“I Do Not Want This” by Nine Inch Nails from The Downward Spiral

Dear Mr. Gregors,

You are an animal. A monster. I’m sure I’m not the first person to make this kind of observation but I wanted to make sure you add mine to the pile of people who have noticed the same about you.

One thing you should never do again, besides, preferably, breathe, is tell me—or ANYONE ELSE—that you know how I feel. That you understand. You don’t understand! You can’t. You’re a soulless bloodsucker who confuses art with profit. The only thing you could possibly understand about me is how I drove in to your office that day. You seem like the type that would be able to figure out an internal combustion engine.

Second thing, don’t censor me when we talk. I didn’t say I wanted to “make love to the entire world.” Those were not the words I use! I used words of power and vulgarness. You’re reduction of that to something so…pedestrian is just so typical! It’s exactly like what you tried to do to my last record. Make it a record that makes love to the ears. That’s NOT the kind of music I MAKE!

I don’t want your help because your help is poison.

I don’t want your studios because they’re conformity factories.

I don’t want your video budget but music videos steal the artist’s soul AND the music’s soul.

I don’t want anything to do with you! If I could just release everything I do…EVERYTHING, I would. The moment your corrupting contract full of anti-art expires, that’s exactly what I’ll do. Purify myself and my music. Dip it into the pure waters and emerge again. Pull these spears from my skin and move forward, unencumbered. And show you, you monster, show you the power of true music!

Ingenuous sign-off,

Your Indentured Servant