On this day (July 25), AC/DC released Back in Black. It was their seventh overall album and sixth to be released outside of Australia. It was also their first with vocalist Brian Johnson after the tragic death of Bon Scott earlier in the year. The album was a massive commercial success for the Aussie rockers, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time.
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When Scott died of alcohol poisoning in February 1980, AC/DC considered disbanding. After some time, they decided to carry on with a new singer. Scott had been a fan of Johnson’s work with his former band, Geordie. When their producer, Mutt Lange, suggested they recruit him, the Young brothers, Phil Rudd, and Cliff Williams decided to give him a shot. He was a good fit, but he didn’t just have to convince the band. They also had to show their ever-growing international fanbase that Johnson was the right man for the job.
[RELATED: On This Day in 1980, AC/DC Frontman Bon Scott Died in London After a Night of Partying]
With no pre-release singles on the market, fans who hadn’t seen the band live since Scott’s death had to buy Back in Black on faith that the guys in AC/DC knew what they were doing. The opening track, “Hell’s Bells,” dispelled all doubts for most fans. Those who were still on the fence likely only stayed there until they heard the album’s title track.
Back in Black is the second-best-selling album in music history, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. It has been certified 27x Platinum by the RIAA and is the best-selling album in the United States to never top the Billboard 200.
AC/DC Paid Tribute to Bon Scott with Back in Black
The members of AC/DC wanted to pay tribute to Bon Scott with their first album after his passing. However, they didn’t want to be morbid or overly sentimental. So, they settled on an album title and cover that would reflect their feelings. Back in Black featured an all-black cover with the band’s logo. The title suggested that they were in mourning but carrying on.
According to Songfacts, Angus Young decided the album’s title before they wrote anything for it. Writing the album’s title track fell almost solely on the shoulders of Brian Johnson. Angus provided the title, and Malcolm Young had been playing what would become the song’s main riff for years as a warm-up exercise.
Johnson wanted to write lyrics that would fit the band’s style while also paying tribute to Scott. When he hit a wall, he wrote whatever came to his mind. He called it nonsense. However, some of the lines carry plenty of weight. For instance, Forget the hearse ‘cause I never die could be interpreted as saying Scott’s legacy will live forever in AC/DC’s music. Also, I got nine lives / Cat’s eyes / Abusin’ every one of them and runnin’ wild is a solid summation of how Scott lived.
In the end, Back in Black stands as a great tribute to Bon Scott while marking the beginning of AC/DC’s most successful era.
Featured Image by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
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