Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch leaves the band.
Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers leaves the band in late December after playing in the band for ten years to concentrate on record producing.
Static-X lead guitarist Tripp Eisen was arrested in February for "lewd conduct against children", and was fired from the band.
Vocalist Tarja Turunen was fired from Nightwish.
Jason Jones' departure from Drowning Pool was publicly announced on June 14, 2005, due to irreconcilable differences. On August 25 at the Ozzfest date in Dallas, Texas, Drowning Pool did a guest shot performance on the main stage debuting their new singer Ryan McCombs.
Visions of Atlantis lead vocalist Nicole Bogner quits and is replaced by ex-Aesma Daeva vocalist, Melissa Ferlaak. Guitarist Werner Fielder quits and is replaced by Wolfgang Koch.
Kittie bassist Jennifer Arroyo quits and is replaced by Trish Doan. Session guitarist Lisa Marx quits and is replaced by Tara McLeod
Hellhammer becomes Dimmu Borgir's new drummer.
American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson dies at 27.
Motörhead picked up their first Grammy in the awards of 2005 in the Best Metal Performance category for their cover of Metallica's "Whiplash" on Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute
Sentenced members announce their break-up and the release of their last album The Funeral Album. On October 1, they play and record their final show Buried Alive (released on 2006) on their hometown Oulu, Finland.
Dave Mustaine, frontman of Megadeth puts together music festival Gigantour for the first time.
Deaths
May 10 – David Wayne, former vocalist of Metal Church, died from health complications following injuries sustained in a car accident at the age of 47.
May 22 – Mike "Yaz" Jastremski, former bassist of Heathen, died from a heart attack at the age of 42.
August 18 – Krzysztof "Docent" Raczkowski, formed drummer of Vader, died from heart failure at the age of 34.
August 26 – Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, founder and guitarist of Voivod, died from colon cancer complications at the age of 45.
Mika Ervaskari, original Stratovarius keyboardist, died by suicide.
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