1996
Acts Formed
Belle and Sebastian
Glasgow, Scotland
Twee Pop
Black Star
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Hip Hop
Calexico
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Americana
Camera Obscura
Glasgow, Scotland
Twee Pop
dead prez
USA
Hip Hop
Dropkick Murphy's
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA
Punk
Gojira
Ondres, France
Death Metal
Groove Armada
London, England
EDM
Jedi Mind Tricks
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Hip Hop
Kittie
London, Ontario, Canada
Metal
Knuckledust
London, England
Beatdown Hardcore
Lamb
Manchester, England
Trip Hop
Linkin Park
Agoura Hills, California, USA
Nu-Metal
Nightwish
Kitee, Finland
Symphonic Metal
Queens of the
Stone Age
Seattle, Washington, USA
Stoner Rock
Scratch Perverts
London, England
Turntablism
The Beta Band
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Indie Rock
The Shins
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Indie Pop
Within Temptation
Waddinxveen, Holland
Symphonic Metal
January 8th
Madonna's stalker is convicted of multiple charges including making threats to kill.
January 16th
The Silverchair song 'Israel's Son' is used in the defence of two American teenagers in a murder trial. The pair's lawyers claim they were influenced to kill after listening to the record, citing the specific lyrics: "Hate is what I feel for you / I want you to know that I want you dead."
January 25th
Madonna receives death threats after playing Eva Peron in the film Evita.
February 5th
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads is released.
February 13th
Tupac becomes the first rapper to release a double album.
February 22nd
MCA purchase 50% of Interscope. Previous owners of the stake, Warner Music Group, were pressured to sell because of public backlash resulting from housing artists in the gangsta rap sub-genre.
February 28th - Grammy Awards
Album of the Year: Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
Song of the Year: Seal - Kiss From a Rose
March 13th
Ramones fans riot in Argentina after failing to get tickets for a show.
April 3rd
MC Hammer declared bankrupt.
May 11th
A 17 year old girl is crushed to death at a Smashing Pumpkins gig in Dublin.
May 25th
The lead singer of Sublime dies at 28 of a heroin overdose.
June 15th
Ella Fitzgerald dies at 79 of a heart attack.
June 25th
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt is released. Debut album.
July 13th
The lead singer of Pantera suffers a heroin overdose but is revived.
August 1st
MTV2 is launched. The channel focuses on indie and alternative music.
August 27th
Outkast - ATLiens is released.
September 12th
Bjork's stalker attempts to kill her by sending sulfuric acid in the post.
September 13th
Tupac is murdered at 25.
September 19th - Mercury Prize
Best British Album: Pulp - Different Class
October 1st
Tool - Ænima is released.
October 5th
Detones incite a riot in Phoenix, Arizona allegedly telling the crowd to "come on down and help trash the place". Later, the band have a physical fight with members of Type O Negative.
October 29th
The Stone Roses disband.
November 19th
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing is released. Debut album.
December 10th
Redman - Muddy Waters is released.
