In the wide world, 2021 was filled with stories about a virus and various other ills, but there was also plenty of noteworthy items (for better or worse) in the heavy metal realm. BraveWords recaps the top 66 news stories of 2021 that go from highs to lows to the weird and the strange.

The top stories were compiled based on the amount of views, not on story importance.

30) IRON MAIDEN Currently In 4th Place In Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Fan Vote

Iron Maiden was 4th in the fan poll amongst the nominees for the 2021 class of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. As of February 18, 2021 Iron Maiden was close to amassing 76,000 votes, putting them in fourth place. However, Fela Kuti is in first place with nearly 145,000 votes.

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29) CRADLE OF FILTH, SATYRICON Guest Performer ANDREA MEYER Killed In Kongsberg Bow And Arrow Attack

In a terrible and unfortunate event, Andrea Meyer Haugen, who made guest appearances on Cradle of Filth's 1994 debut, The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh, and Satyricon's Nemesis Divina, and also known for releasing music under the names Andrea Nebel, Nebelhexë and Hagalaz' Runedance was one of four women killed in a bow and arrow attack in Kongsberg, Norway on October 13. 

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28) KISS - Late Drummer ERIC CARR's Girlfriend CARRIE STEVENS Talks New Documentary - "Looking At A November Release"

The girlfriend of late KISS drummer Eric Carr, Carrie Stevens, told BraveWords’ Aaron Small in April that a documentary about Carr was in production and aiming for a November release. 

“We are looking at a November 2021 release date,” said Stevens “as November 24th will mark thirty years since Eric died of a rare form of heart cancer. The documentary is currently untitled. We will be releasing more info in the coming months."

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27) GENE SIMMONS Apologizes To DAVID LEE ROTH - "I Am So Sorry And Ashamed"; Video

Gene Simmons sure know how to grab the headlines. After some unflattering statements about David Lee Roth and being taken off KISS’ The End Of The Road Tour, Simmons followed up with an apology.

Showing some rare humility, the Demon stated, "I am so sorry and ashamed, actually, that I hurt David's feelings. I'm the guy, actually, that saw them (Van Halen) in a club, signed them to my production company Man Of A Thousand Faces, flew them to New York, produced their first 24-track 15-song demo and championed the band. And, actually, we took David out as our opening act on the tour. And in the course of an interview... you hear me talking, I just sort of stream of consciousness... I don't mean to hurt people's feelings, and every once in a while, diarrhea of the mouth comes out.”

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26) VINCE NEIL Cancels Upcoming Solo Show

Vince Neil canceled a solo show in New York at Batvia Downs on June 18. The cancelation was announced three days before the show.

The venue issued a statement saying, “Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel announced today that due to circumstances beyond their control, the concert on June 18th, 2021 will no longer feature Vince Neil.”

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25) TED NUGENT Tests Positive For COVID-19 - "Everybody Told Me That I Should Not Announce This"

Even the Motor City Madman couldn’t dodge the COVID-19 bullet. Ted Nugent tested positive for the virus in April.

"I've got an announcement to make,” said Nugent “and everybody told me that I should not announce this. I have had flu symptoms for the last 10 days. I thought I was dying, I mean, just a clusterfuck."

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24) MICHAEL ANTHONY Calls Touring With CHICKENFOOT - "Some Of The Best Times I've Ever Had On The Road"

In an interview with New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA FM, bassist Michael Anthony talked about the supergroup Chickenfoot with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Chad Smith.

"I definitely think that Chickenfoot will do something else," Anthony assured. "Whether we'll record another album, which would be great — I'd love to do that. But I'd love to just together and even just do some shows — do a bunch of shows with those guys. 'Cause that's actually some of the best times I've ever had on the road. Believe me — touring with Chad Smith is like touring with no other."

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23) CHILDREN OF BODOM / BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT Frontman ALEXI LAIHO Passes Due To Health Issues - "We Are All Absolutely Shocked And Devastated"

The metal and music world lost the great Alexi Laiho in late 2020 and his death was confirmed in January 2021. Laiho had been battling a host of health issues, but was starting anew with his band Bodom After Midnight. 

"We are crushed by the sudden passing of our dear friend and band member. Words cannot describe this shock and the profound sadness that we feel", Daniel Freyberg, Mitja Toivonen and Waltteri Väyrynen from Bodom After Midnight state.

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22) BILLY IDOL Guitarist STEVE STEVENS On METALLICA - "I Think They're The Next Generation's BLACK SABBATH"

Guitarist Steve Stevens offered high praise for Metallica, equating the thrash metal icons as the next generation’s Black Sabbath. 

Stevens relayed: "I think they're the next generation's Black Sabbath, as far as what they contributed and their impact and their uniqueness and willingness to do what was not the norm. And that's always the way you get the greats, as people go, 'Yeah, we're not gonna do it the way it's been done before.' And James' riffs...”

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21) DEE SNIDER Says When TWISTED SISTER Opened Up For IRON MAIDEN In The ‘80s - “That Was When Tours Were Tours And Men Were Men”

In an interview with BraveWords, Dee Snider reminisced about Twisted Sister supporting Iron Maiden on their World Slavery tour, which TS support on 189 of the tour dates.

Snider said, “People call it hair metal, this, that, the other thing, but in the beginning there was no separation,” he looks back fondly. “We were a weird metal band. We toured with Motörhead, we toured with Saxon, we toured with Metallica in Europe, we toured with Iron Maiden, and nobody blinked. That was when tours were tours and men were men. Shows were sold out, when doors opened and we hit the stage, the arena was filled, there was no showing up later just to see the headliner.”

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