Rob Sheridan

Last updated
Rob Sheridan
How To Destroy Angels - Coachella 2013.jpg
Rob Sheridan with How to Destroy Angels in 2013
Born
Robert Sheridan

(1979-10-11) October 11, 1979 (age 45)
NationalityAmerican
Education Pratt Institute
Known for art director, graphic designer, writer, photographer, comic book author

Robert Sheridan (born October 11, 1979) is an American graphic designer, art director, stage visual designer, photographer, and comic book author best known for his extensive work with the band Nine Inch Nails. He is widely known as a designer of stage visuals. [1] [2] He is also an apparel designer, and co-founder of Glitch goods with his wife Stephanie Sheridan. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Biography

In April 1997, when Sheridan was 17, he created a website dedicated to the Dancing Baby animation, contributing to its popularity as an early internet meme. [7] [8]

Sheridan attended art school at New York's Pratt Institute for one year before being hired at age 19 by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor in 1999, on the merits of a Nine Inch Nails fansite he created during high school. [9] He was initially hired to maintain the newly launched official Nine Inch Nails website. [10] He then also took over as art director for the band, contributing photography, web design, album covers, music videos, live tour visuals, and two live concert films. [11] His tenure as art director spanned from 1999 to 2014. [12] He was also credited for assisting Trent Reznor with the mythology of the alternate reality game built around Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album Year Zero . [13] According to Nine Inch Nails lore, we’re living in Year Zero, which began on February 10, 2022. The album evokes a dystopian world where art is a form of resistance, with crackdowns on "disobedience" and "subversive materials". [14]

In 2010, Sheridan co-founded the band How to Destroy Angels. He featured on all the studio releases, as well as touring with the band in 2013.

Sheridan is most widely known for his glitch art where he manipulates images and photographs to produce new works. He did the artwork for Nine Inch Nails’ The Social Network, which underwent revision at Sony’s request. [15] [16] [17] He has been perfecting his custom analog glitch process over the past several years, continuously refining and expanding the technique. The current methodology involves recording imagery onto deliberately damaged VHS tapes using old VCRs, which are then connected to vintage CRT televisions. This process allows him to manipulate the visuals in unique ways, creating his distinctive glitch art. [18] He is also well-recognized for his work in illustration, photography, graphic design, and as the director, editor, and director of photography responsible for concert films, as well as a director for the 2005 Nine Inch Nails music video The Hand That Feeds.

In 2018, Sheridan announced that he would be writing a comic book through the new launch of Vertigo on DC Comics, called High Level. The book was released in 2019. [19] [20] He collaborated for a score for this series with Steven Alexander Ryan and Justin McGrath, his coworkers from the Nine Inch Nails’ Twenty Thirteen Tour. [21] Additionally, Sheridan is a co-inventor listed on a patent for a playlist distribution system within a music service, assigned to Apple Inc. [22]

Work with Nine Inch Nails

Rob Sheridan on the set of Nine Inch Nails' "Wave Goodbye", August 26, 2009 Rob Sheridan.jpg
Rob Sheridan on the set of Nine Inch Nails' "Wave Goodbye", August 26, 2009

Art direction

Sheridan had been working with Trent Reznor for his other band How to Destroy Angels as the art director and was responsible for the visual design of the band’s live tour in April 2013. [1] He also created the artwork/package for the soundtrack release of the Academy Award-winning and Golden Globe-winning score for The Social Network , composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. [26]

Sheridan has explored alternate reality games and AI art, going viral in May 2022 with an AI-generated art piece. [14] In 2023, he circulated images of a supposed satanic fashion show, which sparked a flurry of social media posts from people who thought it was a genuine New York Fashion Week event. The images were 100 percent computer generated with AI and Photoshop, through a chain of all-digital processes summarized under the term "syntography". [27] The graphic designer's original post, which was shared on Instagram, also includes a caption that reads as parody –as if Satan had designed a collection for the fashion event –accompanied by the hashtags "synthography," "aihorror" and "aiart". The post was so convincing that the Church of Satan issued a clarification denying it. [28]

Sheridan has also been long known for his work shooting, directing, and editing for other artists and musicians. Recently, in 2015, Sheridan shot, directed, and edited a video for the band The Black Queen called "Ice To Never". He has also worked with David Fincher on the soundtrack for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, [29] and Maynard James Keenan, creating visuals and ambience for Puscifer's 2015-2017 shows.

