He’s one of the alternative music scene’s long-standing icons.

Trent Reznor, known more commonly to his fans as the heart of Nine Inch Nails – he’s the lone official member in studio, but has toured and recorded with a variety of musicians – hits Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Dec. 5 in what may be the City of Gardens’ most anticipated show of 2008.

Despite the mass appeal of its live industrial rock shows over the years, Nine Inch Nails is skipping Vancouver on its current swing through British Columbia (which also includes a date in Kelowna). That means mainlanders will be flooding B.C. Ferries this Friday.

The band opened its current Lights in the Sky Tour at the first-ever Pemberton Music Festival this summer and played Seattle shortly after.

Nine Inch Nails burst onto the scene with Pretty Hate Machine in 1989, an album written and performed solely by Pennsylvania native Reznor. He began assembling band members in Cleveland in 1988 and has seen many come and go in 20 years as he changed the focus of his live shows and changes direction in studio.

In total, Nine Inch Nails has released eight full-length albums, the latest being 2008’s The Slip, which drew favourable reviews from critics, but mixed reviews from fans. Currently Reznor’s touring lineup consists of drummer Robin Finck, keyboardist Alessandro Cortini and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen. In 2009 Finck will be replaced by drummer Ilan Rubin.

Opening for Reznor and company is The Bug (Kevin Martin) a London-based musician who dabbles in many genres including industrial, hip-hop, dub and jazz – seemingly melding them all into one song at times.

The Victoria show is sold out, but some walk-up tickets may be available at the Save-On Foods Centre ticket windows.

patrickb@vicnews.com