And remember folks: this is the same guy who did the music for Soul

I had a friend who managed to get a bootleg VHS of this back in the mid-90s. Imagine a bunch of 14 to 15 year old goth kids gathered around an old CRT TV getting scarred for life.

You don't make art for TV. You make art because you need to.

A great point which you didn't touch on was the man on the table in "Happiness In Slavery". He was Bob Flanagan an artist who lived with and died from cystic fibrosis. He used sadomasochism to free himself from the pain of CF, there's a great documentary on his life and his death. The lyrics of that song and the fact he was in the video is phenomenonal as it was so relevant to his life. The freedom he found in pain and the happiness in the slave relationship he had with his partner. I don't know why but I've found it so inspiring, he made something from a terminal illness in art, pain and love. So glad Trent immortalised him in a way which reflected Bob's life.

Trent Reznor is an absolute genius. We are lucky to live in a time where he is alive and producing music.

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”-Cesar Cruz

I think it's worth mentioning that in the clean video for gave up you do have a young Marilyn Manson, but also a young Richard Patrick who was a touring guitarist for nin and Brian Liesegang both of who went on to form filter. Reznor's influence on nineties music goes beyond just nine inch nails.

In 2018 the official Nine Inch Nails channel uploaded the unedited video for Happiness In Slavery. It stayed up for an hour or so before KZfaq realised.

I’ll never get over the fear and disgust I felt when I saw it. I’m scarred and traumatized for life. I heard that when Reznor saw the final product he freaked out so bad and initially wanted to trash it, but in the end decided to put it out anyway. Happiness in Slavery and the Broken video are two of the most disturbing things I have ever seen.

When Trent was like 18-19yrs old I believe, I met him several times. Never had and actually conversation with him but my friend and I was in a band together and playing a lot of venues that we would either see Trent before our shows or after our shows. We were a metal band more like a Metallica type back then and Trent would always be handing out copies of his demo tapes. I swear I've never seen a guy hand out so many cassette tapes and he wore like a trench coat and how he had so many in his coat I'll never know but he was immensely driven. Always did everything himself, well at the time anyway. But he would go to show after show after show and pass out his demos. He pounded the pavement like no one else I'd ever seen. I wish my band back the had half his drive cuz we were decent. But as much as I seen him around he never really talked much and I'm not gonna lie cause he's famous and made it but at the time I really didn't get him music. It was over my head I guess, but it was industrial with heavy synth or keyboard but real heavy. His lyrics I remember liking but I was more of a regular two guitar, bass, drum and vocal kinda guy. But my band did a small east coast tour and Trent well you know dominated the world. I really learned to love his music, though it's still not my real genre but I wish I could of told the young me to talk to him. Other than the what's up. He ended up getting a guitar player that didn't live far from me, the guy from Filter. I just know that from what I learned being around people that work ethic can rub off on you and sometimes if you play with others outside your little box it can open up doors. I'll just never forget what a hard working young dude he was. Always pushing. So if any you young guys wanna really make it and you actually read this trip down my memory lane, then take this out of it, Trent was opening a new genera of music, he did not care what you said about it, he believed in it and worked his ass off to make his dream happen. What a true talent. Sorry for rambling on.

I bought a bootleg VHS copy of Broken that also contained uncensored videos from The Downward Spiral from a record store in the mid 90’s. I had to wait for my parents to fall asleep before I could play it in the living room. My sister and I watched it and we looked at each other in disbelief afterwards. We weren’t sure if the torture scenes were real or not.

I remember having a copy of _Broken_ on my iPod Classic, it had the missing scene of "Help Me I'm In Hell" (which is often the best known bootleg) and being so mesmerized by it. I still to this day respect Trent Reznor for having the balls to essentially make both the EP and short film as a middle finger to TVT for screwing him over.

I remember being introduced to NIN in 96 via a video game called Quake. I was hooked. Shortly after that I stumbled across the Broken video on a Warez site. It took several days to download it because I was on dial-up. I remember it being extremely disturbing in true NIN fashion.

