... 1971, LED ZEPPELIN's debut, originally released in early 1969, finally goes gold. At this point in time, the band are preparing material for their fourth album.

... 1977, RUSH receive three gold records for 2112, All the World's A Stage and A Farewell to Kings.

... 1995, SAVATAGE release Dead Winter Dead.

... 1995, BELLADONNA releases his debut solo album, Belladonna.

... 1996, HELLOWEEN release High Live.

... 1996, JUDAS PRIEST guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing and bassist Ian Hill are currently writing and rewriting material to fit the capabilities of newcomer frontman Ripper Owens.

... 1996, GALACTIC COWBOYS release Feel The Rage.

... 1996, Rob Halford (former lead vocalist for JUDAS PRIEST and FIGHT) signs a deal for his solo project to Trent Reznor's Nothing label, and proceeds to destroy his career/reputation by working on industrial music.

... 1996, METAL CHURCH officially call it a day, packing it in after a 14-year run. Sources close to the band say that guitarist/bandleader Craig Wells has rediscovered Our Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ and thus abandoned his wicked ways, a penitent stage that caused him to sell off most of his musical equipment in the process.

... 1996, guitarist Pat O'Brien is served his walking papers from the Seattle metal band NEVERMORE.

... 1997, FU MANCHU have parted ways with guitarist Eddie Glass and drummer Rubin Romano.

... 1997, Vocalist Barney Greenway leaves NAPALM DEATH.

... 1997, Steve Tucker (ex-CEREMONY) has snapped up the coveted frontman/bassist position in MORBID ANGEL, and the band begin work on Formulas Fatal To The Flesh in Morrisound Studios in Tampa.

... 1997, rumours spread about GEORGE CLOONEY working on movie called Metal God about a travelling salesman in Akron, Ohio who sings in a JUDAS PRIEST tribute band.

... 1997, drummer Nicke Andersson leaves ENTOMBED to fully pursue the HELLACOPTERS project.

... 1997, IRON MAIDEN’s computer game. Melt, is scrapped because it was “crap!.”

... 1997, CANDLEMASS reform with original bassist Leif Edling, guitarists Mike Amott and Patrick Einstedt, drummer Jejo Perkovic and vocalist Bjorn Flodquist. The album, The Apocalypse According To Candlemass has been pushed back until early ‘98.

... 1997, FEAR FACTORY are confirmed to support the reformed BLACK SABBATH at their two Birmingham NEC shows on December 4 and 5.

... 1997, Massacre Records signs SOLITUDE AETURNUS.

... 1997, BOLT THROWER enlist new drummer, 19 year-old Alex Thomas.

... 1997, Rob Halford confirms that his new band is called TWO and they will release an album in early ‘98.

... 1997, rumours suggest that LYNCH MOB is reforming with DOKKEN mates George Lynch and Mick Brown teaming up with vocalist Oni Logan and bassist Anthony Esposito.

... 1998, THE HAUNTED, featuring ex-members of AT THE GATES enter Studio Fredman in Gothenburg to record their debut album.

... 1998, Earache signs U.K. five-piece, ENTWINED.

... 1998, ANNIHILATOR leader Jeff Waters proclaims, "the original ANNIHILATOR Alice In Hell lineup is back together with Randy Rampage on vocals.”

... 1998, former EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has completed a new studio album, under the moniker MOURNING WINDOWS.

... 1998 HELMET officially break up.

... 1998, MÖTLEY CRÜE open S'Crue on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, featuring Motley merchandise from all of the worldwide tours, both Nikki and Vince's clothing lines, and all of Motley's albums.

... 1998, MOTLEY CRUE drummer Tommy Lee announces plans to do a solo album in the vein of his Barb Wire soundtrack contribution, 'Planet Boom', once the Crüe get off the road.

... 1998, ALICE IN CHAINS return to an L.A. studio to finish two new songs expected to appear on a forthcoming box set.

... 1999, METALLICA deliver four different videos from S&M; to MTV, leaving it up to them which one to play. Clips include 'Hero Of The Day', 'Until It Sleeps', 'Fuel', and 'For Whom The Bell Tolls'.

... 1999, QUEENSRYCHE are booed at the end of a Vegas show, possibly for not playing enough old (read: quality) stuff.

... 1999, ELEGY frontman IAN PARRY signs a 3 album deal with InsideOut America.

... 1999, producer Neil Kernon begins negotiation with ROB HALFORD’s management to co-produce his return to metal with long-time JUDAS PRIEST producer Tom Allom.

... 1999, AC/DC refuse to licence a sample of ‘Back In Black’ to the BEASTIE BOYS for their track ‘Rock Hard’, scheduled to appear on their Sound Of Science compilation.

