This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1997.
Newly formed bands
1349
Akercocke
Aletheian
The Amenta
American Head Charge
Amoral
Armageddon
Atargatis
Blackstar
Blood Has Been Shed
Born from Pain
Brougham
Caliban
Carnal Forge
Dagoba
Dark Lunacy
Dark Suns
Deadlock
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Dir En Grey
Dolorian
Doomsword
Dope
Droid
Elvenking
Explorers Club
Factory 81
Finntroll
Five Foot Thick
Forefather
Goatwhore
Gorod
Halestorm
Halfcocked
Hardcore Superstar
Hate Eternal
Insomnium
Isis
Karma to Burn
Karnivool
Keelhaul
Liquid Tension Experiment
Lostprophets
Nebula
Nonpoint
Norma Jean
Onesidezero
Origin
Paysage d'Hiver
Persuader
Pig Destroyer
Pleymo
Poison the Well
Primal Fear
Primer 55
Pulse Ultra
Rapture
Secret Sphere
Severe Torture
Shuvel
Sinergy
Skrape (As JoJo) Soil Soulfly Sunk Loto (As Messiah) Spawn of Possession Taproot Three Days Grace Throwdown Thurisaz Tierra Santa Turisas Underoath Vesania Vintersorg Witchery
Reformed Bands
The original Black Sabbath line up
Jane's Addiction (disbanded again later that year) Ratt Suicidal Tendencies