The year was 1991. I was in a very dark place in my life. I distinctly remember the first time I saw the music video for “Down In It” on one of the local music video shows on public TV. Not MTV. I was instantly drawn to the sound emanating from my shitty TV speakers. Pretty Hate Machine changed everything for me, musically. The music was everything I didn’t know I needed and the lyrics felt as if they were written for me.
Not sure how I found out about this show. Obviously, there was no Internet at the time. My guess it was a poster at the local music store that I frequented at the time, Poo-Bah Records in Pasadena.
We stood near the front of the stage, got hit with Trent’s water and what I hope was chocolate syrup. Was one of the greatest live shows I’ve seen. This was just before Nine Inch Nails got popular from the Lalapaloza Tour.
Location:
Helter Skelter at the Stardust Ballroom
5612 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA
I guess it is a Home Depot now…
Setlist
Terrible Lie
Sin
Something I Can Never Have
Sanctified
That’s What I Get
Suck
The Only Time
Get Down Make Love
Ringfinger
Down In It
Head Like a Hole
Chem Lab was the opening act. I still have their CD.
LAWeekly has a decent writeup on the show. https://www.laweekly.com/la-flashback-nine-inch-nails-live-at-helter-skelter/