Nine Inch Nails kicked off the second North American leg of their Peel It Back Tour on February 5 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The show marked the debut of new member Stu Brooks, who stepped in after Alessandro Cortini left the band in late 2025. Cortini had been with Nine Inch Nails since 2005, but the reasons for his departure remain unclear. Brooks expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s such a huge honor to play with these musicians and have this opportunity.”
The Brooklyn-based musician has an impressive background, having worked with artists like Lady Gaga, Mike Patton, and the Saturday Night Live Band. He is also a co-founder of Dub Trio and has collaborated with names like Danny Elfman and 50 Cent.
Nine Inch Nails, formed by Trent Reznor in 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio, gained fame with their debut album, Pretty Hate Machine, featuring the hit “Head Like a Hole.” Their 1994 album, The Downward Spiral, solidified their place in rock history, and they continue to influence musicians today. The current lineup includes Reznor, Brooks, Atticus Ross, Robin Finck, and Josh Freese.
The New Orleans show featured a unique setup with two stages. Reznor opened the performance solo on a smaller B-stage, playing a song he hadn’t performed on tour before. The band also played a rare track for the first time since 2009, an outtake from their 2005 album, With Teeth.
The concert included a collaboration with tour opener Boys Noize, who joined for a segment called Nine Inch Noize, remixing some of the band’s hits. The tour will continue through March 16, with stops in cities like Washington D.C., Boston, and Austin, before heading to Coachella in April. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
