The Hand that Feeds
Encyclopedia
"The Hand That Feeds" is a song by the American industrial rock
group Nine Inch Nails
, released as the lead single for the album With Teeth
(2005). It is the highest charting song by Nine Inch Nails on all charts except for U.S. Modern Rock Tracks
, where it stayed at number one for five weeks, because the single that followed, "Only
", stayed at number one for two more weeks (non-consecutively), and the Billboard Hot 100
, where "The Day The World Went Away
" peaked at #17. It is, to date, Nine Inch Nails' only single to hit the top 10 of the UK Singles chart
and the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart, where it peaked at #2 for two weeks.
and Napster
on March 22, 2005. Upon its release, it topped the iTunes
Top 100 songs list.
A music video
was made for this song. It was directed by Rob Sheridan
and was released on March 17, 2005 on the NIN official website. A second video for this song was directed by Ian Inaba
, but was shelved and was never completed.
The April 15, 2005 update to the current section of nin.com included a link to a multi-track Garageband
file of the song. This file allows anyone with the Macintosh program Garageband to remix the song.
NIN was due to play this song at the 2005 MTV
Movie Awards, but dropped out due to conflicts between Trent Reznor and MTV concerning the band's plan to incorporate an image of George W. Bush
into the performance. An announcement made by Trent Reznor on the NIN website on May 26 stated:
at the ceremony on June 9.
During the performance of The Hand That Feeds in Jacksonville, Florida on 10/29/08, a photo of George W. Bush was displayed behind the band, and as the band played the photo gradually morphed into John McCain.
The song was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance
for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006.
One of the blog entries on the NIN website made during the early recording phase of the new record (working title was "Bleedthrough", now known as With Teeth
) stated that Trent always loved The Kinks
. Their influence can be felt strongly in this song. The song's riff is a modified version of the one from the Kinks' classic "You Really Got Me
".
The song is included as a master track in Rock Band for the Xbox 360
, PlayStation 2
, PlayStation 3
, and Wii
consoles along with Midnight Club 3 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
, and Xbox
. The song recently appeared as downloadable content in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
part of the Mega Track Pack along with "Closer" and "Head Like a Hole".
and debuted on the official Nine Inch Nails website. The video features the live band
, featuring Aaron North
, Jeordie White
, Jerome Dillon
, and Alessandro Cortini
, performing the song. The video features the use of the pan and scan
technique, resulting in video distortion such as pixelization and interlacing.
In the United States, "The Hand That Feeds" was released on various vinyl
formats. A limited edition
10" picture disc and a 7" promotional disc (the latter available at With Teeth
listening parties) contained the title track and the b-side "Home." Additional 12" remix records, containing mixes by Photek
and DFA
were also available.
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
group Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, released as the lead single for the album With Teeth
With Teeth
With Teeth is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was Reznor's first original studio album since The...
(2005). It is the highest charting song by Nine Inch Nails on all charts except for U.S. Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
, where it stayed at number one for five weeks, because the single that followed, "Only
Only (Nine Inch Nails song)
"Only" is a song by Nine Inch Nails. It was released as the second single from Nine Inch Nails' fourth album With Teeth. "Only" reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, where it stayed for seven weeks...
", stayed at number one for two more weeks (non-consecutively), and the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where "The Day The World Went Away
The Day the World Went Away
"The Day the World Went Away" is a song by Nine Inch Nails, released in 1999 as the first single from the act's then-forthcoming album The Fragile...
" peaked at #17. It is, to date, Nine Inch Nails' only single to hit the top 10 of the UK Singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart, where it peaked at #2 for two weeks.
The song
Though several stations played a leaked copy of "The Hand That Feeds" in February, official radio play of the song began on March 14, 2005. "The Hand That Feeds" was released for sale on both iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Napster
Napster
Napster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
on March 22, 2005. Upon its release, it topped the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Top 100 songs list.
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was made for this song. It was directed by Rob Sheridan
Rob Sheridan
Rob Sheridan is an American graphic designer, director, and photographer best known for his extensive work with the band Nine Inch Nails....
and was released on March 17, 2005 on the NIN official website. A second video for this song was directed by Ian Inaba
Ian Inaba
Ian Inaba is an American film and music video director, producer, and journalist for the Guerrilla News Network.-Music videos:Inaba directed the music videos for "Mosh" by Eminem and "Time and Time Again" by Chronic Future...
, but was shelved and was never completed.
The April 15, 2005 update to the current section of nin.com included a link to a multi-track Garageband
GarageBand
GarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...
file of the song. This file allows anyone with the Macintosh program Garageband to remix the song.
NIN was due to play this song at the 2005 MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Movie Awards, but dropped out due to conflicts between Trent Reznor and MTV concerning the band's plan to incorporate an image of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
into the performance. An announcement made by Trent Reznor on the NIN website on May 26 stated:
"Nine Inch Nails will not be performing at the MTV Movie Awards as previously announced. We were set to perform 'The Hand That Feeds' with an unmolested, straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop. Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me. See you on tour this fall when we return to play in America."The following day, MTV stated,
"While we respect Nine Inch Nails' point of view, we were uncomfortable with their performance being built around a partisan political statement. When we discussed our discomfort with the band, their choice was to unfortunately pull out of the Movie Awards."Nine Inch Nails was eventually replaced by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
at the ceremony on June 9.
