![17. Beatles Rock Band -
They took their time, but in September The Beatles finally took to the digital age with the release of Beatles: Rock Band. Granted support form Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, the game enabled users to play along to some of the Liverpool band's biggest hits using customised instruments. Sir Paul said he was happy to]()
17. Beatles Rock Band -
They took their time, but in September The Beatles finally took to the digital age with the release of Beatles: Rock Band. Granted support form Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, the game enabled users to play along to some of the Liverpool band's biggest hits using customised instruments. Sir Paul said he was happy to "embrace good new ideas" if it helped to keep the band's legacy "exciting".
![16. Stephen Gately Dies -
Boyzone star Stephen Gately's sudden death in October left fans shocked and the singer's bandmates]()
16. Stephen Gately Dies -
Boyzone star Stephen Gately's sudden death in October left fans shocked and the singer's bandmates "totally devastated". Gately was on holiday in Majorca when he went to sleep following a night out and never woke up. He was eventually laid to rest in his hometown of Dublin but not before Daily Mail journalist Jan Moir wrote an ill-timed column about the singer, entitled 'Why there was nothing 'natural' about Stephen Gately's death'. The article attracted more than 20,000 complaints and led to an apology from the journalist.
![15. Obama Inauguration -
Barack Obama’s campaign to be American president didn’t just galvanize the country’s millions of citizens; it galvanized the majority of the music world as well. To coincide with Obama’s inauguration in January, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Beyonce were among the stars who performed at a special outdoor concert in Washington DC. The event kick-started celebrations ahead of Obama’s inauguration proper on January 21, which was followed by additional parties featuring the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West and Arcade Fire. (Photo by: WENN)]()
15. Obama Inauguration -
Barack Obama’s campaign to be American president didn’t just galvanize the country’s millions of citizens; it galvanized the majority of the music world as well. To coincide with Obama’s inauguration in January, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Beyonce were among the stars who performed at a special outdoor concert in Washington DC. The event kick-started celebrations ahead of Obama’s inauguration proper on January 21, which was followed by additional parties featuring the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West and Arcade Fire. (Photo by: WENN)
![14. Lily Allen File Sharing -
At the end of a decade that saw the advent and explosion of illegal file-sharing, Lily Allen took to the internet in September in a bid to gain artists’ rights back. The singer, who launched her career via MySpace, took aim at the manifesto of the Featured Artists Coalition, which had played down the issue. She won the support of a host of high-profile acts, including Take That and Muse, but eventually withdrew from the spotlight, saying “the abuse was getting too much”. (Photo by: Splash)]()
14. Lily Allen File Sharing -
At the end of a decade that saw the advent and explosion of illegal file-sharing, Lily Allen took to the internet in September in a bid to gain artists’ rights back. The singer, who launched her career via MySpace, took aim at the manifesto of the Featured Artists Coalition, which had played down the issue. She won the support of a host of high-profile acts, including Take That and Muse, but eventually withdrew from the spotlight, saying “the abuse was getting too much”. (Photo by: Splash)
![13. Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack -
Not for a long time has a movie soundtrack been as anticipated as the score to The Twilight Saga: New Moon. But then, it’s not every year a that a film captures the imagination of an entire generation of teenagers. Artists including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Muse and Editors literally threw themselves at the chance to appear on score for the second instalment of the vampire franchise, which broke box office records when it was released in November. (Photo by: Splash)]()
13. Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack -
Not for a long time has a movie soundtrack been as anticipated as the score to The Twilight Saga: New Moon. But then, it’s not every year a that a film captures the imagination of an entire generation of teenagers. Artists including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Muse and Editors literally threw themselves at the chance to appear on score for the second instalment of the vampire franchise, which broke box office records when it was released in November. (Photo by: Splash)
![12. Leona Lewis Punched -
Leona Lewis was sixty minutes into a three-hour book signing at a London bookstore in October when she was punched in the face by a man who had queued with hundreds of others to meet the former X Factor winner. Peter Kopwalczyk, 29, reported to be a disgruntled former contestant on the talent contest, was later charged with assault and sectioned under the mental health act. (Photo by: WENN)]()
12. Leona Lewis Punched -
Leona Lewis was sixty minutes into a three-hour book signing at a London bookstore in October when she was punched in the face by a man who had queued with hundreds of others to meet the former X Factor winner. Peter Kopwalczyk, 29, reported to be a disgruntled former contestant on the talent contest, was later charged with assault and sectioned under the mental health act. (Photo by: WENN)
![11. DJ AM Overdose -
