Nine Inch Nails [ tickets ] capped their North American tour with a Saturday (12/13) concert in Las Vegas, during which frontman Trent Reznor announced that it was keyboardist Alessandro Cortini's final performance with the group.

"It’s been exactly 4 years since Ii joined Nine Inch Nails and the time has come for me to move onto new things," Cortini confirmed in a message posted at the website for his new project, dubbed Blindoldfreak. "I feel a need to explore other paths in music and life which leads me to leave the tour at this stage. I am grateful of the chance I was given: it doesn’t happen every day to be able to work next to some of the most talented people on this planet."

Cortini went on to say that "Trent & Co. have been aware of this decision of mine for a while now and are prepared to take the band to the next step."

News of Cortini's departure follows last month's announcement that longtime NIN drummer Josh Freese would also be leaving the band following Saturday night's Vegas performance. Reznor announced from the stage Saturday that he, guitarist Robin Finck, bassist Justin Meldal Johnson and Freese's recently announced replacement, Lostprophets drummer Ilan Rubin, will return to the road next year to carry on as a four-piece ensemble.