Born October 5, 1947, in Dunston, England, Brian Johnson faced one of rock's most daunting jobs when he was tapped to replace AC/DC frontman Bon Scott after Scott's death in 1980, a role many assumed no one could fill. Johnson, previously singer of the glam rock band Geordie, brought his own raspy, shrieking wail to the band's first album with him, Back in Black, released just five months after Scott's passing and now one of the best selling albums of all time. He went on to front AC/DC through For Those About to Rock We Salute You, The Razors Edge, and decades of stadium tours, co-writing lyrics for hits like "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Thunderstruck." Johnson briefly stepped away in 2016 due to hearing damage before returning to finish the Power Up album cycle, proving his voice still had plenty left in the tank.

Born October 5, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Steve Miller grew up with rock royalty practically in the family living room, since family friend Les Paul gave him his first guitar lessons as a child. Miller founded the Steve Miller Band in 1966 after cutting his teeth in the Chicago blues scene alongside future stars like Boz Scaggs, spending years grinding out blues rock records before breaking through commercially in the mid 1970s. Albums like The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle turned Miller into a radio staple, with tracks like "The Joker," "Rock'n Me," and "Fly Like an Eagle" becoming inescapable hits built on his laid back vocals and slick, hook driven guitar work. Despite decades of hits, Miller has remained a notoriously private figure, rarely giving interviews even at the height of his fame.

On October 5, 1970, Led Zeppelin released Led Zeppelin III, a deliberate left turn away from the crushing riffs of their first two albums toward acoustic, folk influenced songwriting. Written largely at Bron Yr Aur, a remote Welsh cottage with no electricity, the record paired hard rockers like "Immigrant Song" with gentler acoustic pieces like "That's the Way" and "Tangerine," reflecting Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's growing interest in Celtic folk traditions. The shift confused critics and some fans expecting another heavy album, and initial reviews were lukewarm despite the record debuting at number one on both the UK and US charts. Page's production leaned into more open, natural arrangements, a contrast to the dense guitar work of Led Zeppelin II. Decades later, III is widely reassessed as one of the band's most adventurous records. Produced by Jimmy Page.