Born on October 14, 1946, in Dunfermline, Scotland, Dan McCafferty co-founded Nazareth in 1968 and fronted the band for 45 years with a raw, gravel-throated wail that became one of hard rock's most recognizable voices. He sang lead on Nazareth's biggest hit, their 1975 ballad cover of "Love Hurts," as well as the pounding title track "Hair of the Dog," and co-wrote staples like "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy." McCafferty also released solo albums, including a 1975 self-titled record with a UK-charting cover of the Rolling Stones' "Out of Time." COPD forced him off the road in 2013 after he collapsed onstage in Canada, though he kept recording until his death in 2022. Both Brian Johnson and Axl Rose later credited him as a major influence on their own singing.

Born on October 14, 1959, A.J. Pero became the powerhouse drummer behind Twisted Sister after joining in April 1982, right in time to record the band's breakthrough albums You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll and Stay Hungry, home to anthems like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock." He left the band in 1986, played in the local group Cities, and returned when Twisted Sister reunited in 1997, staying with them until his death. In 2013 he also became the drummer for Adrenaline Mob, appearing on the band's final album before he died. Pero passed away on March 20, 2015, at age 55, found unresponsive on the band's tour bus between Baltimore and Poughkeepsie and pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack, still active and touring right up to the end.

On October 14, 1985, Iron Maiden released Live After Death, a sprawling document of their World Slavery Tour and one of the most celebrated live albums in metal history. Most of its four sides were captured across four nights at the Long Beach Arena in March 1985, opening with a Winston Churchill speech sample before launching into staples like "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight." The album showcases extended epics "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Phantom of the Opera" alongside "The Number of the Beast" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name," captured with no studio overdubbing, exactly as bassist Steve Harris insisted. Derek Riggs' cover art shows mascot Eddie clawing out of a grave beneath a modified H.P. Lovecraft epitaph. It reached No. 2 in the UK and went multi-platinum worldwide. Produced by Martin Birch.