So, growing up in the 80s and 90s, I was a HUGE fan of N.I.N. One of the best out there, for edgy music back then. You missed Fixed. The album just after Broken. I was in line to buy every album from Pretty Hate Machine to The Downward Spiral. Fixed was after Broken. Then Downward Spiral, then Further Down The Spiral. Anyway, glad people are still taking interest in N.I.N. Trent is AWESOME. I've seen him alone and with the band, both are amazing.

I've been listening to Nine Inch Nails for something close to two decades now. Eventually as a teenager I began writing and playing music myself. I've been successful and unsuccessful in the years since. But the older I get, knowing all that we do about the label disputes and control issues, the more I respect Trent for going from Pretty Hate Machine straight into the absolute monster of a project that is Broken. The absolute middle finger at a time where it was all too easy to take advantage of artists.

I've been listening to NIN since 1990. I went to the screening of Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan at the Chinese theater in Hollywood after Broken came out. There was definitely an audience for it. I wanted to add I first saw NIN at the first Lollapalooza, and last at PrimaVera Festival. Both in LA.

Trent Reznor is a genius. I was a teenager in the late 80s through the mid 90s. NIN is a part of my life's soundtrack

Really thankful for this video. I'm a pretty big NIN fan, but I've never wanted to endure a scarring just to experience the Broken film or "Happiness in Slavery". You kinda summarized it and showed a few of the watchable parts. I've seen the "Help me I'm in hell", "Pinion", and "Wish" videos, but it was good to see the Broken film outlined and layed out.

Ooohhhhh my man Trent. The Fragile will always be my favorite, but Broken is 🤌🏻

My favorite album, from one of my most admired artisit's of any genre. Broken (H5), and it's companion album of remixes and reimaginings: Fixed (H6), are two of the most played albums in my life's soundtrack.

... and someone may have already stated this, but the man that got tortured and killed in the music video for Happiness in Slavery is Bob Flanagan... and everything that didn't rip something apart or cause SERIOUS harm was totally real.

I remember watching this on the early 2000s. I've always loved his work

I was one of those weirdoes who dug underground shit. My VHS collection was weird, and this was part of it. I love messed up shit, and all I will say is, watched it once and only once. Pre 'found footage' it really felt like snuff. Watching it on shrooms didn't help.

Excellent production, topic and narrative. Trent was ahead of his time!

Starting around 1993 going clear into the 2010s, barely a band ever came out that was not heavily influenced by Trent Reznor. This guy is forever a legend. His level of pure talent, technical prowess and his willingness to trash boundaries made some of the best music in rock history. My personal favorite by him is Every Day is exactly the same

I’ve still got a copy of the VHS. Unfortunately I no longer own a VCR. But it’s one of my favorite pieces of musical history.

Yea , I saw it in early 90's . Stands to this day for me . Very powerful.

So happy to see a video from you :) Loved it! It was cool hearing about all of this because I never followed NIN very closely. Very interesting!

I've seen Broken and it's a fascinating film. There's a lot more depth to it than most music video projects, a lot of it is S&M, ritualistic stuff. The scene of the man connected to the urinal and eating in a fly infested environment are consensual, they want to be there. The machine which tortures it's users and reduces them to mincemeat is presented as an ultimate sexual thrill, the logical conclusion to the most extreme masochist desires. I think the whole thing is summed up by the execution scene, the serial killer is smiling throughout. He's probably reliving his crimes but he's also looking forward to the pleasure he'll get from his own execution, just like the torture machine from earlier, it'll be his ultimate sexual thrill. Indeed, very sick stuff.

I forgot about these Broken videos. Thanks for the reminder. I have the VHS version and bootleg DVD. Great time back in the 92-94.

The Broken record & Downward spiral are two amazing examples of why music is the best media to show emotion, especially when it comes to gritty genres like metal. That music can only be made by true frustration, anger and depression, and the way Reznors music bottled that all up to be felt by a listener is a true mark of a musician. While I have never been near the dark hole Reznor found himself in, that signature pots and pans trainwreck instrumental he produced are some of the most comforting things I've heard since its what I could describe my own head to feel like at times. NIN just did the edgy music like no other artist has been able to come close to.

