According to Spin, Keyboardist James Woolley, who played with the infamous Nine Inch Nails from 1991-1994, passed away earlier today due to unknown causes, he died at age 50.
Woolley, previous to his time with NIN, was a major collaborator with NIN drummer Chris Vrenna to the Chicago band Die Warzau, but joined NIN for the 1991 Lollapalooza tour, just as they began their commercial peak. He was with the group as they were releasing their 1992 Broken EP, and remained with them as they created their opus album The Downward Spiral in 1994. Whilst Woolley is not listed on either album’s personnel list, he did perform with Trent Reznor & company during the ’91 Tour and the beginning of Self Destruct Tour. Woolley managed to also appear on several of the band’s music videos, including “Wish”, and “March of the Pigs”.
The world of music lost another great talent today, whilst he was not young by any means, he was also not old to a point where his death would make sense, as the investigation continues on his untimely death, we continue to remember him as a world class talent, a wonderful husband, and a loving father.