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All Music Guide:
Although Chris Vrenna is best known for his period as drummer with Nine Inch Nails, since leaving Trent Reznor's troupe in 1996, he has been busy creating a good reputation for himself as a talented producer and engineer.
Vrenna first appeared on the Chicago industrial scene in the mid- to late-'80s. Having been briefly a member of Die Warzau, he made a number of valuable contacts in the area. Before long he hooked up with Trent Reznor, who was then in the process of recording his debut album, Pretty Hate Machine. This was the beginning of a six-year partnership, during which time Vrenna remained the only permanent member of Reznor's band. Despite taking a break to temporarily join Stabbing Westward, Vrenna continued to work with Reznor on Marilyn Manson's first three albums.
By 1996, relations between the two had soured and Vrenna left Nine Inch Nails. He soon began a popular producer-for-hire, working with established acts such as Rob Zombie and Skinny Puppy. His skills as a programmer have been utilized by Hole and Guns'n'Roses, and Vrenna has also formed partnerships with Killing Joke and Jack off Jill. Although he has not joined any band as a full-time member, Vrenna continues to be a sought-after producer.
Wikipedia:
Chris Vrenna (born February 23, 1967 in Erie, Pennsylvania) is an American musician, Grammy-winning producer, engineer, remixer, songwriter, programmer, and founder of the electronic band Tweaker. Vrenna also played drums for the industrial/rock band Nine Inch Nails from 1989 until 1997. Vrenna was also the keyboardist and drummer of the American rock band Marilyn Manson from 2007 until late 2011.
Career
Soon after graduating from McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1985, Vrenna moved to Chicago, quickly becoming a part of the Chicago industrial music scene and was briefly a member of Die Warzau and Stabbing Westward.
He later reconnected with Trent Reznor, whom he met during high school in Pennsylvania, when they both were in local Cleveland, Ohio band the Exotic Birds. He also toured as a live drummer for KMFDM during the Money era tours, in 1992. He is currently recording under the name Tweaker, and has released two albums under that name, The Attraction to All Things Uncertain (2001) and 2 a.m. Wakeup Call (2004). Tweaker toured select North American dates with Skinny Puppy in 2004.
As producer, remixer, or engineer Vrenna has worked with Lords of Acid, God Lives Underwater, Megadeth, Rammstein, Metallica, The Rasmus, U2, Weezer, P.O.D., David Bowie, The Perfects, Slipknot, Cold, underwater, Scarling., The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Green Day, Live, Adema, the Wallflowers, TheStart, and Dir En Grey. He has also worked with the underground industrial group Pigface and produced songs and albums for underground girl groups TCR, Jack Off Jill, and Rasputina.
Vrenna has also worked on music for several video games, including Doom 3 (as producer with Clint Walsh), Quake 4, American McGee's Alice, Enter The Matrix, Sonic The Hedgehog, Area 51, and Need for Speed Most Wanted. In 2004, he started soundtrack work on Tabula Rasa, a massive multiplayer online game. He also helped compose the theme song to the animated series Xiaolin Showdown.
He can be seen performing in the music videos for the songs Gave Up, Wish, and March of the Pigs on the Nine Inch Nails video compilation Closure, and also makes a brief appearance in The Perfect Drug.
Vrenna won a Grammy award as a member of Nine Inch Nails for "Best Metal Performance" for Happiness in Slavery in 1995 for the live performance of the song on Woodstock '94.
Vrenna was Billy Corgan's programmer for four months in 1997. While he was on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins, Vrenna got a call from Axl Rose, who invited Vrenna to spend time with Guns N' Roses. "I did for a couple weeks, but then decided I didn't want to join the band", said Vrenna.
Vrenna was chosen to take over the drumming responsibilities for Marilyn Manson after Ginger Fish was injured in 2004 during the Lest We Forget tour. Then he replaced Madonna Wayne Gacy as the permanent keyboardist for Marilyn Manson, and co-produced their latest work, The High End of Low. In April 2011, following the departure of Marilyn Manson's drummer Ginger Fish, Chris Vrenna was announced to be his official replacement. However, in November 2011, it was announced that Vrenna had parted ways with the band in order to focus on scoring movies and video games.
Personal life
Vrenna is divorced and lives in Los Angeles.