Nine Inch Nails begin tour w/ Josh Freese, debut “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” (video, setlist)

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After shows in Europe and the UK earlier in the summer, Nine Inch Nails‘ “Peel It Back” tour has officially hit North America. This is their first outing since 2022, and the North American leg began in Oakland with a show at Oakland Arena on Wednesday night (8/6). Like at the European shows, they’re doing a two-stage set up on this side of the pond too, with a smaller stage in the middle of the arena for rarities and collaborations, and hits and cinematic projections on the main stage.

Oakland got the live debut of “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” Nine Inch Nails’ first new song in five years and the first song off the Tron:Ares soundtrack. Watch video of that below.

Wednesday night was also Josh Freese‘s first night back with Nine Inch Nails since he departed the band in 2008, something he called “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.” Freese had been drumming with Foo Fighters following the death of Taylor Hawkins, but said he’d been “booted” from the band earlier this year. As for Foo Fighters, their new drummer for the shows they have scheduled this fall will be Ilan Rubin, who had toured with NIN since 2009.

Watch video from NIN’s Oakland show, and see the setlist, below.

The Peel It Back tour hits Brooklyn for shows at Barclays Center on September 2 and 3. See all dates below.

SETLIST: NINE INCH NAILS @ OAKLAND ARENA, 8/6/2025
B-Stage
Right Where It Belongs
Ruiner
Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)

Main Stage
Wish
March of the Pigs
Reptile
Heresy
Copy of A
Gave Up
Play Video
B-Stage (with Boys Noize)
Vessel
As Alive as You Need Me to Be
Sin
Came Back Haunted

Main Stage
Somewhat Damaged
Less Than
Closer
The Perfect Drug
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like a Hole
Hurt