Live stage visuals

In 2024, Sheridan worked with Pearl Jam. Their 2024 Dark Matter tour featured stage visuals by the Seattle native. With his wife, Stephanie, he set up a lab, where they captured chemical reactions and light interactions at 1,000 frames per second using a macro lens. This marked the band's first use of such video visuals on tour, with Sheridan's work also appearing in their "Wreckage" live music video. [29] [30]

Recognition

In December 2008, in recognition for his work in art direction on the Ghosts I–IV box set, Sheridan was nominated for a Grammy award for "Best Box Set or Limited Edition Package" [31] and in 2013 for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo .

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Inch Nails</span> American industrial rock band

Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN, stylized as NIИ, is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland in 1988. Its members are the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Trent Reznor and his frequent collaborator, Atticus Ross. Reznor was previously the only permanent member of the band until Reznor made Ross an official member in 2016. The band's debut album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989), was released via TVT Records. After disagreeing with TVT about how to promote the album, the band signed with Interscope Records and released the EP Broken (1992). The following albums, The Downward Spiral (1994) and The Fragile (1999), were released to critical acclaim and commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Reznor</span> American musician (born 1965)

Michael Trent Reznor is an American musician. He came to prominence as the founder, lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and primary songwriter of the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. The band's line-up has constantly changed, with Reznor being its only official member from its creation in 1988 until 2016, when he added English musician and frequent collaborator Atticus Ross as its second permanent member.

Nothing Records was an American record label specializing in industrial rock and electronic music, founded by John Malm Jr. and Trent Reznor in 1992. It is considered an example of a vanity label, where an artist is able to run a label with some small degree of independence within a larger parent company, in this case the larger company being Interscope Records.

<i>And All That Could Have Been</i> 2002 live album by Nine Inch Nails

And All That Could Have Been is a double album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on January 22, 2002, by Nothing and Interscope Records. The live album contains music recorded during the Fragility v2.0 US tour in 2000. Disc one is a live album of most of the band's normal set list of the time, while disc two contains a studio album titled Still, containing "deconstructed" versions of previous Nine Inch Nails songs and some new material. The double DVD set, sold separately, includes video recordings of the songs performed on the CD, as well as additional song performances and footage from the tour.

<i>Pretty Hate Machine</i> 1989 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

Pretty Hate Machine is the debut studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by TVT Records on October 20, 1989. Frontman Trent Reznor sang and performed most of the instruments, also producing the album alongside Keith LeBlanc, John Fryer and Flood, with a few other contributors.

<i>Broken</i> (Nine Inch Nails EP) 1992 EP by Nine Inch Nails

Broken is the first extended play (EP) and second major release by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. It was released on September 22, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. The EP was produced by frontman Trent Reznor and Flood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atticus Ross</span> English musician, composer, and producer

Atticus Matthew Cowper Ross is an English musician, composer, record producer, and audio engineer. He is best known for his work with American musician Trent Reznor, with whom he first worked on the musical project Tapeworm in 2002. He began working with Reznor's band Nine Inch Nails in 2005 as a programmer and producer, then joined as a musician and became the only official member of the band other than Reznor in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head Like a Hole</span> 1990 song by Nine Inch Nails

"Head Like a Hole" is a song by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as the second single from the group's debut album, Pretty Hate Machine. It enjoyed heavy rotation on the radio at the time of its release, eventually reaching number 9 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

<i>With Teeth</i> 2005 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

With Teeth is the fourth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by Nothing Records and Interscope Records on May 3, 2005. The album was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It also features contributions from musician Dave Grohl and future band member Atticus Ross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Woolley</span> Musical artist

