Robert Patrick (T-1000) Tried to Get Nine Inch Nails on the Terminator 2 Soundtrack! (2025)

Imagine a Hollywood insider with a personal passion for music pulling strings behind the scenes of a blockbuster film—only to hit a roadblock that changed the soundtrack of an iconic movie forever. That's the untold story of actor Robert Patrick and his attempt to score Nine Inch Nails for Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

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You might be surprised to learn that Robert Patrick, the intense actor known for his role as the T-1000 in Terminator 2, shares a family bond with Richard Patrick, the frontman of the rock band Filter. For those new to this scene, Filter is a prominent alternative rock group that gained traction in the 1990s with their gritty, industrial sound. But the connections run deeper: Before launching Filter, Richard Patrick contributed his guitar skills and backing vocals to the legendary band Nine Inch Nails (often abbreviated as NIN), led by the enigmatic Trent Reznor. NIN, by the way, is a groundbreaking industrial rock act that revolutionized music with their dark, electronic-infused anthems in the late 80s and 90s.

But here's where it gets controversial—Robert Patrick was such an ardent fan of NIN during that era that he actually lobbied director James Cameron to include one of their tracks in the Terminator 2 soundtrack. Intriguingly, this pitch didn't pan out. So, what exactly went down in that creative clash?

In a recent chat we had with him (check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN9wDVOFDzA), Robert Patrick (https://www.joblo.com/tag/robert-patrick/) dove into his deep-rooted love for music. When the topic turned to Nine Inch Nails, he singled out "Head Like a Hole" from their debut album Pretty Hate Machine as his top pick. For beginners, this song is a high-energy track with pounding beats and lyrics that scream rebellion, perfectly capturing NIN's raw intensity. Building on that, Patrick revealed he had a direct conversation with Cameron about incorporating it into T2. However, Cameron was deeply enamored with Guns N' Roses at the time—think of them as the flashy, hard-rock giants of the era—and opted instead for their song "You Could Be Mine," which was also slated to appear on their album Use Your Illusion II. This choice not only shaped T2's memorable music but also sparked a cultural moment when it played over the film's trailer.

Yet, Patrick's admiration for his brother's band Filter surpasses his fondness for NIN. While he fumbled a bit recalling the title of his favorite Filter track, a quick search revealed it to be "Surprise" from their 2013 album The Sun Comes Out Tonight. He described it as "a happier song and just a real loving song that I think he wrote for his daughter. It’s a really beautiful song." This softer side of Filter might intrigue fans who know them for heavier hits, showing the band's versatility in exploring personal, emotional themes—much like how other artists balance aggression with tenderness.

And this is the part most people miss—when asked about his go-to Filter album, Patrick chose their 1995 debut, Shortbus, kicking off with the hit single "Hey Man Nice Shot." He praised it as "one of the defining albums of the ‘90s in my opinion. I think it made hard rock popular…He wasn’t grunge and it was, you know, an offshoot of Nine Inch Nails. I don’t know if my brother would appreciate that but it’s in that vein Skinny Puppy, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails. That album itself was one of the defining albums of the ‘90s." For context, grunge was the brooding, flannel-clad sound of bands like Nirvana, while industrial rock—exemplified by acts like Skinny Puppy, Ministry, and NIN—involved heavier electronics and dystopian vibes. Patrick's view positions Filter as a bridge between these worlds, potentially controversial since Richard Patrick has publicly distanced himself from NIN's shadow. Is Filter truly an "offshoot" of NIN, or a distinct evolution? This interpretation could ruffle feathers among fans who see Filter as innovating independently.

While Nine Inch Nails made waves with their first-ever full movie score for Tron: Ares (https://www.joblo.com/tron-ares-soundtrack-nine-inch-nails/), Filter hasn't lagged behind in the soundtrack game. They've lent their tracks to films like The Crow: City of Angels (a dark superhero sequel), The X-Files (the eerie sci-fi series adaptation), and most famously, Spawn, where they collaborated with electronic duo The Crystal Method on "(Can’t You) Trip Like I Do." That tune climbed the charts, blending Filter's rock edge with electronic beats—a perfect example of how soundtracks can amplify a movie's atmosphere, much like how a well-placed song can make a fight scene unforgettable.