2003

In 2003 the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia led the invasion of Iraq, which began on 20 March and dominated the news for the rest of the year. Space Shuttle Columbia was lost with seven astronauts, SARS spread out of Guangdong and Hong Kong, and the iTunes Store opened, which would matter to the music business rather more than anyone in a record-company boardroom wanted to admit.

Nu metal was at its commercial peak, and Linkin Park's Meteora, out in March, was the year's most popular album in the vault. Deftones released a self-titled record in May, and Korn's Take a Look in the Mirror arrived in November. Metallica's St. Anger came out in June with Robert Trujillo, formerly of Ozzy Osbourne's band, hired as the new bassist after months of auditions. Iron Maiden's Dance of Death appeared in September, Slayer's Soundtrack to the Apocalypse and Rage Against the Machine's Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium came in November, and Anthrax, Sepultura, Motörhead, Type O Negative and Queensrÿche all had new records out. Led Zeppelin's How the West Was Won gave the old guard a say too. Headbangers' Ball was revived on MTV2, with Jamey Jasta hosting.

It was also a year of partings and returns. On 20 February a fire at a Rhode Island nightclub during a Great White show killed 100 people, among them guitarist Ty Longley. Pantera, Coal Chamber and Immortal all called it a day, while Judas Priest welcomed Rob Halford back in July, Stryper reformed with their original line-up, and Fear Factory and Twisted Sister also returned. Pete Townshend was arrested in January, and Phil Spector was arrested in February after the death of Lana Clarkson.