On July 25, 1980, AC/DC released the 'Back In Black' album. To celebrate its 30th birthday, here are 10 facts you might not be aware of.
1. 'Back In Black' is the biggest selling album by any Australian artist.
2. It is the second biggest selling original album of all time. Only 'Thriller', by Michael Jackson tops it.
3. Despite being the fifth biggest album ever in America, it peaked at a surprisingly low number four on the charts.
4. Although it was apparently performed during warm up shows Belgium and Holland, prior to the 'Back In Black' tour, 'Shake A Leg' has never re-appeared in the band’s live set. This is because it’s in such a high register.
5. The band shot videos for six songs on the album: 'Hells Bells', 'Back In Black', 'What Do You Do For Money Honey', 'You Shook Me All Night Long', 'Let Me Put My Love Into You' & 'Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution'.
6. In 1985, the infamous Parents Music resource Center (PMRC) published a list of the 15 filthiest songs. 'Let Me Put My Love Into You' made it in at number six. This was supposed to warn people against letting children hear such ‘filth’. Get the feeling the opposite happened? For the record, Prince’s 'Darling Nikki' was number one.
7. Among those to cover 'You Shook Me All Night Long' are Celine Dion, Six Feet Under and Aussie parody singer Richard Cheese.
8. The biggest UK single from the album was 'Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution', which got to number 15.
9. Malcolm Young actually came up with the riff for the song 'Back In Black' years before it became a song. He used to play it as a warm up.
10. Over the decades, there have been a lot of rumours about Bon Scott’s alleged involvement with the album. These include reports that demoed some of the tracks with the band and that he wrote some of the lyrics.
OK, that’s it. I suggest you now play the great album at annoyingly massive volume.
