Born on September 26, 1964, in The Bronx, New York, John Tempesta became one of metal's most well traveled drummers, lending his powerhouse playing to a string of major bands rather than settling into just one. He pounded out the rhythms on White Zombie's Astro Creep: 2000, spent time behind the kit for thrash pioneers Testament and Exodus, and has anchored The Cult as his primary gig since 2006. Along the way he has also drummed for Helmet, Prong, and Rob Zombie's solo band, working alongside members of Anthrax and System of a Down on various side projects. Few drummers can claim credits across White Zombie's industrial grind, Testament's thrash intensity, and The Cult's hard rock swagger, but Tempesta's versatility and power have made him a first call session and touring drummer across four decades of heavy music.

On September 26, 1969, The Beatles released Abbey Road in the UK, the final album the group recorded together before their breakup. Named for the London street and studio where they had worked for years, the album is instantly recognizable for its cover photo of the band crossing the street outside, an image so iconic it sparked "Paul is dead" rumors over McCartney's bare feet. The record paired "Come Together" and George Harrison's "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" with an ambitious second side medley that stitched together unfinished song fragments into a continuous suite. Abbey Road topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic and is now regarded as one of the group's finest artistic achievements, a graceful send off for the most influential band in rock history. Produced by George Martin.

On September 26, 1983, Motley Crue released Shout at the Devil, the album that transformed them from a scrappy Sunset Strip act into one of metal's most recognizable bands. Built around Nikki Sixx's pentagram imagery and the band's theatrical, leather clad look, the record caught the attention of parents' groups amid the era's satanic panic, even though the band always described the title as shock value rather than actual devil worship. Featuring "Looks That Kill," "Too Young to Fall in Love," and the title track "Shout at the Devil," the album pushed the band's sound into heavier territory than their debut Too Fast for Love. Shout at the Devil was later certified quadruple platinum in the US, cementing Motley Crue as one of the defining bands of the glam metal scene. Produced by Tom Werman.