Born October 23, 1959, in Downey, California, "Weird Al" Yankovic started accordion lessons the day before his seventh birthday and got his first break at 16 when Dr. Demento aired his homemade tape on the radio. His parody of the Knack's "My Sharona," retitled "My Bologna," landed him a Capitol Records deal, and "Eat It," a send up of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," became his breakthrough hit in 1984. He wrote and starred in the cult comedy film UHF in 1989, and later hits like "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," and "White & Nerdy" kept him parodying rock's biggest names for decades, always asking permission first. His 2014 album Mandatory Fun became his first number one record, and a 2022 parody biopic turned his mythology into film. With five Grammys and over 150 songs, Yankovic remains rock's most beloved court jester.

Born October 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, Robert Trujillo first made his name as bassist for the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, bringing a funk trained low end to their aggressive mix of punk and metal. He spent the late 1990s and early 2000s touring with Ozzy Osbourne, recording on Down to Earth, and lending his playing to Jerry Cantrell's solo album Degradation Trip, building a reputation as one of rock's most technically gifted bassists. In February 2003, he joined Metallica as the replacement for Jason Newsted, becoming the band's longest serving bassist and appearing on every album from St. Anger onward. Known for his dreadlocks and explosive stage presence, Trujillo has also produced documentaries on bass history, including Jaco, about Jaco Pastorius.

On October 23, 2014, Alvin Stardust, born Bernard Jewry, died at age 72 after a battle with cancer, just weeks before his first new album in thirty years was due for release. He had already lived one pop career as Shane Fenton, fronting Shane Fenton and the Fentones through four UK top 40 hits in the early 1960s, before reinventing himself a decade later in sideburns and a black leather suit as Alvin Stardust, a glam rock alter ego built by Magnet Records co-founder Peter Shelley. Miming "My Coo Ca Choo" on Top of the Pops in 1973 turned him into a star, and "Jealous Mind" gave him a UK number one later that year, part of a run of seven top ten hits spanning almost twenty five years. He later crossed into acting, playing the Child Catcher in a West End revival of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and appearing on the soap Hollyoaks.