never-happened]It was posted by some friends at the Lithuanian webzine “Radikaliai” recently.
I might add that when NIN’s popularity arose, (his then label) TVT records bought the rights to re-issue a good portion of the Wax Trax! catalog.
Being from Generation X, NIN was my initial exposure to the scene. In addition to employing several of his influences, he praised them in interviews. Trent was always good about making his influences known.
Sadly, my generation is the last to have any interest in the roots of industrial music. NIN is still just as popular today, but no matter how many times Trent pulls out the Coil card (especially with his homage project How to Destroy Angels), kids will always flock to Tool, Radiohead and Queens of the Stoneage.
I preface this by saying that I’m no better, but you sir are old!
I don’t know what the youngins listen to nowadays, but I’m pretty sure it’s not Tool, Radiohead and Queens of the Stoneage. Ahhh old-timey turn-of-the-century bands. Thems was the days.
In all seriousness though, that’s good to note; Trent was really good for that. I found out about a whole host of bands, including Neubauten (!), from reading interviews with him. But I don’t know how common that was for people in our generation either. I was the only one I knew back then who was following those kind of leads. I suspect it was just as rare back then as it is now. Most people are not very curious, and Trent is kind of the Elvis of industrial music… a catchy entry way for some, though most prefer to stand in the doorway.
Thanks to both of you for the good posts.
Great article!
I might add that when NIN’s popularity arose, (his then label) TVT records bought the rights to re-issue a good portion of the Wax Trax! catalog.
Being from Generation X, NIN was my initial exposure to the scene. In addition to employing several of his influences, he praised them in interviews. Trent was always good about making his influences known.
Sadly, my generation is the last to have any interest in the roots of industrial music. NIN is still just as popular today, but no matter how many times Trent pulls out the Coil card (especially with his homage project How to Destroy Angels), kids will always flock to Tool, Radiohead and Queens of the Stoneage.