Eleven months after he and friend Travis Barker, drummer in Blink-192, survived a plane crash, DJ AM was found dead in his apartment in New York. The 36-year-old’s death was caused by an accidental drugs overdose after taking a cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs. According to unconfirmed reports, the DJ, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was struggling to deal with his split from girlfriend Haley Wood. (Photo by: Splash)]()
11. DJ AM Overdose -
Eleven months after he and friend Travis Barker, drummer in Blink-192, survived a plane crash, DJ AM was found dead in his apartment in New York. The 36-year-old’s death was caused by an accidental drugs overdose after taking a cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs. According to unconfirmed reports, the DJ, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was struggling to deal with his split from girlfriend Haley Wood. (Photo by: Splash)
![10. Phil Spector Guilty Murder -
Phil Spector’s legacy as the music producer who created Wall of Sound was tainted in February when he was found guilty of murdering the b-movie actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles home in 2003. Spector had pleaded not guilty to Clarkson’s murder and the original trial in 2007 resulted in a hung jury. But the jury reached a unanimous verdict following nine days of deliberations at the producer’s re-trial. The 67-year-old faces at least 18 years in prison. (Photo by: Splash)]()
10. Phil Spector Guilty Murder -
Phil Spector’s legacy as the music producer who created Wall of Sound was tainted in February when he was found guilty of murdering the b-movie actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles home in 2003. Spector had pleaded not guilty to Clarkson’s murder and the original trial in 2007 resulted in a hung jury. But the jury reached a unanimous verdict following nine days of deliberations at the producer’s re-trial. The 67-year-old faces at least 18 years in prison. (Photo by: Splash)
![9. Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna -
They were American R&B music’s leading couple. But in February, a fairytale romance ended for Chris Brown and Rihanna when Brown attacked his girlfriend in a suburb of Los Angeles. The then 20-year-old eventually pleaded guilty over the incident, which took place hours before the Grammy awards, and was given five years' probation. The R&B singer was also sentenced to 180 days community labour and ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend. (Photo by: WENN)]()
9. Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna -
They were American R&B music’s leading couple. But in February, a fairytale romance ended for Chris Brown and Rihanna when Brown attacked his girlfriend in a suburb of Los Angeles. The then 20-year-old eventually pleaded guilty over the incident, which took place hours before the Grammy awards, and was given five years' probation. The R&B singer was also sentenced to 180 days community labour and ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend. (Photo by: WENN)
![8. Eminem Stunt -
As soon as Sacha Baren Cohen, dressed as his movie character Bruno, was spotted descending from the rafters of the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles at the MTV Movie Awards in May the question on everyone’s lips was: where’s he going to land? The answer was Eminem’s face, much to the rapper’s apparent distaste. The audience looked on in shock and horror as Eminem’s entourage grappled with Cohen while the rapper stormed out of the venue. However, it was later revealed that the whole incident had been staged. (Photo by: Splash)]()
8. Eminem Stunt -
As soon as Sacha Baren Cohen, dressed as his movie character Bruno, was spotted descending from the rafters of the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles at the MTV Movie Awards in May the question on everyone’s lips was: where’s he going to land? The answer was Eminem’s face, much to the rapper’s apparent distaste. The audience looked on in shock and horror as Eminem’s entourage grappled with Cohen while the rapper stormed out of the venue. However, it was later revealed that the whole incident had been staged. (Photo by: Splash)
![7. Morrissey Collapse
A year of cancelled gigs and outspoken remarks about vegetarianism came to a head for Morrissey in October when he collapsed on stage during a gig in Swindon. The former Smiths star was rushed to a nearby hospital and eventually released in time to resume his tour at the Royal Albert Hall in London three days later. However, the drama continued for the star when he was abandoned a show in Liverpool a month later when a fan threw a pint glass, which struck the star on the head. (Photo by: Neil Lupin)]()
7. Morrissey Collapse
A year of cancelled gigs and outspoken remarks about vegetarianism came to a head for Morrissey in October when he collapsed on stage during a gig in Swindon. The former Smiths star was rushed to a nearby hospital and eventually released in time to resume his tour at the Royal Albert Hall in London three days later. However, the drama continued for the star when he was abandoned a show in Liverpool a month later when a fan threw a pint glass, which struck the star on the head. (Photo by: Neil Lupin)
![6. Blur at Glastonbury -
Any questions over Blur’s decision to reform were well and truly answered when the band closed Glastonbury 2009 with an emphatic performance on the Pyramid stage in June. Damon Albarn, Alex James, Grahan Coxon and Dave Rowntree unleashed an emotional career spanning set to more than 100,000 people at Worthy Farm in Somerset. The only question is - will they come back again? (Photo by: WENN)]()
6. Blur at Glastonbury -
Any questions over Blur’s decision to reform were well and truly answered when the band closed Glastonbury 2009 with an emphatic performance on the Pyramid stage in June. Damon Albarn, Alex James, Grahan Coxon and Dave Rowntree unleashed an emotional career spanning set to more than 100,000 people at Worthy Farm in Somerset. The only question is - will they come back again? (Photo by: WENN)
