Here are the 14 most shocking and unforgettable moments in rock and metal music from 2024.

Each year in the realm of heavy music is filled with astonishing events and unexpected occurrences. With thousands of bands touring and releasing new music, it’s inevitable that some truly bizarre incidents will unfold, capturing the attention of fans and media alike.

These incidents aren’t merely products of the chaotic lifestyle associated with touring; they often involve surprising elements of mainstream culture and even some amusing interactions with animals. For instance, who could forget the viral headbanging horse that clearly shares a love for Slipknot?

Among these moments are some that left us feeling disgusted, others that caused confusion, and a few that simply amazed us for their creativity and audacity.

We’ve built up the suspense long enough! Let’s dive into the most outrageous moments of the year:

Martyrdom’s Controversial Pig’s Head Incident Sparks Apology

When: January, 2024

The local black metal band Martyrdom from Houston, Texas, found themselves in hot water after a shocking incident during one of their live performances. They publicly apologized for their “actions and gimmicks,” which included tossing a severed pig’s head into the audience at The White Swan venue.

This was not the first time the band had engaged in such provocative behavior on stage, and the video quickly went viral, eliciting disgust and disbelief from viewers. Martyrdom later admitted that they intended to “add a little bit of imagery and shock value” to their performance, fully embracing the controversial aspects of the black metal genre.

Despite their youth and enthusiasm, it seems they might have misjudged the extent of their act’s offensiveness. Their apology was heartfelt, reflecting a naïve understanding of what it means to perform in a black metal band.

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Florida Man Plays Iconic Songs During Brain Surgery – A Remarkable Story

When: January, 2024

Let’s clarify right away — this isn’t your typical “WTF” moment. This incredible story showcases the resilience and creativity of the human spirit. Florida resident Christopher Nolen bravely underwent an awake craniotomy, an impressive surgical procedure involving the removal of part of his skull to access the brain.

As doctors worked to excise a brain tumor, Nolen woke up mid-surgery and began playing guitar, performing riffs from legendary bands like Deftones and System of a Down. This unique approach allowed the surgeons to monitor his motor functions and dexterity more effectively while they operated.

Even System of a Down‘s frontman, Serj Tankian, expressed his astonishment on social media, questioning, “What????” in response to this extraordinary event. It’s a testament to the intersection of music, medicine, and human resilience.

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Hilarious Video of a Slipknot-Loving Horse Goes Viral

When: February, 2024

This moment is truly something you have to see to believe, and luckily, there’s a video available for viewing!

Pretty, a Canadian quarter horse, became an internet sensation after she was filmed headbanging to heavy metal tracks, including those from Slipknot. Her love for metal is matched only by her apparent disdain for country music, as seen in her hilarious reactions.

She joyfully headbanged along to bands like Rammstein, Shinedown, Disturbed, Motorhead, Drowning Pool, Pantera, and Rage Against the Machine, all while making it clear that country star Morgan Wallen was not her cup of tea.

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Jared Leto’s April Fools Prank on Wheel of Fortune Leaves Fans Confused

When: April, 2024

In a surprising twist during the final season of Wheel of Fortune hosted by Pat Sajak, Jared Leto became the center of a perplexing April Fools’ Day joke. The lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars and acclaimed actor stepped in to host the iconic game show as if he had been doing it forever.

However, the awkwardness of the moment was palpable, as many viewers were unaware of who Leto was, leading to confusion and discomfort. Sajak quickly returned to reclaim his role after the first contestant spun the wheel, restoring some normalcy to the beloved show.

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Neighbors Call Police on Metalcore Vocalist in a Comedic Misunderstanding

When: June, 2024

In a light-hearted incident, Garrett Russell, the vocalist of Silent Planet, found himself in a hilarious situation when a neighbor mistakenly called the cops, fearing something was seriously wrong.

Unbeknownst to them, Russell was merely recording some intense metalcore vocals in his home studio. In a video clip that surfaced online, a police officer remarked, “I heard it when I walked up and I was like ‘that’s not normal. I don’t know what’s going on.’” After explaining the situation, the officers left, and all was well.

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Travis and Jason Kelce Launch a Death Metal Logo for Their Beer Brand

When: July, 2024

In a delightful convergence of sports and music, NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce made headlines with their latest venture. The brothers, co-owners of Garage Beer in Cincinnati, Ohio, unveiled a logo that humorously parodied the notoriously illegible emblem of the death metal band Sanguisugabogg.

The band itself even joined in on the banter on social media, showcasing the playful relationship between sports and metal culture. During the same week, Travis Kelce showcased his vocal talents during a karaoke night, winning a trophy for his rendition of Whitesnake‘s “Here I Go Again.”

Furthermore, in August, Garage Beer continued their playful streak by parodying Korn‘s logo for new merchandise. As if that wasn’t enough, Travis also entertained fans by mimicking the iconic “Ooh-wah-ah-ah” from Disturbed‘s “Down With the Sickness” following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory.

And with that, we conclude our coverage of the Kelce brothers for 2024. We promise it’s the last!

Imposter Poses as Steve Perry, Scams Elderly Fan Out of $122,000

When: July, 2024

Unfortunately, the rock and metal scenes have been plagued by scams in recent years, with the elderly often falling victim to deceitful schemes. A heartbreaking incident involved a 75-year-old woman from Cleveland, Ohio, who was reportedly scammed out of $122,000 by someone impersonating Steve Perry, the former lead singer of Journey.

The victim was led to believe she was communicating with Perry through social media, resulting in her wire transferring $72,000 to various individuals across different states as part of the elaborate scam. She also provided $50,000 in gift cards, believing it was for a legitimate reason. It wasn’t until the imposter demanded sensitive personal information that she began to suspect something was amiss.

