Jon Wiederhorn

On Dec. 28, 2015, we lost an all-time legend.

On Dec. 3, 2015, the iconic Stone Temple Pilots singer died while on tour.

One of metal's most important albums that helped to launch the heavy music genre.

One of the biggest albums ever made.

Skid Row's devastatingly heavy second album came out on June 11, 1991.

Not at all the Pantera that came to be in the '90s, but they had to start somewhere.

Explore the enduring legacy of Queensrÿche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' album, a revolutionary concept in heavy metal storytelling.

Then we wound up with two amazing thrash bands.

Here's how it happened.

Re-spect!