2026

2026 opened with the United States capturing Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro, and by late February a war involving Iran had pushed fuel prices and anxiety upwards. There were happier distractions. Milan and Cortina co-hosted the Winter Olympics, Artemis II took a crew around the Moon, and the World Cup stretched to 48 teams across three host nations.

Guitars did rather well out of all this. Foo Fighters had Your Favorite Toy out in April, Weezer returned in August with another self-titled record, and Megadeth's self-titled album arrived in January, ahead of a farewell tour that opened in Lima and is expected to run for years. Anthrax put out two releases, The Story of Chron and Cursum perficio, while Nine Inch Nails turned in the TRON Ares: Divergence soundtrack and Linkin Park issued a live São Paulo set. Pink Floyd's 8-Tracks and The Smashing Pumpkins' Zodeon at Crystal Hall rounded out the lot, and Rammstein's Feuer Frei kept the Germans busy. Iron Maiden were named among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

Farewells and reunions came thick and fast. Sepultura released The Cloud of Unknowing and planned a final show in São Paulo in November. Rush returned after eleven years with Anika Nilles on drums, Faith No More reformed, and Ritchie Blackmore joined Deep Purple for "Smoke on the Water" for the first time in 33 years. Ian Hill left Judas Priest, Nightwish parted ways with Floor Jansen, and King Diamond replaced Andy LaRocque with Gus G. The losses hurt: Ross the Boss, Phil Campbell and Francis Buchholz all died.