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'Disco Inferno' - The Trammps -

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.

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'Sign of the Times' - Petula Clark -

You wouldn't have heard Petula Clark's 'Sign of the Times' immediately after the attacks.

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'Dancing in the Street' and 'Jump' - Van Halen -

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.

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'Burning Down the House' - Talking Heads -

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.

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'New York, New York' - Frank Sinatra -

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.

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'Bridge Over Troubled Water' - Simon and Garfunkel -

'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel was avoided from being played on American radio.

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'Hey Joe' - Jimmy Hendrix -

Jimmy Hendrix's 'Hey Joe' contains lyrics about guns and shooting, making it inappropriate for radio play.

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'Head Like a Hole' - Nine Inch Nails -

The lyrics to Nine Inch Nails's 'Head Like a Hole' were deemed inappropriate.

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'Blow Up the Outside World' - Soundgarden -

Soundgarden's 'Blow Up the Outside World' lyrics about explosions and death made it too insensitive to be played on the radio.

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'Sure Shot' and 'Sabotage' - Beastie Boys -

The Beastie Boys saw two of their songs removed from radio play: 'Sure Shot' and Sabotage.' 

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'99 Luft Balloons/99 Red Balloons' - Nene -

Despite being an anti-war song, '99 Luft Balloons/99 Red Balloons' by Nene, the mention of war meant it was banned from airplay.

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'I'm on Fire' and 'I'm Goin' Down' - Bruce Springsteen -

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.

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'Fly Away' - Lenny Kravitz -

It was thought Lenny Kravitz's 'Fly Away' would be too insensitive to play on the radio.

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'War Pigs' and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' - Black Sabbath -

Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' were banned from radio play, despite 'War Pigs' being an anti-war song. 

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'Seek and Destroy', 'Harvester or Sorrow', 'Enter Sandman', and 'Fade to Black' - Metallica -

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.

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'Peace Train' and 'Morning Has Broken' - Cat Stevens -

'Peace Train' and 'Morning Has Broken' by Cat Stevens were perhaps seen as too positive and insensitive in a time of devastation.

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'Imagine' - John Lennon -

Joyful songs like John Lennon's 'Imagine' were deemed too insensitive in the aftermath of the tragedy.

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'Bennie and the Jets,' 'Daniel,' and 'Rocket Man' - Elton John -

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.

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'Learn to Fly' - Foo Fighters -

With its lyrics relating to airplanes, 'Learn to Fly' by Foo Fighters was too insensitive to be played on US radio.

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'Stairway to Heaven' - Led Zeppelin -

Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' was taken off the air so as not to upset listeners directly after 9/11.

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'A Day in the Life,' 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' 'Ticket To Ride,' and 'Obla Di, Obla Da' - The Beatles -

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. 

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'Sunday Bloody Sunday' - U2 -

U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday,' protesting the violence of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, was considered too insensitive for the radio.

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'Ironic' - Alanis Morissette -

Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' contains lyrics about a plane crash, so radio play was understandably paused.

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'Another One Bites the Dust' and 'Killer Queen' - Queen -

The themes relating to death in Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust' and 'Killer Queen' saw the songs removed from the airwaves.

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'Celebration' - Kool & the Gang -

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.

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'Smooth Criminal' - Alien Ant Farm -

Alien Ant Farm's cover of 'Smooth Criminal' was listed on Clear Channel's memorandum, but Michael Jackson's original version was not.

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All Rage Against the Machine songs -

Rage Against the Machine's entire discography was listed on the memorandum, most likely because their music was overly critical of the United States.

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'Walk Like an Egyptian' - The Bangles -

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.

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'Shoot Down in Flames,' 'Shoot to Thrill,' 'Highway to Hell,' 'Safe in New York City,' 'TNT,' and 'Hell's Bells' - AC/DC -

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. 

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'Falling for the First Time' - Barenaked Ladies -

'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

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