After The Downward Spiral ‘s 1994 release, the live band supported it by embarking on the Self Destruct Tour . The stage set-up featured dirty curtains, rising and lowering for visuals shown during songs such as “Hurt”. The tour debuted the band’s grungy, messy image as the members appeared in ragged attire slathered in corn starch . Performances were violent and chaotic, band members often injuring themselves by attacking each other, diving into the crowd, and destroying their instruments to close. The widest mainstream audience was a mud-soaked performance at Woodstock ’94 , and seen by Pay-Per-View in up to 24 million homes. Enjoying mainstream success thereafter, Nine Inch Nails then performed amid greater production values, adding theatrical visual elements. Supporting acts on tour included the Jim Rose Circus and Marilyn Manson. Released in 1997, the Closure video documented highlights from the tour, including full live videos of “Eraser”, “Hurt” and a one-take “March of the Pigs” clip directed by Peter Christopherson. In 1997 Reznor also produced the soundtrack to the David Lynch film Lost Highway , which featured one new Nine Inch Nails song, ” The Perfect Drug “. Around this time, Reznor’s studio perfectionism, struggles with addiction, and bouts of writer’s block prolonged the production of The Fragile .
embarked on the Self Destruct Tour
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