17 January: Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.
20 January: The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC perform at the American Music Awards. It is the only time that the two rival boy bands performed on the same stage together.
26 January: Crowd crush occurs during the a set by Limp Bizkit at the Sydney Big Day Out music festival. Jessica Michalik is killed and the band subsequently leaves the country after threats to their safety.
January/February: Rush records Vapor Trails, which was released on May 14, 2002.
February: CFXJ (Flow 93.5), Canada's first urban music station, goes to air for the first time as a testing signal (its official debut is on March 1.) This is considered a breakthrough for Canadian hip hop and R&B musicians.
1 February: Jennifer Lopez becomes first female and artist to have both a number one album J.Lo and a number one movie The Wedding Planner in the same week.
13 February: Peter Frampton receives the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.
17 February: Manic Street Preachers become the first western rock band to play in Cuba. (Fidel Castro is in attendance.) They did not tour however, meaning that the unsigned British rock band Sandstone Veterans are the only band from the western world to tour Cuba.
1 March: Collin Raye is awarded the Artist Humanitarian Award from Country Radio Broadcasters. The award was given in recognition of Raye's work on behalf of a number of different charitable organizations including Childhelp USA, USA Weekend's Make A Difference Day and the Native American organization Hecel Oyakapi.
14 March: The Court of Appeals in Rome finds Michael Jackson "not guilty" of plagiarism, reversing a decision made in 1999 by a lower court. Italian songwriter Albano Carrisi had claimed that Jackson's "Will You Be There" was a copy of his song "I Cigni Di Balaka."
24 March: John Connolly of Sevendust marries Lori Kirkley.
28 March:
Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 replaces Max Bruch's violin concerto at #1 in the Classic FM Hall of Fame.
Two super-mega hit albums : Hikaru Utada's Distance and Ayumi Hamasaki's A Best are released on exactly the same date. Their debut week sales are 3,002,720 and 2,874,870, respectively, setting the world's #1 and #2 one-week album sales records.
31 March: Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown are banned for life from Hollywood's Bel Air hotel and arrested after destroying their room. Property that was allegedly damaged included a TV, and two doors. According to Hotel Workers, the walls and carpets were also stained by alcohol. The Hotel closed down the room for five days for repairs.
4 April: Original Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent, reunite for a two-part performance at London's Jazz Cafe, the first time the two had performed together in over 30 years.
24 April and 30 October: Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson release albums in the same year, respectively. Janet releases All For You and Michael releases Invincible. Both albums would hit #1 on the album charts.
1 May: Huey Lewis and the News makes a comeback with their album Plan B, their first album of new material in a decade.
May: The 4th EJCF is held in Basel. The next time was in 2004.
June: Bad Religion drummer Bobby Schayer, who had been with the band since 1991, is forced to give up music after experiencing a "most unfortunate career-ending injury". This leads to leaving Bad Religion for good; he's now replaced by current dummer Brooks Wackerman. By this time, Bad Religion were dropped from Atlantic Records and returned to their original label Epitaph, and founding guitarist Brett Gurewitz had just rejoined the band after a 7-year hiatus.
2 June: Christina Aguilera scores her fourth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 for "Lady Marmalade" a collaboration with Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink. The video wins the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
9 June: Madonna kicks off her first concert tour in 8 years, the Drowned World Tour, in Barcelona, Spain.
12 June: Electric Light Orchestra release their first album in 15 years, entitled Zoom.
16 June: The Los Angeles, California radio station KROQ-FM airs the 9th Annual of the Weenie Roast show with Blink-182, Coldplay, Crazy Town, The Cult, Disturbed, Jane's Addiction, Linkin Park, The Living End, New Found Glory, Pennywise, Papa Roach, Stabbing Westward, Staind, Stone Temple Pilots, Sum 41 and 311.
July: Backstreet Boy A. J. McLean enters a rehabilitation facility to deal with alcoholism and depression, as the Black & Blue summer tour is put on hold.