I actually love this film. I watch it a lot. It's reaallly good. The metaphors, the symbolism... only a genius like Trent Reznor can make a film like that.

I've watched the Broken video. I've watched so many Nine Inch Nails that none of Trent's video content even phases me. Trent has a hidden passion for photography btw. Pretty Hate Machine and Broken were great records, but The Downward Spiral was by far my favorite album from Nine Inch Nails. Anyone familiar with its content or Lore knows that pulling teeth isn't the darkest theme explored by any Nine Inch Nails song or video. I honestly don't think Broken is his most disturbing work. But I respect the "urban legend" status of Broken.

I remember watching a bootleg copy of the broken movie on VHS when I was like 13 or 14. It was freakin wild. It circulated around everywhere like Faces of Death and it created a perfect buzz to hook people into wanting to see what the hell NIN was all about. It was genius.

I bought the Closure VHS on a whim from a Tower Records-esque store in NYC at some point in the early 2000's. My NIN adoration before that point was just from what I heard my sister play and Reznor's music videos on MTV, but I was woefully unprepared for "Happiness In Slavery." I didn't get queasy, but I did vow to fast forward past if/when I watched it again.

Trent also did music for a vietnam war documentary. I was watching it and hearing the music, and knew it sounded very familiar! It was a good documentary too

Downward spiral is such a gem of an album much respect for Trent Reznor as an artist...idk how I didn't remember this I had all kinds of access to all crazy dark music I had a pretty hate machine shirt I remember but this was even news to me im 41 I been a collector of dark music dark movies everything my local cd store had access to everything, might of been because I was only like 13 14 at the time I just missed it

Man I love NIN and Trent Reznor he’s the bomb!

Trent Reznor was, and is, the real deal. He did what he did for art. Not for clicks, views, likes, or follower numbers. I saw his final show on the final tour in 2009 at the wiltern theater. He was so focused on his fans getting tickets to his final shows that he ran tickets sales from his website, which was revolutionary at the time. No ticketmaster. Imagine only a few thousand people, all true everyday fans, watching their favorite band at small venues in a handful of cities. You'll never see that again. Ever. Go back and watch the video for Survivalism. He knew where society would end up. He was so far ahead of his time.

I absolutely love 9 inch nails. That was my jam in my middle and high-school days.

I had the tape back in 1997. I lent a long hard road out of hell book to a kid a school. I completely forgot about that tape. What a blast from the past. 🤘🤘

When I first saw the Wish video late night on MTV, I was so excited. I loved the broken ep and wish is one of my favorite songs. To be a teen again.......yeah.

How are you not over a million subs I like to think I know things about music until I watch your videos

NIN is one of the best concerts I've seen..

I have discovered NIN via Broken. It was in rage at this period (20 ish) and I was listening it in loop!

Been a long time since I watched your videos. Happy to see this particular one

My first Nine Inch Nails album was the broken album. I found it in a thrift store I'm glad I found it

“Broken” came out the year I graduated high school. This is literally the music I grew up on.

Gave up is one of my favorite music videos just because of how good the music actually fits with the visuals, it’s just so good

People tend to forget that art is made to disturb the comforted, and comfort the disturbed.

NIN is one of my faves...along with TOOL. Nine Inch Nails r the length of the nails that were used to hold people onto crosses when crucified. Peter Murphy is amazing too. He does a version of Reptile with Reznor...badass. NIN & TOOL r bands that change ur life if u get into them

Reznor's comment that "Broken" appeared too real makes me think of another, similar story. This happened when "Pretty Hate Machine" was the only NIN available. The band was shooting a video for one of the songs, and they wanted a crane shot of people lying on the ground, with the camera rising vertically above them. They didn't have the money for a crane, so they tied some helium balloons to an 8mm camera, started rolling, then let it go. The camera floated up as expected, then got caught by the wind and blew away. They lost the whole thing. Some time later, a farmer found the camera in his field. When the footage was developed, everybody freaked out, thinking they had discovered evidence of some bizarre ritual cult murder. An investigation was started, looking for an evil Satanic group kidnapping people. Eventually, Reznor was contacted, and he explained the whole thing. I wonder if he had that experience in mind when he watched the "Broken" film. Like, "Oh, no, here we go again."