... 1999, ex-JANE’S ADDICTION/PORNO FOR PYROS guitarist Stephen Perkins is elected as the new touring drummer for Tommy Lee’s METHODS OF MAYHEM.

... 1999, KISS announce that their Millenium New Years Eve bash will take place on December 31st, 1999 at B.C. Place in Vancouver, Canada.

... 1999, U.D.O. replaces drummer Stefan Schwartzmann with Lorenzo Milani.

... 1999, HAIR OF THE DOG ink a deal with Spitfire.

... 1999, THE KOVENANT’s appearance on a Norwegian late night talk show is forbidden by the shows producers saying the band are “too violent”.

... 1999, SOULFLY replace drummer Roy Mayorga with former FLESHOLD skinsman Joe Nunez.

... 2001, former HELLOWEEN band mates Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch name their new band MR. TORTURE.

... 2001, KATAKLYSM decide to stop their touring activities in North America indefinitely.

... 2001, Metal Blade ink a deal with BLUDGEON, the first band signed by Joey DeMaio for his label Magic Circle Music.

... 2001, PRIMAL FEAR resign with Nuclear Blast for another five albums including a Live disc and a DVD.

... 2001, DiANNO’s Paul DiAnno signs an agreement with management company Jeff Keller Management to represent him for the territory of North America.

... 2001, DESTRUCTION announce they have a new drummer, 31-year old Marc Reign (ex-GUNJAH, ORTH) from Berlin, Germany.

... 2001, HAMMERFALL receive their first Gold Record for more than 40,000 sold copies of their latest album, Renegade.

... 2001, ILLDISPOSED drummer Rolf is replaced by Thomas Muskelbuks.

... 2001, RUNNING WILD guitarist Thilo Hermann leaves the band.

... 2001, Century Media and World Management resig UNLEASHED to a new worldwide record deal.

... 2001, NARNIA announce their new bassist, Andreas Olsson.

... 2001, CENTINEX guitarist Kenneth Wiklund leaves the band due to loss of interest.

... 2001, WARRANT frontman Jani Lane is hired to run the kitchen at Blind Lemon restaurant in Cleveland.

... 2001, SOLEFALD’s Cornelius Jakhelln publishes his first book, Gebura Muse.

... 2001, Century Media sign German black metal act SUIDAKRA.

... 2002, ANNIHILATOR ink a three album deal for North America with AFM Records.

... 2002, MAJESTIC break up.

... 2002, KONKHRA announce they will do their first video, for the song ‘Warmonger’.

... 2002, plans are announced for Relapse Records first music festival, The Relapse Contamination Festival, to take place in January, 2003 at The Trocadero in Philadelphia.

... 2002, after a seven year break, Denmark's INVOCATOR ink a deal with Scarlet.

... 2002, TYRANT EYES become the first German band to be signed to Scarlet. The label also inks deals with DISARMONIA and PLATITUDE.

... 2002, Frontiers/Now & Then ink a deal with ZION, the new project from former ALIAS singer Freddy Curci.

... 2003, KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono confirms that HYPOCRISY/PAIN leader Peter Tagtgren will guest on their upcoming album, Serenity In Fire.

... 2003, CIRCLE II CIRCLE, featuring former SAVATAGE frontman Zachary Stevens appear to have imploded, as the entire band (minus the singer) have posted at their website that they have

“resigned, effective immediately.”

... 2003, RATA BLANCA vocalist Adrian Barilari forms a new project, BARILARI.

... 2003, MEATLOCKER SEVEN sign a three year distribution deal with Galy Records.

... 2003, VEHEMENCE announce that keyboardist Jason Keesecker is no longer with the band.

... 2003, SOILWORK announce that their new drummer is Richard Evensand.

... 2003, FORCE OF EVIL ink a North American deal with Navarre.

... 2003, STRATOVARIUS confirm rumors that they have signed a three album deal with Sanctuary Records.

... 2003, Guy Speranza, the original voice for RIOT passes away in a Florida hospital from pancreatic cancer.

... 2003, HATEBREED’s new album, The Rise Of Brutality, debuts at #30 on Billboard Magazine’s Album chart, and at #4 on their Hard Rock chart.

... 2003, THE CROWN’s Possessed 13 enters the National Swedish Album Top 100 Charts at # 54.

... 2003, singer Dario Grillo (ex-THY MAJESTIE) inks a deal with Frontiers Records under the moniker PLATENS.

... 2003, it is announced that bassist Rudy Sarzo (ex-QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE) has been speaking with the group ANGEL and is likely to rejoin the band after some 23 years of absence.

... 2003, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION sign a three album record deal through bassist Nikki Sixx’ (MOTLEY CRUE) production company, 12-11 Productions, with Sanctuary Records in the US and Europe.