David Bowie and Trent Reznor became close in the mid 1990s, bonding over music and mutual respect. In 1995, Nine Inch Nails opened for Bowie on the Outside Tour, with the two often performing songs together on stage. They later collaborated on the remix and video for Bowie’s I’m Afraid of Americans, which featured Reznor prominently Beyond music, Bowie served as a mentor to Reznor, offering guidance during his struggles with addiction. Reznor often credited Bowie’s influence with helping him cha