17 July: Aaliyah's long-awaited third album is released debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200
19 July: Mariah Carey makes an unscheduled visit to MTV's Total Request Live, one of a number of unusual public appearances during the year
13 August: 2 weeks before its official release Spider One of Powerman 5000 pulls Anyone for Doomsday? off the market because it sounds too much like their previous release Tonight the Stars Revolt!. Later he releases the album on their website. 6 years later it's partially on iTunes.
25 August: A Cessna 402 aircraft carrying 9 people, including R&B singer Aaliyah, crashes in the Bahamas, killing all aboard.
28 August: Slipknot release their second studio album Iowa.
4 September: The second studio album from Armenian-American band System of a Down, Toxicity, is released worldwide. After the 9/11 attacks, the single "Chop Suey!" is put on the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel.
10 September: Blink-182 start shooting a video for "Stay Together for the Kids", featuring the band playing in a derelict house. When they try to finish the video the following day, the 9–11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City occur, and the band abandon the attempt and decide to shoot a different video for the song.
11 September:
Gerard Way witnesses the 9/11 attacks and is inspired to start a band, which later becomes My Chemical Romance.
Slayer release the album "God Hates Us All".
Mariah Carey releases her tenth album, Glitter, the soundtrack for the movie with the same name.
P.O.D Releases Satellite. Produces three hits, Alive, Youth Of The Nation, Boom.
21 September: America: A Tribute to Heroes airs uninterrupted on all major networks. The solemn concert, only 10 days after the September 11 attacks, included performances by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Celine Dion, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, and others.
October: Burton C. Bell gets into a fight with his bandmate Dino Cazares about a manager they fired. The event that triggers the demise of Fear Factory.
16 October: Michael Jackson releases his album's special edition of his albums Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous.
20 October:
The Concert for New York City airs on VH1, with performances by Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi The Who, Billy Joel and others.
Volunteers For America benefit concert is held in Atlanta, Georgia, MC was Drew Carey with performances by Edgar Winter Group, Mark Farner, Jack Blades, John Waite, The Knack, Eddie Money, Peter Frampton, Survivor, Kansas, Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and others.
21 October:
United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert is held at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., with performances by Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, James Brown, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, and others.
Volunteers For America benefit concert is held at Smirnoff Music Centre in Dallas, Texas, MC was Drew Carey with performances by Edgar Winter Group, Mark Farner, Jack Blades, John Waite, The Knack, Eddie Money, Peter Frampton, Survivor, Kansas, Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Bad Company, and others.
23 October: Incubus releases their third full-length major label album entitled Morning View. It debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at the #2 spot (266,000 copies were sold in its first week). This was the highest ever placement for Incubus. At the same time, "Wish You Were Here" was at #2 on the Modern Rock Charts, and "Drive" sat at #48 on the Hot 100 chart.
25 October: Quarashi performs a live concert with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra (the band, Botnleõja also performed) in the Háskólabíó in Reykjavík, Iceland, which is notable for being the first time that a rap act performed a live concert with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. Quarashi performed seven songs from their (at the time) upcoming album, Jinx.
31 October: After 10 years, Al 3 & Dorian 27 leave Powerman 5000. It is speculated they left due towards Spider One's decision to pull Anyone for Doomsday?.
November: The governing body of the UK Singles Chart, Chart Information Network Ltd. (CIN), changes its name to The Official UK Charts Company.
13 November: Shakira's fifth studio, third international and the first English language album Laundry Service has been released worldwide, fueled by success of its lead single Whenever, Wherever.
16 November: Britney Spears' third album, Britney debuts at #1, making her the first female artist with her first three albums to debut at #1.
December: Mike Turner Quit Our Lady Peace.
1 December: Backstreet Boys release their hits album, The Hits: Chapter One
Also in 2001:
Area One music festival brings together a variety of acts including Moby, Incubus, Outkast, New Order, Nelly Furtado, The Roots, Rinocerose, Paul Oakenfold, and Carl Cox.