Another supposed wild fact, Prince loved this album so much he had it playing in his car for a long time and even wanted to meet Reznor, although that event was less-than-stellar.

Huge NIN fan so i appreciate this alot 🖤

love this! im trying so hard to get a copy of it on dvd or VHS. so morbidly fascinated by this

I thought The Downward Spiral was too commercial when it came out, lol., since then I've become more and more of a fan of Trent . I didn't know when I clicked that this would be r ight up my alley, you mafe my morning, much better, thanks!

Imagine having someone come check out some music and talking through the whole thing. Nothing sucks more than thinking you're gonna hear a song, but someone talks through the whole thing.

all 20yrs of my life listening to Nine Inch Nails and I've never once even knew this EP existed

It definitely wasn't easy to come by but I had a copy of this yeeeeaaaars ago! It's amazing, still

I met Trent once at the plus 5 lounge in Plantation FL. He was there to see Marylin Manson and The Spooky kids. My roommate knew him from NYC. Well the rest is history isn't it?

The story went that this was a real life snuff film that Trent got his hands on, thought it was a badass fake movie, made his short film around it (the music videos and b&w footage) but was unable to release it after the police took it as evidence. You had clout depending on what generation your VHS was, because every time it got transferred the quality got worse and worse and it took on even more of that authentic feel. Mine was supposedly a 5th gen, lol.

My sibling came home from multiple NIN shows in a row. They basically followed NIN around like people did with the Dead. I was so jealous because I was just 13-14 and my sibling was 6 years my senior and the friend group didn’t want to be responsible for my underage behind, despite the fact my dad had just died and my mom might as well have - as she left me to my own devices and gave me free reign. My disappointment was made up for when my sibling whipped out three VHS tapes gathered from this long concert going trip. Sat me in a dark living room at 3:00am and there we both watched Broken and some other bootlegs for the first time. What a time to be alive! While I appreciate the way we have such access to media these days - There was something to be said for all the side quests for these Holy Grail type media projects. It certainly felt more rewarding when we’d find things and got to share them with our friends and pass them around in hushed reverence. Maybe this same feeling can be achieved still, if something hasn’t made it to digitized conservation. All I know is I miss it and it’s one part of my youth I’m the most nostalgic about.

Went to the lemonade stand and got me a Capri Sun, now I'm ready for some Debutk321!!

The film is on Internet Archive--allegedly leaked by Trent himself. I watched it a few years ago. I fucking loved it! My only complaint is that there's no video for "Last," my favorite song off the EP. Maybe they couldn't come up with a good idea for a video.

I remember when I first heard if it and then finally got to see it on MySpace of all places.

Trent is a Legend🙏🖤💯

The guy that gets ground is in a Sado masochist documentary called SICKO Makeup fx were done by Michael Burnet Productions in Los Angeles The whole video is inspired by the Genesis P Orridge PSYCHIK TV “underground” vhs video. Do some research on that. It’s right up your alley.

Trent Reznor pioneered the horror subgenres of found footage, torture p*rn, and analogue horror all in one go. Gotta give props for that.

I'm on the hunt to find broken movie! Trent has always looked directly into the darkness that resides in all of us. He is unapologetic about diving into the abyss, what it feels like, looks like, sounds like, directly addressing death with brutal honesty. His music is a mainstay in my home.

Great video! Didn't know all that about the second album. Dug NIN since the first album. KFJC in the bay played it so bought and was hooked ever since. It was a different sound and took me from speed and thrash to industrial sounds. Fun time to be 21! Clubs in the city were full of live thrills at that time as well✨✨✨✨

I remember buying this bootleg as a young teen in the mid 90s from a site called "Weathermen Records". A single vhs tape with "Broken" written by hand in the label. Wish i still had it.

