This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1989.

• Cacophony
• Destruction (Schmier leaves the band)
• Dokken (reformed in 1993)
• Lion

• Primus records their live album Suck on This at Berkeley Square in Berkeley, California on February 25 and March 5.
• Mötley Crüe's album Dr. Feelgood reaches number one on the Billboard Top 100.
• Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, and Skid Row take part in the Moscow Music Peace Festival on August 12 & August 13, 1989.
• For the first time in its history, a Grammy is given for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. The award is given to Jethro Tull for Crest of a Knave.
• Jason Becker is diagnosed with ALS.
• Faith No More, Soundgarden and Voivod embark on a U.S. tour together.
• Future Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo joins Suicidal Tendencies (and remains with them until their split in 1995). Following his participation, the band would abandon their hardcore punk style and become more of a thrash metal/funk metal band.
• Steve Vai leaves David Lee Roth's solo band and joins Whitesnake.
• Rick Rozz leaves Death and is replaced by then-future Obituary and Testament guitarist James Murphy. The new Death line-up (Chuck Schuldiner/James Murphy/Terry Butler/Bill Andrews) eventually records a new album that would be released next year.
• Jethro Tull is awarded "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental" to boos from the audience at the 31st Grammy Awards.