Born on September 19, 1958, Lita Ford became one of hard rock and heavy metal's most recognizable guitarists and a trailblazer for generations of women who followed her onto heavier stages. As a teenager, Ford joined The Runaways in 1975, where her aggressive lead guitar work helped power a band that challenged expectations about who could play loud, dangerous rock and roll. After The Runaways dissolved, Ford built a successful solo career, eventually breaking through with 1988's Lita. The album delivered "Kiss Me Deadly" and the Ozzy Osbourne duet "Close My Eyes Forever", which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Active professionally since the mid-1970s, Ford has remained a commanding guitarist, vocalist, and enduring figure in hard rock and metal.

On September 19, 1986, Megadeth released Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, their second studio album and one of the records that helped define thrash metal. Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Chris Poland, and Gar Samuelson combined extraordinary musicianship with political cynicism, dark humor, jazz-influenced complexity, and riffs that seemed designed to draw blood. Featuring "Wake Up Dead", "The Conjuring", "Devils Island", "Good Mourning/Black Friday", and the immortal title track "Peace Sells", the album established Megadeth as a major force in the emerging thrash movement. The opening bass line of "Peace Sells" became so recognizable that MTV used it as part of the theme for MTV News. Ferocious, technical, and fiercely intelligent, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? remains one of thrash metal's essential albums. Produced by Dave Mustaine and Randy Burns.

On September 19, 1988, Anthrax released State of Euphoria, their fourth studio album, arriving as thrash metal was pushing deeper into the mainstream. Following the breakthrough of Among the Living, Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, Dan Spitz, Frank Bello, and Charlie Benante delivered another collision of rapid-fire riffs, pounding rhythms, gang vocals, social commentary, and the unmistakable energy that separated Anthrax from their peers. Featuring "Be All, End All", "Who Cares Wins", "Now It's Dark", "Make Me Laugh", and their frantic cover of Trust's "Antisocial", the album reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200. While the band would later express reservations about how quickly the record was completed, State of Euphoria became an important piece of Anthrax's classic era and gave them one of their most enduring live staples in "Antisocial". Produced by Anthrax and Mark Dodson.