2008

In 2008 the Great Recession deepened, and a dramatic September escalation in the financial crisis was followed by Iceland's banking collapse in October. Beijing hosted the first Olympic Games held in China, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Sichuan killed around 87,500 people, and The Dark Knight topped the global box office.

Rock had a good year for the veterans. AC/DC's Black Ice, out in October, ended up the second best-selling album in the world, behind only Coldplay. Metallica returned in September with Death Magnetic, a thrash-leaning record that pleased those who had missed the old speed. Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone and Motörhead's Motörizer both arrived on 26 August, while Def Leppard's Songs From the Sparkle Lounge and Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time kept the old guard busy. Oasis put out Dig Out Your Soul, and Weezer released a self-titled record in June and a Christmas album in December. Nine Inch Nails were prolific, with Ghosts I–IV in March and The Slip in May. Then, after years of waiting, Guns N' Roses finally released Chinese Democracy in November.

The comings and goings were plentiful. Rage Against the Machine played Australia and New Zealand for the first time since reforming, and Scott Weiland's exit from Velvet Revolver became official in April as he went back to Stone Temple Pilots. Celtic Frost and Ministry disbanded, and Thomas Gabriel Fischer left Celtic Frost in April. Chris Broderick joined Megadeth, Twiggy Ramirez rejoined Marilyn Manson, and Wes Borland followed in August. System of a Down looked unlikely to reform, according to Daron Malakian. There were sadder notes too, including the deaths of Rush's original drummer John Rutsey and ex-Sodom drummer Witchhunter.