#OTD 40 years ago AC/DC released Back In Black. Released 5 months after the death of their original singer (Bon Scott's story is for another day!) it went on to sell 50 million copies (I bought at least 3)

This is how it came about - https://www.dannydutch.com/post/thunderstorms-grief-a-new-singer-the-making-of-back-in-black

The video in the previous tweet is from a concert in 2009 filmed in Buenos Aires and it shows just how crazy people go for AC/DC. I've seen them live about 5 times and I can attest to the fact they're a phenomenal band to witness in the flesh.

Some whistle-stop facts about this album....
It’s a sonic industry standard

So perfect is the sound of ‘Back In Black’ considered that Motorhead used the record to tune their sound systems and several studios in Nashville use it to check the acoustics of a room.

It inspired Nirvana

When Kurt Cobain received his first guitar at the age of 14, the first song he learned to play was ‘Back In Black’.

It’s stripping music

‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ has been named one of the most played tracks in US strip clubs, as apparently the groove and lyric lend themselves well to pole-dancing.

It saved a helicopter pilot’s life
After the Battle Of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993, downed helicopter pilot Michael Durant was captured by the enemy and savagely beaten. His compatriots knew that AC/DC were his favourite band, so they attached speakers to their helicopters and..

flew over the town’s rooftops playing ‘Hell’s Bells’. Despite having a broken back and legs, this gave Durant the strength to crawl into view and wave his shirt from a window for rescue.

General Manuel Noriega resisted arrest in 1983 and shut himself in an embassy in Panama City, refusing to come out. AC/DC (amongst others) were played at full volume 24 hours a day until he came out.

He lasted 3 days. (loser)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40090809

During the rocket launch on May 30, 2020, astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley played the song ‘Black In Black’ as they prepared to board the Dragon spacecraft.
#BACKINBLACK40

The group started working on the record just three days after Bon Scott's funeral. When asked why, guitarist Malcolm Young explained, “I thought, ‘Well, f**k this, I’m not gonna sit around mopin’ all f***ing year.’”

The bell used in “Hells Bells” was a perfectly tuned 2,000-pound cast bronze bell the band had custom made. Originally, they tried to use the bell in the Carillon Tower in England, but the sound of pigeons flying away at each bell hit ruined the sound.

It's the second all time best-selling album worldwide, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller. In the US, it’s the sixth best-selling album of all time, having gone platinum 22 times, meaning it’s sold more than 22-million copies.
#BACKINBLACK40

This is just a picture of AC/DC on Ipanema beach in '85, because I think it's funny.
Go listen to the album though. And read about it here - https://www.dannydutch.com/post/thunderstorms-grief-a-new-singer-the-making-of-back-in-black
#BACKINBLACK40