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Gojira Makes History as the First Metal Band to Perform at the Olympics

When: July

When it was announced that Gojira would be performing at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in their home country of France, the reaction was a mixture of disbelief and excitement. An extreme metal band on such a prestigious global stage? This was an unprecedented moment in music history.

Gojira delivered a performance that was nothing short of legendary, blending extreme music with theatricality. The ceremony opened with a striking visual of a beheaded Marie Antoinette holding her own head, leading to an elaborate display with Gojira members positioned atop castle balconies, surrounded by flames.

They played a powerful set that portrayed a significant and violent chapter of French history, demonstrating that metal can be both artistic and thought-provoking. Joining the band was acclaimed opera singer Marina Viotti, whose collaboration highlighted the synergy between extreme music and classical elements, helping to elevate metal as a legitimate art form.

For years, metal has struggled for acceptance in mainstream culture, often dismissed as mere noise. However, Gojira’s performance proved that metal can stand proudly on its own, uncompromised and powerful, leaving fans in awe.

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Outrage Erupts Over Cannibal Corpse Lyrics – A Controversial Discussion

When: August

Cannibal Corpse is no stranger to controversy, and their shocking lyrics have ignited debates for years. The band’s graphic imagery has led to bans in various countries, yet they are known for their friendly demeanor and humorous approach to their music. The uproar began when a user shared lyrics from the song “Panty Shot” by Mindless Self Indulgence, accompanied by a post questioning the separation of art from the artist.

This post included disturbing lines that raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about artistic expression and morality. In response, a user shared lyrics from Cannibal Corpse’s infamous song “Necropedophile,” further fueling the fire. This quickly drew outrage from those unfamiliar with the band’s history and lyrical themes.

Much of the online community reacted with mockery towards the outrage, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. It served as a reminder of the ongoing conversations surrounding art and the responsibilities of artists.

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Tommy Lee’s Instagram Antics Leave Fans Shaking Their Heads Once Again

When: Sept., 2024

Oh, not again! Despite numerous violations of Instagram’s community guidelines, Tommy Lee, the iconic drummer of Mötley Crüe, appears to enjoy a free pass when it comes to sharing risqué content. This time, he caused a stir by exposing himself at a DJ booth, providing fans with a rather unexpected view of his 61-year-old anatomy.

While many fans are entertained by his antics, others are left wondering about the appropriateness of such displays on social media, especially given the platform’s strict rules against nudity.

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When We Were Young Festival Merch Becomes a Typo Disaster

When: Oct., 2024 Typos can happen to anyone — it’s part of being human. However, when the misspellings on festival merchandise reached absurd levels, it became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons.

At the When We Were Young festival, numerous errors were spotted on various pieces of merch, leading to a wave of amusement and disbelief among fans. Some of the notable typos included:

• Amor For Sleep (Armor For Sleep)
• Moveuments (Movements)
• All Amercian Rejects (All American Rejects)
• New and Glory (New Found Glory)
• Sleeping With Siriens (Sleeping With Sirens)
• We Are In the Crowd (We Are the In Crowd)
• Amberlin (Anberlin)

Additionally, some fans reported multiple instances of band names being duplicated, while others, like Senses Fail, were inexplicably omitted from merchandise altogether.

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Merch typos byu/Tekknochangedmylife inWhenWeWereYoungFest

Comment byu/Tekknochangedmylife from discussion inWhenWeWereYoungFest

Security Guard’s Aggressive Action Against Metalcore Vocalist Raises Eyebrows

When: Oct., 2024

Last year, the infamous “wall of death” incident marked a low point for the Australian metalcore band Alpha Wolf during a concert in Kentucky. This year, the band finds itself in another shocking situation, as a security guard at The Warfield in San Francisco forcefully dragged vocalist Lochie Keogh off stage by his ankle. The incident occurred after Keogh playfully snatched a knit hat from one of the security guards and tossed it on stage.

Witnesses claim that security staff had been treating the bands poorly throughout the event, leading to increased tensions. Concertgoers also reported being dropped on their heads while crowdsurfing, raising serious safety concerns regarding how security personnel handled the audience.

Seeing a security guard treat a band member so roughly raised alarms and sparked discussions about the responsibilities of security staff at live events.

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Mark Zuckerberg Surprises Fans with Rock Cover Featuring T-Pain

When: Nov., 2024

In a surprising musical collaboration, Mark Zuckerberg teamed up with T-Pain to cover the iconic party anthem “Get Low” by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz from 2002. The duo, dubbed Z-Pain, delivered an acoustic version that humorously transformed the song into something reminiscent of a 2000s emo ballad.

With the crude and suggestive lyrics reinterpreted in a melodic style, the result was both laughable and oddly charming. Zuckerberg reportedly wanted to surprise his wife with this quirky rendition as an anniversary gift, showcasing a different side of the tech mogul.

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Metalcore Frontman Caught in Cancer Scam Shocks Fans and Bandmates

When: November

Ending the year on a scandalous note, the story of Nathaphon “Bon” Jutathaveewan, lead vocalist for the Thai metalcore band Annalynn, shocked many. Bon faked a cancer diagnosis to raise funds for personal debts, leaving his bandmates completely unaware of the deceit.

After launching a GoFundMe page and selling merchandise to raise money, Bon ultimately confessed that the entire situation was a scam. His bandmates had previously questioned the authenticity of his claims and sought proof regarding his diagnosis.

During this time, Annalynn had paused their activities, capitalizing on the attention generated by Bon’s alleged illness. The revelation of this betrayal left a sour taste among fans and raised questions about trust within the music community.

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