Nails completely changed my life when I saw him tour with Marilyn Manson in 1994 tripping on acid. I still have my original copy of this broken VHS.

Always good and enjoyable content...just upload more videos if u can :P! cheers

I still have the VHS and it’s nice to see it’s still being discussed so many years later. The Broken album was the 1st NIN album to listen to. My aunt and uncle bought it for me for Christmas. They totally regretted it after I began playing it. 😆 Once I got my hands on the Broken movie, I knew I’d found something rare and special, so I’ve kept it safe all these years.

I actually have a copy of this. It's a VHS version in Pal format. And yes it really is pretty full on.

Trent is on the same level as Prince being a musical genius! I would guess many elements of the Saw franchise were taken from the Broken Movie

I hope Trent collaborates with Tsutomu Nihei if there ever is another adaption of Blame.

I watched Broken during the mid '90s. One of my friends found a copy of it at Infinity's End. There were a lot of people that thought it was a real snuff film, a fan mailed Trent. Have you heard of Psychic TV First Transmission? From what I remember, it was a pretty messed up film. That one came out in '82. Peter Christopherson worked on that one as well.

Dang I kinda forgot about this until I saw your thumbnail!

Thanks for sharing

My cousin had this on vhs. I used to sit around and watch it all of the time. Awesome stuff.

Gave Up probably has to be my favorite video from this entire film honestly.

Maybe you should go more into Peter Christopherson...

One of the greatest bands to ever exist. A true genius that started a revolution

I used to own the original vhs copy back in the 90s. Used to watch it all the time. This video doesn't even describe how much graphic it really is.

Great video. Thanks

I remember this airing on mtv, late at night, uncut. Maybe I am misremembering. 🤔

Broken is my favorite nin album the guitar sound is amazing heavy but not muddy and the perfect amount of reverb

The best art is the art that draws you into its world.......

thank you for sharing what has brewing in Trent Reznor’s mind & what become the album “Broken”. Reznor’s material & collaborations are a masterpieces in their own way. I had a girlfriend who told me to listen to a song 🎶. and the rest, as you say, is history ❤! the Man is a GENIUS 🥰 btw, I liked & subscribed your channel. I love the abyss of the unknown 👍🏼

Bob Flanagan being a complete goat.

It's crazy how many great bands and solo artists Jimmy picked up at that time.

Hell yeah! NiN I enjoy a lot of their music when I'm drawing or just relaxing My fav album is downward spiral

his has been my inspiration and idol since my mom introduced me to NIN in the 90s as a kid

I had a copy of this in the 90s when I was a kid. The cop in this video is the named Robert Patric(brother of Richard Patric former guitarist of NIN and later front man of the band Filter). Anyways the cop is a famous actor that played the metal guy from the terminator movies called T200 or something like that. He also played the father of Johnny Cash in the movie Walk the Line, along with countless other movies. Years later, Trent pulled another publicity stunt by dropping flash cards at music venues that contained tidbits of information to decipher. For all who followed the trail and figured it out realized theinformationnwas an address and date that to their surprise, was a personal underground concert that he hosted for the very few who conquered the task.

Haha without seeing the thumbnail I knew it would be Nine Inch Nails👏🏻 their old content and videos were creepy but very artistic in a way. I remember being creeped out but that usb audio found in a bathroom i used to think it was real.

amazing vid, thanks for the warning on the Broken video. I hopefully will never see it in my lifetime, I don't want anymore horrifing images burned into my eyes.

I didn't know the head in the fridge was from the "Pinion" victim.

I brought this into "health class", before the teacher would arrive, as the VCR/TV was always in that class. I got a little following and brought in videos from "Traces of Death" to Richard Kern films with Rollins or Lydia Lunch. Those were the good days. 🔥🤘🏼

So the guy that lays down in the chair and is torn apart to pieces. His name was Bob Flanagan the Supermasochist. Which if you read about him explains why he did what he did to himself