5 Major Rock and Metal Stories from 2015

2016-01-04

Story by Anne Erickson

From the great to the tragic

Looking back on 2015, there were a bounty of significant rock stories, from the great (Disturbed is back!) to the tragic (Eagles of Death Metal show terrorist attack). Here are five major rock and metal stories from 2015.

The return of Disturbed

This was a mega year for Disturbed, who released their first album since 2010’s “Asylum.” The set, called “Immortalized,” spawned the singles “The Vengeful One” and “The Light,” which both reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The album also debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, giving Disturbed five consecutive No. 1 albums. Considering the band was on hiatus four years before releasing “Asylum,” it was an incredible showing.

Dave Grohl Tours with broken leg

We have to give major props to Dave Grohl this year. The Foo Fighters frontman fell off the stage during a gig in Europe, but it didn’t stop him from embarking on the group’s North American tour. He performed the full tour sitting on a throne of guitars, with his broken leg propped up. That’s a true rocker.

Breaking Benjamin is back

Following a five-year hiatus, Breaking Benjamin returned this year with a new album, “Dark Before Dawn,” and a new lineup. It was the band’s first bit of new music since 2009’s “Dear Agony.” The album featured two No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart: “Failure” and “Angels Fall.” It also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Scott Weiland, Lemmy Kilmister gone

Two influential musicians passes away at the end of 2015, leaving the rock world in mourning. Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots passed away at 48. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, Weiland had a mix of cocaine, ethanol and the amphetamine MDA in his body. Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister left the world this year at age 70, passing away of an aggressive form of cancer. Stings, doesn’t it?

Terrorist attack at Eagles of Death Metal show

One of the most tragic stories of 2015 was the terrorist attack in Paris in November of 2015 at the Bataclan Theater during an Eagles of Death Metal show. The attack killed at least 89 innocent concertgoers. Eagles of Death Metal went back to Paris in December and performed with U2, as well as visited a memorial at Le Bataclan.

Courtesy photo by Travis Shinn