James Joseph Woolley was an American keyboard and synthesizer player, best known for performing with industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from 1991 to 1994, participating in the Pretty Hate Machine Tour Series and the Self Destruct Tour. Woolley appeared in the band's music videos for "Wish" and "March of the Pigs", and the video album Closure. Together with Nine Inch Nails, Woolley won a Grammy Award in 1996 for "Best Metal Performance" for their Woodstock '94 performance of "Happiness in Slavery".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Inch Nails live performances</span> Live performances by the band Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails, an American industrial rock band fronted by Trent Reznor, has toured all over the world since its creation in 1988. While Reznor—the only official member until adding Atticus Ross in 2016—controls its creative and musical direction in the studio, the touring band performs different arrangements of the songs. In addition to regular concerts, the band has performed in both supporting and headlining roles at festivals such as Woodstock '94, Lollapalooza 1991 and 2008, and many other one-off performances including the MTV Video Music Awards. Prior to their 2013 tour, the band had played 938 gigs.

<i>Year Zero</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

Year Zero is the fifth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by Interscope Records on April 17, 2007. Conceived while touring in support of the band's previous album, With Teeth (2005), the album was recorded in late 2006. It was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and was the band's first studio album since 1994's The Downward Spiral that was not co-produced by long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was the band's last album for Interscope, following Reznor's departure the same year due to a dispute regarding overseas pricing.

<i>Ghosts I–IV</i> 2008 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

Ghosts I–IV is the sixth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by The Null Corporation on March 2, 2008. It was the band's first independent release following their split from longtime label Interscope Records in 2007. The production team included Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, studio collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder, and contributions from Alessandro Cortini, Adrian Belew, and Brian Viglione.

<i>The Slip</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

The Slip is the seventh studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on May 5, 2008, digitally on the Nine Inch Nails website, and on CD on July 22 by The Null Corporation. It was their second release in 2008, following their sixth album Ghosts I–IV, released two months prior. The album was produced by frontman Trent Reznor with collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder.

<i>How to Destroy Angels</i> (How to Destroy Angels EP) 2010 EP by How to Destroy Angels

How to Destroy Angels is the debut extended play by post-industrial group How to Destroy Angels. The six-song EP was released as a free download via the band's website on June 1, 2010, and a retail CD was released on July 6, 2010. A "Hi-Def Upgrade" was also available, with higher quality audio and the music video for the song "The Space in Between", while "A Drowning" was officially released as a single.

<i>The Social Network</i> (soundtrack) 2010 film score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

The Social Network is the score album for David Fincher's 2010 film of the same name, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It was released on September 28, 2010, through The Null Corporation. On September 17, a five-track sampler was also made available for free. The score bears a similar sound to the previous Reznor/Ross 2008 collaboration, Ghosts I–IV, and even features two slightly reworked tracks from Ghosts; the track "Magnetic" and "A Familiar Taste".

<i>Another Version of the Truth</i> 2009 video by Nine Inch Nails

Another Version of the Truth was an independently released live concert video documenting Nine Inch Nails' 2008 Lights in the Sky tour made available throughout late 2009/early 2010 on Blu-ray, DVD, and various other online formats. Another Version of the Truth is also the title of an instrumental track on Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album Year zero. The video is a 3-disc set bringing together numerous editors, designers, and web programmers to create a professional digital film, followed by a physical release created "by fans for fans".

<i>Pretty Eight Machine</i> 2012 studio album by Inverse Phase

Pretty Eight Machine is a tribute album by Inverse Phase, released on June 14, 2012. It features 8-bit covers of the 10 songs from Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut album Pretty Hate Machine. The album was crowdfunded via Kickstarter. $3,654 was raised by 162 people for the production. The album was recorded on 8-bit systems arranged to the sound bytes of games and consoles, such as Metal Gear 2 and Castlevania 3. The sound configurations include SID/6581, POKEY, straight 2A03 (NES), SN76489, LR35902, and OPLL. The album artwork is based on Pretty Hate Machine's 2010 album artwork by Rob Sheridan. Trent Reznor and Rob Sheridan responded positively to the album.

