Born on September 11, 1953, Tommy Shaw became the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose arrival helped launch Styx into its most successful era. Shaw joined the band in 1975 and brought a harder rock edge, soaring vocals, and a gift for writing arena-sized songs that complemented the styles of Dennis DeYoung and James Young. Shaw wrote and sang classics including "Renegade", "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)", "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)", and "Too Much Time on My Hands", while contributing to landmark albums like The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight. Beyond Styx, he launched a solo career and joined Ted Nugent, Jack Blades, and Michael Cartellone in Damn Yankees, scoring hits like "High Enough". Active professionally since his teens, Shaw remains one of classic rock's most recognizable voices and guitarists.

On September 11, 2001, Slayer released God Hates Us All, their ninth studio album and one of the darkest, most vicious records of their later career. Recorded at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, the album brought a rawer contemporary edge to Slayer's trademark aggression while Kerry King's lyrics attacked religion, hypocrisy, violence, revenge, and humanity's capacity for hatred. Featuring "Disciple", "Bloodline", "War Zone", "Payback", and "New Faith", the album arrived on the same day as the September 11 terrorist attacks, giving its title and apocalyptic atmosphere an eerie association the band could never have anticipated. "Disciple" later earned Slayer a Grammy nomination, while the album became Paul Bostaph's final Slayer studio appearance until his later return to the band. Produced by Matt Hyde.

On September 11, 2001, Nickelback released Silver Side Up, their third studio album and the record that transformed the Canadian band into an international rock powerhouse. Built around muscular guitars, massive hooks, and Chad Kroeger's unmistakable voice, the album carried the band from rising post-grunge act to worldwide mainstream success. Everything changed with "How You Remind Me", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Billboard's top Hot 100 song of 2002. Silver Side Up also featured "Too Bad" and "Never Again", while the album itself reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 in Canada and the UK. Whatever arguments would later surround Nickelback, Silver Side Up marked the moment they became one of the biggest rock bands of the 2000s. Produced by Rick Parashar and Nickelback.