1992

In 1992 the Cold War was formally declared over at Camp David, the Maastricht Treaty founded the European Union, and Yugoslavia began to come apart, with the Bosnian War opening in March. Albertville hosted the Winter Olympics, and white South Africans voted for reforms that would end apartheid.

Nirvana's Nevermind reached No. 1 in the US in January, and the rest of the year felt its pull. Alice in Chains answered with Dirt, a bleak, heavy record that sat between grunge and metal, while Rage Against the Machine arrived in November with a debut that fused rap, funk and riffs. Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power gave groove metal its muscle, Megadeth turned to a slower, more measured sound on Countdown to Extinction, and Faith No More went wonderfully odd on Angel Dust. Iron Maiden released Fear of the Dark and Black Sabbath returned with Dehumanizer. Nine Inch Nails delivered Broken, Tool debuted with Opiate, and Nirvana tidied up their loose ends with Hormoaning and Incesticide. Def Leppard's Adrenalize and Motörhead's March ör Die rounded out the old guard.

Line-ups were in constant motion. Vince Neil left Mötley Crüe in February, replaced by John Corabi, and Rob Halford announced his exit from Judas Priest in May. Phil Taylor left Motörhead, with Tommy Aldridge drumming on the album and Mikkey Dee following, while Slayer swapped Dave Lombardo for Paul Bostaph. James Hetfield suffered serious burns in a pyrotechnic accident on the stadium tour with Guns N' Roses, Body Count's "Cop Killer" caused a national row, and Varg Vikernes of Burzum destroyed Fantoft Stave Church in June. Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in February.