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Jan.

One of first major news items of the year was a report on Backstreet Boy Nick Carter being arrested for refusing a police officer’s order to leave a nightclub in Tampa, Florida after police were called out to break up an argument between the popstar and some women in the club. 
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A few days later another boyband made news. Controversy erupted when N Sync was cast in Star Wars Episode II.  Within a few days George Lucas came to his senses and dropped plans to have the group appear in the film. 
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More sparks flew later in the months when Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger bashed fellow Canadian Matthew Good in an interview with Rolling Stone. 
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We also reported the news that Ozzy Osbourne had signed a deal for a TV program that would become the Osbournes. 
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In the fun department, Fred Durst was pied in the face during an open audition to replace Wes Borland in Limp Bizkit. 
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Finally, So Cal funk n rollers American Jesus caused a stir when a southern minister called for a boycott of the group because of their controversial name. 
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Feb.

Feb started off with a fun Internet rumor that was picked up by several news organizations. Someone made a bogus CNN.com page that featured a report that members of Linkin Park had been killed in an auto accident. 
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We had sad news to report on Feb 2nd when we learned that Exodus’ Paul Baloff had passed away. 
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Fred Durst made the news again when he denied allegations that Limp Bizkit was stealing music from guitarists who auditioned for the band. 
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March

On the 3rd we learned that Metallica was filming a documentary of the making of their new studio album. 
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Then Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin was arrested for domestic violence. 
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A few days later former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach was arrested following an altercation in a bar where he threatened to shoot the bartender. 
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Fans were ecstatic to learn that the new Rage Against The Machine/ Chris Cornell project, then named Civilian, were tapped to headline Ozzfest. 
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Those fans were then disappointed a couple days later when we learned that the band had broken up! 
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The month ended on a very sad note when we learned that former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo had passed away after a long battle with cancer. 
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April

April was a busy month for news. Early in the month we learned that Megadeth had broken up. 
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Then Marilyn Manson made headlines when he was sued by the mother of a young women who was killed in a car accident after leaving a party at Manson’s home. 
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Dolly Parton shocked the rock world when she announced that she planned to record a cover of the Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven”. 
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On April 20th we reported the very sad news that Layne Staley was discovered dead in his home. The Alice in Chains vocalist had a long battle with drug addition, which ultimately lead to his death. 
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On the 23rd we reported that Dave Grohl had taken over drumming duties for Queens of the Stone Age. The resulting album, “Songs for the Deaf” topped many best of lists for 2002 including out own. 
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Dave also made news when he and Krist Novoselic asked a court to order Courtney Love to have her head examined. The two former Nirvana members felt that Courtney wasn’t mentally stable enough to fulfill her obligations in the partnership that controls Nirvana’s interest. 
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The court denied their request but the three would ultimately come to an agreement and the Nirvana greatest hits CD was released later in the year. 
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Check back in a few days for Part II of 2002 in Review. 
 

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