Thunderstruck! How Angus Young, Brian Johnson and AC DC Created a Classic | Professor of Rock
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- Опубліковано 8 гру 2020
- A colossal rock anthem that earned notoriety from an urban legend was actually inspired by a finger-picking exercise learned from the brother of one of rock’s greatest players.
The magic trickery and wizardry behind AC/ DC’s 1991 classic “Thunderstruck” next on Professor of Rock.
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#ACDC #90s #Rock - Розваги
great review mate. honourary aussie citizenship if you ever need one 🤙
My favorite album FOTS! Dont get why fans overlook it!? Real fans don't anyways! Fly has grown on me over the years!
I saw AC/DC during the Razors Edge tour at the LA Sports Arena in 91. It was so loud that my ears rang for two days afterwards. Bryan Johnson isn't the only one to to have hearing issues! Turn it up!!!!
If you gotta lose hearing....thats the way to go out!
Exactly.....brian s voice was great on the album......kinda got worse by late 80s .
Same here but when I do so does Canada.
I don’t always listen to AC/DC but when I do, so do the neighbors.
That's perfect!
Me too. You just can’t listen to AC/DC unless the volume is on 11. To do otherwise is sacrilege in my mind.
What mtnmann72 said🤘
Mine too!
hahahah so true. XD
I was listening to AC/DC one day and I looked up to see the 70-year-old neighbor walking over from his house. He was relatively new and I didn't know the guy very well. I thought: "Ut-oh. Here comes a noise complaint." I turned the volume down to hears him say: "Can you please play 'Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution'?"
👍👍👍👍👍
Awesome
We forget old people were young once... sadly as I move into that group I am finding the whipper snappers group me into the oldies.
Being over 60, I'm with your neighbor. And turn that shit up! :)
Epic.
my mother used to blast AC/DC when she cleaned the house.
Yes, my mother was THAT cool.
I used to blast Ozzy when my mom cleaned the house. She wasn't Happy
My wife cleans house to Slayer and Megadeth 😏
@@bryangirod9173SWEET!
I do the same...I'm 57, been rocking while cleaning for decades lol.
I blast Joe Cocker when I clean house
In my opinion, “Thunderstruck” is the best rock song ever written. I still get goosebumps whenever I hear it. It’s perfect. 🤘🤘
@ChristoperAnderson 💯🔥 agree. Video is a perfect stunning accompaniment to it too.
4real
Every third Sunday in October is the Columbus OH Marathon. After the National Anthem, the starting gun…. Thunderstruck is what we begin the run on. GREAT way to open a marathon.
Is one of the best songs to drive to
Yep, it's gotta be right up there.
AC⚡️DC Thunderstruck, this song is responsible for the most speeding tickets in history 🤘🤘
😄
Police officer: “Do you have any reason you were speeding today sir”
Driver: “I was listening to AC/DC Thunderstruck”
Police officer: Sorry sir, carry on then”
If only!
What about Running with the Devil?
@@wardsmith2542 Running with the Devil. That makes you want to speed?
Golden Earring's 'Radar Love' got me in trouble a couple of times.
Your voice is perfect for this subject. It's like listening to Casey Casem back in the 80's.
You know, now that you mention it...
But cooler
It's weird. I love his voice. I would love a daily show. Like an hour or two long. XM or just here on UA-cam.
@@bakerfrank98531 same...✌❤
Yes a million times! Casey Kasem and Shadoe Stevens!!
If you want to talk about Brian Johnson's voice, he sounds as great as ever on the new album.
It's insane.
He has to work at it, his rasp is paper-thin so he uses a lot of control to sound decent especially live. I respect the man's skill.
"great as ever" being the operative phrase. lol
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Brian's voice ! It's like listening to a two-stroke chainsaw... but it just F*CKIN works with AC⚡DC 's music. Just like Bon Scott... just F*CKIN worked with AC⚡DC 's music !
@@paulwalsh2344 Try using a two stroke chainsaw voice like he does, for a 2 hour show! He's actually a super talented singer. He breaths very well, hits most of his highs, and is on-key....all while being in AC/DC character. I think he's as talented as most "classic" singers... He's a rarity.
Yeah I know right? But he has to be very careful. Honestly though? I would really like to meet him obviously like a lot of people here he just seems like one of those people that you can sit down with and crack open a beer or a bottle of whiskey with and have a good time so literally have a drink on me or him LOL. I bet Bon would have been the same. Pretty cool rock in peace Bon! You are definitely smiling down from heaven on AC/DC and us the fans right now.
Autotune
I'm 68 years old (tomorrow). I LOVE AC/DC!
May 17th had begone 50 years of age.
100% fan sincerly age of 14.
Took me the first 55 years of my life to find AC/DC and Thunderstruck. Where on earth was I?????!!!!! 10 years later and I love it more every, single, day. 💪💪💪🤘🤘🤘
I love Thunderstruck more every time I hear it. It's the total package: vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, drums all spot on. And the sheer energy of it is breathtaking from the first note to the last.