![5. Kanye West Invades Stage At MTV Video Music Awards -
It only lasted 30 seconds, but Kanye West’s stage invasion at the MTV Video Music awards in September led to the rapper being maligned by his peers and called a “jackass” by President Barack Obama. West, who had been spotted clutching a bottle of Hennessey on the red carpet, interrupted Taylor Swift to complain that she had won Best Female Video instead of Beyonce. The rapper went on to apologise during a live television interview, but the incident still led to cancellation of his co-headlining tour with Lady GaGa and West’s eventual decision to take a step away from music. (Photo by: Splash)]()
5. Kanye West Invades Stage At MTV Video Music Awards -
It only lasted 30 seconds, but Kanye West’s stage invasion at the MTV Video Music awards in September led to the rapper being maligned by his peers and called a “jackass” by President Barack Obama. West, who had been spotted clutching a bottle of Hennessey on the red carpet, interrupted Taylor Swift to complain that she had won Best Female Video instead of Beyonce. The rapper went on to apologise during a live television interview, but the incident still led to cancellation of his co-headlining tour with Lady GaGa and West’s eventual decision to take a step away from music. (Photo by: Splash)
![4. Lady GaGa Hermaphrodite -
The biggest question in music in 2009 wasn’t, “Who will headline Glastonbury?” or “Will Led Zeppelin reunite…again?”. No, in 2009 all people wanted to know was whether or not Lady GaGa was a hermaphrodite. The question stemmed from a rather bizarre blogpost from the singer, in which she said: \]()
4. Lady GaGa Hermaphrodite -
The biggest question in music in 2009 wasn’t, “Who will headline Glastonbury?” or “Will Led Zeppelin reunite…again?”. No, in 2009 all people wanted to know was whether or not Lady GaGa was a hermaphrodite. The question stemmed from a rather bizarre blogpost from the singer, in which she said: \"I have both male and female genitalia, but I consider myself a female.\" Incriminating pictures later appeared to support the claims, but Lady GaGa finally answered the question in September when she said her “beautiful vagina is very offended”. (Photo by: Splash)
![3. Rage Against The Machine Take On The X Factor For Christmas Number One -
What started as an ordinary Facebook group soon turned into a full-on campaign in December when thousands of users began backing Rage Against The Machine for Christmas number one. Designed to end The X Factor's dominance of the festive chart, the campaign won support of a host of musicians, including The Prodigy and Sir Paul McCartney, who called it]()
3. Rage Against The Machine Take On The X Factor For Christmas Number One -
What started as an ordinary Facebook group soon turned into a full-on campaign in December when thousands of users began backing Rage Against The Machine for Christmas number one. Designed to end The X Factor's dominance of the festive chart, the campaign won support of a host of musicians, including The Prodigy and Sir Paul McCartney, who called it "funny". Rage Against The Machine eventually surprised McElderry (and Simon Cowell) to take the top spot, selling over 500,000 copies of the single via downloads alone. (Photo by: WENN / Splash)
![2. Oasis Split -
The Gallagher brothers’ long-standing rivalry final came to a crescendo last summer when guitarist Noel Gallagher quit Oasis following a fall-out with his brother, Liam, at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. In a statement, Noel said the situation with the singer had become “intolerable” and forced him to “seek pastures new”. It’s still unclear what those “pastures new” are, but for Liam it looks as if Oasis is not dead yet. The singer recently announced his intention to continue with the group’s other members, although whether they continue under the Manchester band’s original name remains to be seen. (Photo by: WENN)]()
2. Oasis Split -
The Gallagher brothers’ long-standing rivalry final came to a crescendo last summer when guitarist Noel Gallagher quit Oasis following a fall-out with his brother, Liam, at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. In a statement, Noel said the situation with the singer had become “intolerable” and forced him to “seek pastures new”. It’s still unclear what those “pastures new” are, but for Liam it looks as if Oasis is not dead yet. The singer recently announced his intention to continue with the group’s other members, although whether they continue under the Manchester band’s original name remains to be seen. (Photo by: WENN)
![1. Michael Jackson death -
Arguably one of the biggest news stories in the history of modern music, Michael Jackson’s sudden death stunned the world last summer. After announcing a 50-night concert residency, scheduled to begin at London’s O2 Arena in July, fans of the singer had patiently been awaiting the King of Pop’s comeback. Instead, they watched in horror as his death in Los Angeles on June 25 was played out around the world on live TV and online. The star’s death was eventually ruled as homicide, caused by the powerful anesthetic Propofol. Jackson was finally laid to rest on September 4 during a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. (Photo by: Splash)]()
1. Michael Jackson death -
Arguably one of the biggest news stories in the history of modern music, Michael Jackson’s sudden death stunned the world last summer. After announcing a 50-night concert residency, scheduled to begin at London’s O2 Arena in July, fans of the singer had patiently been awaiting the King of Pop’s comeback. Instead, they watched in horror as his death in Los Angeles on June 25 was played out around the world on live TV and online. The star’s death was eventually ruled as homicide, caused by the powerful anesthetic Propofol. Jackson was finally laid to rest on September 4 during a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. (Photo by: Splash)
