Overview of the events of 2004 in heavy metal music
This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2004.
Events
- Terje Bakken of Windir dies from hypothermia on his way to his grandparents, which resulted in Windir disbanding.[1]
- Brian Welch leaves Korn after converting to Christianity.[2][3][4][5]
- Damageplan and former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell is murdered on stage while performing at a nightclub in Ohio on 8 December.[6][7][8]
- Bassist Tim Gaines leaves Stryper after 10 complete years. He is replaced by Tracy Ferrie.
- Body Count rhythm guitarist D-Roc dies from lymphoma at the age of 45.[9]
- Jason Jones, originally a tattoo artist from Los Angeles, California, was publicly announced as Drowning Pool's new lead singer and joined them on the album Desensitized.
- Supergroup Velvet Revolver releases their debut album Contraband which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and goes double platinum.[10]
- After an eight-year hiatus, Extreme briefly returns for a short tour and a few concerts in Japan.
- Van Halen reunites with Sammy Hagar for a summer tour.
- Anal Cunt vocalist Seth Putnam slips into a coma after consuming a large amount of drugs.
- Aerosmith returns to a raw hard rock sound with their blues cover album Honkin' on Bobo
- Terry Balsamo leaves Cold and joins Evanescence as their new guitarist.
- Guitarist Lisa Marx joins Kittie as a session member, replacing Jeff Phillips.
- Nasum guitarist/vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk dies as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (although his body was not identified until 17 February the following year). Consequently, Nasum would later disband.
- Maniac leaves Mayhem and is replaced by the band's former singer, Attila Csihar.
- Ace Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg, founder of the Black/Viking metal band Bathory dies, at the age of 38.
- Dave Mustaine reforms Megadeth with 3 session musicians, former and original Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland, bassist Jimmie Lee Sloas and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta to record The System Has Failed, then tour the album with full-time members Glen Drover on guitar, James MacDonough on bass and Shawn Drover on drums.
- Ex-Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland is sentenced to eight years in prison for attempted rape against a then 17-year-old boy.
Preceded by2003
Heavy Metal Timeline 2004
Succeeded by2005