The first Nine Inch Nails performance took place at the Phantasy Theater in Lakewood, Ohio, on October 21, 1988."The Only Time" lyrics , nintourhistory.com, no date. Soon after, following their live support of Skinny Puppy, Reznor aimed to release one 12-inch single on a small European label.. See also . Several labels responded favorably to the demo material and Reznor signed with TVT Records. Nine demos, recorded live in November 1988 and collectively known as Purest Feeling, were released in revised form on the first studio album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989). The overall sound on Purest Feeling is lighter than that of Pretty Hate Machine; several songs contain more live drumming and guitar, as well as a heavier use of film samples.
The first Nine Inch Nails performance took place at the Phantasy Theater in Lakewood, Ohio, on October 21, 1988."The Only Time" lyrics , nintourhistorycom, no date. Soon after, following their live support of Skinny Puppy, Reznor aimed to release one 12-inch single on a small European label.. See also  Several labels responded favorably to the demo material and Reznor signed with TVT Records. Nine demos, recorded live in November 1988 and collectively known as Purest Feeling, were released in. revised form on the first studio album, Pretty Hate Machine (1989). The overall sound on Purest Feeling is lighter than that of Pretty Hate Machine; several songs contain more. live drumming and guitar, as well as a heavier use of film samples.