At the Gates band photo

Metal Milestones: A Day of Remembrance and Celebration

By Jason •
September 16th rings with the echoes of legends lost and the cheers for those still rocking on.

As the heavy metal community gathers around the campfire of remembrance, September 16th stands as a bittersweet monument to both loss and celebration. We mourn the passing of Marc Bolan, the enigmatic force behind T. REX, who left this mortal coil far too soon at the tender age of 29. His magnetic presence in the glam rock scene still reverberates through the veins of metal today.

On this day, we also pay tribute to Tomas “Tompa” Lindberg of AT THE GATES, who departed from this world on the same date in 2025, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the melodic death metal landscape. At just 52, his voice was a battle cry that will echo through the ages.

But not all is sorrowful; the day also marks the birth of some metal titans. Happy 62nd to Dave “Snake” Sabo of SKID ROW, whose riffs have been the soundtrack to countless headbangs. Join us in raising a glass to Kenneth “Kenney” Thomas Jones, who turns 78 today, and whose work with THE WHO and FACES helped lay the groundwork for generations of rockers.

Today, we celebrate not only the legends but also the releases that have shaped the genre. From the 41st anniversary of KISS’ 'Asylum' to the 12th anniversaries of CANNIBAL CORPSE’s 'A Skeletal Domain' and SLASH featuring MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS’ 'World On Fire', this day is a testament to the relentless spirit of metal.

As we reflect on these milestones, let’s not forget the heavy hitters that dropped in recent years. Albums like BEHEMOTH’s 'Opvs Contra Natvram' and CLUTCH’s 'Sunrise on Slaughter Beach' continue to carve new paths in the metal landscape.

So raise your horns high, metalheads! September 16th is a day that honors the past while celebrating the present and future of our beloved metal scene.