<i>Hesitation Marks</i> 2013 album by Nine Inch Nails

Hesitation Marks is the eighth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on August 30, 2013, by The Null Corporation and distributed by Columbia Records in the United States and Polydor Records elsewhere. It was the band's first release in five years, following The Slip (2008), as well as their only release on Columbia. Like previous albums, the album was produced by frontman Trent Reznor alongside longtime collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder. To date, this is the most recent Nine Inch Nails album to be co-produced by Moulder.

References

  1. 1 2 Hurst, Nathan (Apr 19, 2013). "Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels Plays Light Like an Instrument". Wired. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Gardiner, Bryan (Dec 11, 2013). "Building 'Tension': An Inside Look at NIN's Massive Arena Tour". Wired. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Spiers, Elizabeth (Jul 22, 2023). "Whatever You Think of the Movies, the Barbenheimer Memes are Glorious". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Wampler, Scott (May 29, 2020). "Rob Sheridan's Movie Monster Masks Make Mask-Wearing Fun for Everyone". Birth Movies Death. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Sprague, Mike (Jul 20, 2020). "Rob Sheridan's MOVIE MONSTERS Face Masks - I Want That!". Dread Central. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Dorn, Lori (Aug 24, 2020). "Creepy Movie Monster Face Masks by Rob Sheridan". Laughing Squid. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Jacqui, Palumbo (5 May 2022). "The internet's famous dancing baby from 1996 is getting a new look". CNN. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Schroeder, Audra (Nov 12, 2021). "The many lives of the Dancing Baby, cyberspace's first cringe meme". Daily Dot. Retrieved Mar 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Biographical information from artist's portfolio: http://www.rob-sheridan.com, http://www.rob-sheridan.com/main.php#/ABOUT
  10. ↑ Sheridan was credited with "web integration" in the liner notes for the 1999 Nine Inch Nails album The Fragile .
  11. ↑ Projects listed in artist's portfolio: http://www.rob-sheridan.com
  12. ↑ Chilton, Louis (Jul 15, 2020). "Nine Inch Nails Artist Ridicules Pro-Trump Fan Group: "You've Never Actually Listened to the Lyrics"". Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Sheridan was credited with "world building" alongside Reznor in the liner notes for Year Zero. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1056593/otherworks
  14. 1 2 Ong, Alexis (Jul 15, 2022). "An Experimental Horror ARG is Testing the Boundaries of AI Art". The Verge. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Sheridan, Rob. "analog(one)". Rob Sheridan. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Sheridan, Rob. "the social network soundtrack art". Rob Sheridan. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  17. ↑ Conlin, Dan (Oct 4, 2020). "The Fascinating Story of the Social Network Soundtrack Artwork". GameRant. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Stuart, Michael B (Nov 2, 2018). "Veteran Creative Director Creates a Horror Glitch Series Using Analog Effects". Fstoppers. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  19. ↑ Sheridan, Rob. "date". Twitter. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  20. ↑ Estrella, Ernie (Feb 19, 2019). "Exclusive First Look: Rob Sheridan's New Cyberpunk Vertigo Title High Level". Syfy. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Limbert, Alex (Aug 22, 2020). "Steven Alexander Ryan and Justin McGrath of the Black Queen to Score New DC Comics Release High Level Created by Former Nine Inch Nails Art Director Rob Sheridan". Mxdwn.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Patents by Inventor Fredric Vinna". Justia Patents. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  23. ↑ Rob Sheridan at IMDb
  24. ↑ Trent Reznor (2005-02-26). "Acces". nin.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  25. 1 2 3 "Rob Sheridan". IMDb. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  26. ↑ "the social network soundtrack: artwork by rob sheridan". rob-sheridan.com. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "Images of a 'Satanic Fashion Show' were Digitally Created, Not Taken at New York Fashion Week". Reuters. Reuters Fact Check. Mar 1, 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  28. ↑ Alonso, Nahiara S (Feb 24, 2023). "Digital Artwork Miscaptioned as Satanic Runway Show". AFP. Agence France Presse. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  29. 1 2 "PEARL JAM Releases 'Wreckage' Live Video". blabbermouth.net. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  30. ↑ "Pearl Jam's world tour has a different look. This WA artist designed it". seattletimes.com. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  31. ↑ "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List - Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package nominees". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . Retrieved 2009-02-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.