Trent Reznor curses out Grammys after cutting off his performance

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails performs onstage during the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images / January 26, 2014)

Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age had one of the most coveted Grammy performance slots. Immediately after the unveiling of album of the year, the Grammys were set to end on a grand finale that celebrated all things rock. Instead, moments after Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails took the stage, the Grammys and CBS cued up the credits.

"Music's biggest night… to be disrespected. A heartfelt F– YOU guys," the Nine Inch Nails frontman tweeted after the performance.

The NIN performance has been hyped for days as the one that will close the ceremony. 'This is how we rock 'n' roll," shouted Grammy host LL Cool J to introduce the all-star rock pairing.

Reznor was joined on stage by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham for a performance of "Copy Of A," the second single from the Nine Inch Nails’ 2013 album, "Hesitation Marks."

The music transitioned to Queens of the Stone Age's "My God Is the Sun." But, the viewing audience didn’t quite get to hear the whole set before the music softened and the show’s credits started running.

Rock 'n' roll couldn't get much respect when it came to the actual awards, either. French electronic duo Daft Punk took album of the year for its "Random Access Memories," and the act was also awarded record of the year for its "Get Lucky." Song of the year went to Lorde's "Royals," and best new artist went to Seattle hip-hop due Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Dig deep into the rock categories and things don't get much better. Led Zeppelin’s “Celebration Day,” the live album documenting the surviving members' 2007 reunion in London, took the rock album prize. In fact, much of the category looked like it was the 1970s all over again, with Black Sabbath, David Bowie and Neil Young & Crazy Horse among the nominees.

Reznor has generally viewed the Grammys with distaste. There's a relatively famous quote often connected to Reznor that the Grammys make him "hate" music. The line is often attributed to the NIN's' official website.

When asked about cutting off the performance, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow explained the decision to reporters backstage.

"We save the end slot for something that is a bit of a jam," he said, "because you can have the energy go and then it’s just a matter of the clock."

But as far as Grammy drama goes, this is relatively light. Sunday's Grammys came with some potent social commentary, first from Lorde and her class-conscious cut "Royals" and later from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Thirty-three couples, gay and straight, were wed during the performance, which also featured Madonna and an officiating Queen Latifah.

Source: chicagotribune