During the performance of The Hand That Feeds in Jacksonville, Florida on 10/29/08, a photo of George W. Bush was displayed behind the band, and as the band played the photo gradually morphed into John McCain.
The song was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance
Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance was an award presented to recording artists at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, for works containing quality performances in the hard rock music genre...
for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006.
One of the blog entries on the NIN website made during the early recording phase of the new record (working title was "Bleedthrough", now known as With Teeth
With Teeth
With Teeth is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was Reznor's first original studio album since The...
) stated that Trent always loved The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Their influence can be felt strongly in this song. The song's riff is a modified version of the one from the Kinks' classic "You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
".
The song is included as a master track in Rock Band for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
consoles along with Midnight Club 3 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. The song recently appeared as downloadable content in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
part of the Mega Track Pack along with "Closer" and "Head Like a Hole".
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Trent Reznor and Rob SheridanRob Sheridan
Rob Sheridan is an American graphic designer, director, and photographer best known for his extensive work with the band Nine Inch Nails....
and debuted on the official Nine Inch Nails website. The video features the live band
Nine Inch Nails live performances
Nine Inch Nails, an industrial rock band fronted by Trent Reznor, did various live performances throughout the world, including tours in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and China. While Reznor controls the creative and musical direction of Nine Inch Nails in-studio, the...
, featuring Aaron North
Aaron North
Aaron Wright North, born March 22, 1979 is the co-founder and former guitarist of punk band The Icarus Line, the former lead guitarist of the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails and currently the vocalist and guitarist of the band Jubilee...
, Jeordie White
Jeordie White
Jeordie Osbourne White , better known by his pseudonym Twiggy Ramirez , is an American musician, who is best known for being the bassist and guitarist for Marilyn Manson. He was also the bassist for A Perfect Circle, and Nine Inch Nails...
, Jerome Dillon
Jerome Dillon
Jerome Dillon is a professional musician, best known for his tenure as drummer with industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails from 1999-2005. After his departure, his own project, Nearly, released its debut album reminder in December 2005, along with a cd maxi-single for the song Straight to...
, and Alessandro Cortini
Alessandro Cortini
Alessandro Cortini is an Italian musician best known for touring and recording with the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from 2004 to 2008. Currently, Cortini is also the frontman for the Los Angeles based electronic-alternative band SONOIO. In addition, he was a touring member of The...
, performing the song. The video features the use of the pan and scan
Pan and scan
Pan and scan is a method of adjusting widescreen film images so that they can be shown within the proportions of a standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, often cropping off the sides of the original widescreen image to focus on the composition's most important aspects...
technique, resulting in video distortion such as pixelization and interlacing.
The single
The single for "The Hand That Feeds" was only given a wide release in Europe. The European releases include a 3-track limited edition CD, a 2-track standard CD, a 9" vinyl and a DVD single.In the United States, "The Hand That Feeds" was released on various vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
formats. A limited edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
10" picture disc and a 7" promotional disc (the latter available at With Teeth
With Teeth
With Teeth is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was Reznor's first original studio album since The...
listening parties) contained the title track and the b-side "Home." Additional 12" remix records, containing mixes by Photek
Photek
Photek is Rupert Parkes , a Los Angeles-based British record producer and DJ. He joined the drum and bass scene relatively early , and is still one of its most respected players...
and DFA
DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
were also available.
Releases
- Island RecordsIsland RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
CID888 - CD - Island Records CIDV888 - DVD
- Island Records 9IS888 - 9" vinyl
- Interscope RecordsInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
HALO_18 V2 - 10" picture disc (limited edition) - Interscope Records INTR-11401-7 - 7" vinyl (promo)
- Interscope Records B0005127-11 - 12" vinyl, Photek remixes
- Interscope Records B0005129-11 - 12" vinyl, DFA remixes
CD
Available as 2-track standard release and 3-track limited edition digipack- "The Hand That Feeds" (3:38)
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Straight mix] (7:46)
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Dub mix] (7:52) limited edition only
DVD
Includes poster- "The Hand That Feeds" [video]
- "The Hand That Feeds"
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Straight mix]
12" Photek remixes
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Straight Mix]
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Ruff Mix] (3:58)
- "The Hand That Feeds" [Dub Instrumental] (7:51)
- "The Hand That Feeds"
12" DFA remixes
- "The Hand That Feeds" [DFA Remix] (9:02)
- "The Hand That Feeds" [DFA Remix Instrumental] (9:01)
- "The Hand That Feeds" [DFA Version I] (14:12)
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Hungary Singles Chart Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
5 |
| Austria Singles Chart Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
41 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
2 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
7 |
| Italian Singles Chart Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
15 |
| Denmark Singles Chart | 15 |
| Finland Singles Chart Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
15 |
| Norway Singles Chart Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
17 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
36 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 67 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
30 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs Hot Digital Songs The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Tracks Hot Digital Tracks The Hot Digital Tracks chart is a song popularity chart that ranks the best selling digital tracks in the United States according to Billboard magazine... |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
31 |
External links
- nin.com
- The Hand That Feeds at the NinWiki
- Halo 18 at NINCollector.com
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (UK CD5")
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (UK DVD)
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (UK 9")
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (US 10")
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (Photek Remix 12")
- discogs.com: The Hand that Feeds (DFA Remix 12")