Heartbreaking tales of these fleeting stars
It wasn't just songs with questionable lyrics that were 'banned,' but also songs that were too upbeat, like 'Jump' by Van Halen. Their cover of Martha and the Vandellas' 'Dancing in the Street' was banned, but David Bowie and Mick Jagger's cover was not.
With lyrics like "folks are screaming, out of control" and "burn baby burn," it's understandable why program directors at Clear Channel felt it best not to play this song in the aftermath of 9/11.
Talking Heads's 'Burning Down the House' was included on the list as any song that mentioned war, death, airplanes, or fire was considered insensitive.
You wouldn't have heard Petula Clark's 'Sign of the Times' immediately after the attacks.
Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York' was banned as it was in New York City that two hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and killed 2,753 people.
'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel was avoided from being played on American radio.
The lyrics to Nine Inch Nails's 'Head Like a Hole' were deemed inappropriate.
Despite being an anti-war song, '99 Luft Balloons/99 Red Balloons' by Nene, the mention of war meant it was banned from airplay.
Jimmy Hendrix's 'Hey Joe' contains lyrics about guns and shooting, making it inappropriate for radio play.
Soundgarden's 'Blow Up the Outside World' lyrics about explosions and death made it too insensitive to be played on the radio.
It was thought Lenny Kravitz's 'Fly Away' would be too insensitive to play on the radio.
The Beastie Boys saw two of their songs removed from radio play: 'Sure Shot' and Sabotage.'
You wouldn't have heard 'I'm on Fire' and 'I'm Goin' Down' by Bruce Springsteen on the radio immediately after 9/11. Springsteen's 2002 album 'The Rising' is said to be a response to the terrorist attacks.
Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' were banned from radio play, despite 'War Pigs' being an anti-war song.
With its lyrics relating to airplanes, 'Learn to Fly' by Foo Fighters was too insensitive to be played on US radio.
The program directors at Clear Channel considered three of Elton John's songs, 'Bennie and the Jets,' 'Daniel,' and 'Rocket Man', too inappropriate for airplay.
Metallica saw four of their songs, 'Seek and Destroy,' 'Harvester or Sorrow,' 'Enter Sandman,' and 'Fade to Black,' banned from US radio play immediately after 9/11.
Joyful songs like John Lennon's 'Imagine' were deemed too insensitive in the aftermath of the tragedy.
'Peace Train' and 'Morning Has Broken' by Cat Stevens were perhaps seen as too positive and insensitive in a time of devastation.
Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' was taken off the air so as not to upset listeners directly after 9/11.
U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday,' protesting the violence of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, was considered too insensitive for the radio.
Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' contains lyrics about a plane crash, so radio play was understandably paused.
The themes relating to death in Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust' and 'Killer Queen' saw the songs removed from the airwaves.
Four Beatles songs, 'A Day in the Life,' 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' 'Ticket To Ride,' and 'Obla Di, Obla Da' were avoided by US radio stations.
WASH, a Washington D.C. radio station, allegedly played Kool & the Gang's 'Celebration' after the attacks and received a polite complaint from a caller. The radio station assured the listener that it was a mistake.
Alien Ant Farm's cover of 'Smooth Criminal' was listed on Clear Channel's memorandum, but Michael Jackson's original version was not.
It's not entirely clear why this song made it to the list, but some suggest it was added for having references to the Middle East.
Rage Against the Machine's entire discography was listed on the memorandum, most likely because their music was overly critical of the United States.
Clear Channel suggested 'Shoot Down in Flames,' 'Shoot to Thrill,' 'Highway to Hell,' 'Safe in New York City,' 'TNT,' and 'Hell's Bells' by AC/DC not to be played on US radio.
'Falling for the First Time' by Barenaked Ladies was briefly removed from the radio after 9/11, possibly due to falling being associated with the World Trade Center's collapse.
Sources: (Kerrang!) (Ultimate Classic Rock)
See also: The most controversial songs of all time
On September 11, 2001, the world saw the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in US history. Following the events, Clear Channel Communications, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States, circulated an internal note containing a list of songs that directors felt were "lyrically questionable" or insensitive to play in the aftermath. The list, however, wasn't a demand not to play the songs, but rather a suggestion.
This gallery features 50 of the 165 suggestions that were on the list. Did your favorite songs make the cut? Click to find out.
50 tracks that were 'banned' from American radio after 9/11
Was your favorite song on the Clear Channel Memorandum?
MUSIC Rock and roll
On September 11, 2001, the world saw the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in US history. Following the events, Clear Channel Communications, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States, circulated an internal note containing a list of songs that directors felt were "lyrically questionable" or insensitive to play in the aftermath. The list, however, wasn't a demand not to play the songs, but rather a suggestion.
This gallery features 50 of the 165 suggestions that were on the list. Did your favorite songs make the cut? Click to find out.