Aaron North

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Image:Aaronwikideath.jpg Aaron Wright North, (born March 22, 1979), is the lead guitarist for Nine Inch Nails, and an ex-member of the punk band The Icarus Line. In his own words (from a 2005 NIN Q&A), "I'm the youngest, and shortest in the band. I believe I fart the least as well. I like milkshakes, unicorns and obscure underground German speed metal records..."[1]. He is partial to using Hagstrom guitars, one of which can be seen in action in the Nine Inch Nails The Hand that Feeds video. North is noted for his chaotic and unconventional guitar approach, his use and command of feedback, and flailing his guitar wildly while on stage.

Trent Reznor had this to say about North's audition for NIN:

“ He shows up, he looks shitty, he’s got junk equipment, he looks like he’s just got up and I want to punch him, and then Aaron starts playing and on the first note it’s like, ‘You’re the guy.’ He wasn’t trying to be me, and play like I play. He played and chaos came out. It immediately made the band turn into something else.”

[2]

In 2002, North made music headlines after an Icarus Line performance at the Hard Rock Cafe in Austin, Texas where he "liberated" a guitar that had belonged to Stevie Ray Vaughan. He broke its protective case with the base of a microphone stand, took it out, tried to plug it into his amplifier, but was then quickly set upon by security. The incident resulted in North receiving numerous death threats from outraged Texans. [3]

North co-owns Buddyhead with Travis Keller. Perhaps most infamously known for its gossip section (no celebrities are safe, not even their phone numbers), Buddyhead is also a record label with releases for such bands as Wires on Fire, modwheelmood, The Cassettes, Burning Brides, Dillinger Escape Plan, Ink & Dagger, and more.

In 2005, North performed shows as guitarist with Queens of the Stone Age. North guested with the band at various acoustic "in-store" performances, and two "regular" shows in Los Angeles.

In July of 2006, Aaron was named (along with Nine Inch Nails) in a lawsuit brought on by Wisconsin security guard Mark LaVoie. This suit alleges that North "intentionally, violently" inflicted injury upon the guard while performing with Nine Inch Nails at Alliant Energy Center on Oct. 13, 2005.[4]