Nine Inch Nails opened their show in New Orleans last night (February 5) with two unexpected songs, a version of ‘Something I Can Never Have’ using a Depeche Mode snippet and a rare airing of ‘Non-Entity’.
- READ MORE: ‘Tron: Ares’ review: Nine Inch Nails’ pulsating score saves this muddled sci-fi sequel
The rendition of ‘Something I Can Never Have’ that began the show featured a snippet of Depeche Mode’s ‘Stripped’ and was also a tour debut, while ‘Non-Entity’ was performed for the first time since 2009. Both songs were played from Nine Inch Nails’ B-stage, as well as a version of ‘Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)’.
The show was part of the first night of the second North American leg of Nine Inch Nails’ current ‘Peel It Back’ world tour, their first shows as a band since 2022. Notably, it was their first show with Stu Brooks playing bass, taking over from Alessandro Cortini.
Check out footage of the band’s opening songs at the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans below:
I CANT BELIEVE TRENT REZNOR FUCKING SANG A SNIPPET OF STRIPPED BY DEPECHE MODE IM LITERALLY LOSING MY FUCKINF MIND OVER THIS HOWIS THUS REAL OHMY FUCKIGNGOD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/jQ8aP2d7s4
— kath ☆ saw depeche mode !!! (@p0licyoftruth_) February 6, 2026
PEEL IT BACK 2026
NIGHT ONE • NEW ORLEANS, LA“NON-ENTITY”
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Robin Finck, and introducing Stu Brooks pic.twitter.com/qcDjQ8SsY3
— nine inch nails (@nineinchnails) February 6, 2026
Nine Inch Nails brought their ‘Peel It Back’ world tour to the UK and Europe last summer. Reviewing their set at Mad Cool in Madrid last July, NME wrote: “Judging by their Mad Cool headline set, there is no question that the group won’t be meticulously maintaining their legacy over the next few decades. From the exquisite visuals (which, even in their calmest moments, still blow some of the biggest names out of the water) to their effortless on-stage rapport and the sheer quality of their live sound, this sensational outing is vintage Nails. Welcome back, guys. We’ve missed you.”
In other news, reports emerged late last year that the band was working on new music. In an interview with Consequence, vocalist Trent Reznor said: “We are working on new stuff and we’re excited to work on it, and we are prioritising working on Nine Inch Nails over just taking on every single thing that comes up in the other category.”
The band’s last album was 2020’s double LP ‘Ghosts V-VI’, which was surprise-released as a free download during the pandemic. Since then, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been busy working on various film scores, including Challengers, Empire of Light and TRON: Ares.
