Given that entertainment.ie celebrated our 15th birthday yesterday, we thought it fitting to roll back the years and take a brief look at what was happening in the music world when we launched our website back in 1997.
January 9th 1997 - David Bowie performs at his 50th birthday bash at Madison Square Garden in New York City, even though his actual birthday was the day before. Foo Fighters, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Frank Black, Robert Smith and Sonic Youth were all among the guests.
February 28th 1997 - Death Row Records' co-founder Suge Knight was sentenced to nine years in jai lfor probation violation. He would be released in August 2001.
March 9th 1997 - The Notorious B.I.G., one of the most high profile rappers in the United States, is shot dead while sitting in the passenger seat of a car outside an awards show after-party. The first of his many posthumous releases, Life After Death, would be released 15 days later.
April 9th 1997 - Soundgarden, one of the most prolific bands from the Seattle grunge scene, announce that they have split up. They would reform some 13 years later.
April 15th 1997 - Hanson release one of the most successful debut singles of all time, 'MMMBOP'. It would be months before most people realised that the lead singer wasn't a girl.
June 16th 1997 - Radiohead release what will go down to be known as the best album of nineties - OK Computer.
August 7th 1997 - Garth Brooks performs to an estimated crowd of 1 million people during a free concert in New York's Central Park. Years later, no one will admit to having gone.
September 6th 1997 - Elton John performs 'Candle In The Wind' at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
October 23rd 1997 - REM drummer, Bill Berry, announces that he has left the band, leaving the three original members to search for a new sticksman.
November 22nd 1997 - INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence is found dead in his Sydney hotel room. Autoerotic asphyxiation is blamed for the Australian singer's death.