Napster's popularity peaks.
The Republic of France awards Jean-Yves Thibaudet the honour of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Deporitaz releases Microwave this CD, his second album, on MP3.com.
Sean Beasley joins Dying Fetus.
Classical Music
LEONARDO BALADA
Cello Concerto No. 2 New Orleans
OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS
Symphony No. 5
JOHN CORIGLIANO
Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra
GEORGE CRUMB
Unto the Hills for soprano, percussion quartet and piano
JOËL-FRANÇOIS DURAND
Athanor for orchestra
LORENZO FERRERO
Two Cathedrals in the South concertino for trumpet and orchestra
Moonlight Sonata for five percussion instruments
HOWARD GOODALL
In Memoriam Anne Frank
HELMUT LACHENMANN
Grido (string quartet)
STUART MITCHELL
Seven Wonders Suite for Choir & Orchestra
PETER RUZICKA
Trans - Requiem für Giuseppe Sinopoli
Opera
THEO LOEVENDIE
Johnny & Jones
SVEN-DAVID SANDSTRÖM
Jeppe: The Cruel Comedy
Musical Theater
Opening: 11 March 2001 @ Ambassador Theatre, New York, NY
A CLASS ACT [Original production]
(Musical)
Music by: Edward Kleban; Book by: Linda Kline, Lonny Price; Lyrics by: Edward Kleban
Closing: 10 June 2001 Performance Count: 105
Opening: 5 April 2001 @ Belasco Theatre, New York, NY
FOLLIES [Revival production]
(Musical, Drama)
Music by: Stephen Sondheim; Book by: James Goldman; Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim
Closing: 14 July 2001 Performance Count: 117
Opening: 12 April 2001 @ Plymouth Theatre, New York, NY
BELLS ARE RINGING [Revival production]
(Musical, Comedy)
Music by: Jule Styne; Book by: Betty Comden, Adolph Green; Lyrics by: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Closing: 10 June 2001 Performance Count: 68
Opening: 17 April 2001 @ Broadway Theatre, New York, NY
BLAST! [Original production]
(Musical, Concert)
Closing: 23 September 2001 Performance Count: 180
Opening: 19 April 2001 @ St. James Theatre, New York, NY
THE PRODUCERS [Original production]
(Musical, Comedy)
Music by: Mel Brooks; Book by: Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan; Lyrics by: Mel Brooks
Closing: 22 April 2007 Performance Count: 2502
Opening: 26 April 2001 @ Minskoff Theatre, New York, NY
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER [Original production]
(Musical, Comedy)
Music by: Don Schlitz; Book by: Ken Ludwig; Lyrics by: Don Schlitz
Closing: 13 May 2001 Performance Count: 21
Opening: 2 May 2001 @ Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY
42ND STREET [Revival production]
(Musical, Comedy)
Music by: Harry Warren; Book by: Mark Bramble, Michael Stewart; Lyrics by: Al Dubin
Closing: 2 January 2005 Performance Count: 1524
Opening: 20 September 2001 @ Henry Miller's Theatre, New York, NY
URINETOWN [Original production]
(Musical, Comedy)
Music by: Mark Hollmann; Book by: Greg Kotis; Lyrics by: Mark Hollmann, Greg Kotis
Closing: 18 January 2004 Performance Count: 965
Opening: 24 September 2001 @ Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY
Music by: Henry Krieger; Book by: Tom Eyen; Lyrics by: Tom Eyen
Closing: 24 September 2001 Performance Count: 1
Opening: 18 October 2001 @ Winter Garden Theatre, New York, NY, moving on 5 May 2002 to Cadillac Winter Garden Theatre, New York, NY, moving back to Winter Garden Theatre, New York, NY on 1 January 2007, before moving again on 2 November 2013 to Broadhurst Theatre, New York, NY
