2017

2017 began with a nightclub shooting in Istanbul and, three weeks later, the Women's March, which filled streets across the world after Donald Trump's inauguration. In March the United Kingdom triggered Article 50 and Brexit talks began. In May, Emmanuel Macron won the French presidency, and a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester killed 22 people.

In rock, the big names mostly traded in polish rather than ferocity. Linkin Park's One More Light, released in May, leaned into electropop and pop rock, while Foo Fighters answered in September with Concrete and Gold. Weezer's Pacific Daydream followed in October, and Green Day rounded up their career on God's Favorite Band. Nine Inch Nails kept the industrial edge sharp with Add Violence. Metal looked backwards and sideways: Sepultura's Machine Messiah opened the year, Motörhead's Under Cöver collected their covers, and Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Pearl Jam all put out live sets. Black Sabbath's The End arrived as the farewell it promised.

It was a grim year for loss. Black Sabbath played their last two shows in Birmingham in early February and disbanded, a tidy goodbye by the standards of the year. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden died on 17 May, and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park followed on 20 July, aged 41. Soundgarden were listed among the bands that ended. Daisy Berkowitz and Chuck Mosley also died, though As I Lay Dying and Sadus came back.