Nine Inch Nails Peel It Back at the Prudential Center

Boys Noize joins Nine Inch Nails on the B-Stage at the Prudential Center show of the Peel It Back Tour. Photo by Ciara Molloy '26

On Feb. 14, Nine Inch Nails brought their acclaimed Peel It Back Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Following the success of the 2025 leg of the tour, the band brought the elaborate production back to the stage for a second round.

Formed by lead vocalist Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1988, the Nine Inch Nails have been pioneers of the industrial rock genre. The incorporation of noisy, electronic and avant-garde sounds into their music solidifies them as a pillar of the genre. Early releases like their 1989 debut “Pretty Hate Machine” and 1994’s acclaimed classic “The Downward Spiral” put the uniqueness of Nine Inch Nails on full display.

After several lineup changes throughout the decades that Nine Inch Nails has been touring, the current lineup for Peel It Back consists of official members Reznor and keyboardist/synthesist Atticus Ross, and touring members guitarist Robin Finck, bassist Stu Brooks and drummer John Freese.

More recently, Reznor and Ross have been circulating throughout the film world, providing musical scores for releases such as David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010) and Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” (2024). The pair also took home a new Grammy for their original song “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” from the 2025 film “TRON: Ares.”

Accompanying Nine Inch Nails on this tour is Boys Noize, a German DJ and producer, who serves as the opening act and also joins Reznor and Ross on stage for a portion of the set. 

Boys Noize sets the tone for the immersive experience that is the Peel It Back Tour. Emulating a club-like setting, dimly lit red light creeps through the arena and surrounds Boys Noize’s deck located at the back of the house.

Boys Noize’s opening set seamlessly blends into the start of Nine Inch Nails’ performance, which starts at the B-Stage located at the center of the pit. A solo Reznor delivers the soft, yet haunting piano ballad “(You Made It Feel Like) Home,” from Luca Guadagnino’s 2022 release “Bones and All.”

Shifting into “Non-Entity,” a previously unreleased song and one that had not been performed live in 17 years, the other members of the band gradually join Reznor on stage, combining to create an explosion of sludgy sound. This is followed up by Reznor taunting the crowd with “Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now).”

Drummer John Freese joins the mix after the introductory portion of the set, as a projection of him playing at his kit is shown on the transparently veiled main stage. On the main stage, the intricacies of the show are put on full display with impressive visual effects playing a major role. 

The band rips through classics from the 1994 acclaimed album “The Downward Spiral,” such as “March of the Pigs,” “Reptile” and “Heresy.” During the fast-paced, electronic “Copy of a,” an army of Reznor silhouettes appear across the stage, accompanying Reznor as he sings “I am just a copy of a copy of a copy.”

The show makes its way back to the B-Stage with Boys Noize joining Reznor and Ross in the center, deviating from the traditional flow of a concert and taking the audience back into the initial clubby atmosphere.

A huge rig filled with lights descends from the arena ceiling and illuminates the box stage as Boys Noize, Reznor and Ross work in tandem to play elevated, even noisier renditions of Nine Inch Nails tracks. Smoke fills the stage as Reznor belts the provocative hit “Closer,” with Boys Noize and Ross ramping up the classic track.

This sort of musical exchange between Boys Noize, Reznor and Ross is one of the most unique aspects of the show. It is worth mentioning that on the bill for Coachella 2026 is Nine Inch Noize – the official supergroup of Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize. While Nine Inch Nails is no stranger to incorporating electronic elements into their music, the collaboration with Boys Noize brings this to a new level.

Nine Inch Nails brings it back to the main stage to close out the show with a jam-packed ending full of powerhouse hits. The band pays homage to a hero and collaborator of theirs, David Bowie, with a cover of “I’m Afraid of Americans,” which Reznor was in the 1997 music video for, and which Nine Inch Nails has remixed.

The hit “Hand That Feeds,” from the 2007 release “With Teeth,” amplifies the arena, with 1989’s “Head Like a Hole,” following suit. Reznor’s vocals echo throughout the stadium as he and the audience exclaim, “I’d rather die than give you control.”

The somber and evocative “Hurt,” famously covered by Johnny Cash in 2002 at the end of the singer’s life, closes the show on an angsty note in true Nine Inch Nails fashion.

After a series of lineup changes and years of not touring, the Peel It Back Tour proves that Nine Inch Nails still has it. The tightness of the band, the quality of production and Reznor’s vocals that remain in tip-top shape shine through with this tour.

With the crowd ranging from Gen X fans who were there for Nine Inch Nails’ debut, to Gen Alpha kids at the show with their parents sporting t-shirts with the band’s classic “NIN” logo, the Peel It Back Tour proves to be one with longevity and impact on all those who attend.