I remembered buying Razors edge on CD when it came out and was immediately blown away from the first note of Thunderstruck. Great memories
You're lying. That could not be possible... Theres a good 8 notes in the first second... Lol
I remember hearing it on the radio, while sitting on the bed. I was 9 or so. But ill never forget that moment, hearing it for the first time.
Nuttin But !!!
I was 15 or 16 when this came out, living just outside of Los Angeles in a place called Duarte. I remember seeing it in Target back when CD's came in cardboard sleeves that were more than twice the size of the CD case itself. I never did buy it, and never really appreciated AC/DC until much later in life.
Had been to that tour '92 in Kiel #Ostseehalle.
On train towards Kiel,
train driver stopped to call police.
We were just noisy, no damages,
rapping, painting.
Somehow after some time, train moved on.
A story of regret: When I was in high school in the late 80's, ACDC was playing in a city 3 hours away, I begged my parents to let me go, they said I was high. Nope. My best friend mentioned his mom was out of town the night of the concert, he had is driver's license I did not, and tried to convince me to let my parents let me spend the night at his house and we would drive down Saturday watch the concert and drive right back, home by Sunday morning. Because I was a "good" kid I said no-way! I was convinced something would happen; fender bender, flat tire, running out of gas, something... Told my parents about this years later, and they both asked me if were high right at that moment. Both said I should have just gone and damn the consequences. I may or may not have been caught but either way I would have seen ACDC!!!
Moral of the story, DON'T BE LIKE ME KIDS! SNEAK OUT AND GO SEE ACDC!!!
So you never seen them live?
Your parents should have brought you themselves. My kids tell their friends about all the classic concerts they’ve been to when they were young.
Better is this.
#BesserIsDas, #Werner, #Brösel
I saw them in 1974 (age 14) WITH my parents permission.
When my wife and I first started dating in the early 90s, she wanted me to make her tapes of my favorite music. The first tape I ever made her Side 1 was Thunderstruck. Side 2 was Poundcake. This New Year's Eve we will have been married 26 years.♥️🎸
Not only responsible for blowing speakers, but also my hearing. After one particular AC/DC concert my ears had a ringing in them for 5 days.
I think I suffered permanent damage from the Black Ice tour. Ears still ringing...
Funny. I was only thinking the other day, I remember reading in a magazine back in the day that this guy went to see them at Donington and got his hearing back. Apparently he'd lost the hearing in one ear after an accident playing rugby. He said he was pretty close to the PA, then next thing he heard a pop and he could hear again!
As a Navy vet, the best use of Thunderstruck was in the movie Battleship when the USS Missouri pulls out of port. Gets you everytime
I am 71 and I cannot remember when THUDERSTRUCK
was not one of my favorite rock songs.
Merry Christmas to the people down under. You gave us the gift of AC/DC a long time ago and we thank you forever.
2cellos does an incredible cover of Thunderstruck, and the video for the cover is completely hilarious.
Also, Steve n Seagulls version is brilliant too. A Finnish bluegrass version of a rock classic is beautiful.
I saw that video. They did a fantastic job of it!
Me and my mate were working in Holland and were being bussed onto the site.
Thunderstruck came on on the bus radio and the driver turned it down.
A 6’6” German sat behind me stood up and shouted “UP, UP, UP” so the driver turned it up full blast. Unreal moment that will live with me forever.
The bus was rocking with blokes of all nationalities stamping their feet, clapping & whistling.
We got to our stop and nobody left the bus until the song finished then let off a massive cheer.
This song has no boundaries and is my favourite all time song.
Everything AC/DC did is GREAT!
🤟AC⚡️DC 🤟
I'm not only a proud Aussie, but also went to the same school as the Youngs...
The uniform worn on stage from Ashfield Boys High School. I commenced in 1980 to 84. The year Back In Black was released. What an album, what an era, what a band 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Better than those newie boys..
AC/DC, one of the best rock bands ever!! Still going in 2020. Unbelievable!
Honestly they are the best ever. This occurred to me after watching them at River Plate. The energy they transfer to the crowd is unmatched.
I’m so glad UA-cam’s algorithm decided to recommend a video from this channel. Watched one last night, and now am on my 9th!. Seriously underrated channel with terrific content and production value. This 80’s kid is taken back to my childhood. To be continued...
You can feel the electricity in the song. ⚡️⚡️ Nikola Tesla would be proud.
Tango and Cash.
@@111highgh great movie
Nicola Tesla was singing thunder stuck on the toilet I am positive of that. 😂
To all AC/DC fans... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching their concert in River Plate... AC/DC’s powerful performance was like energy for the audience... Ive never seen a performance or audience complete participation... It is a GREAT performance!!!
I have watched that concert dozens of times. On the wide shots you can tell that the scaffolding supporting the cameras, bolted to the ground, shake as the crowd jumps to the beat. Especially for Thunderstruck. It never gets old.
Absolutely agree.... Super awesome concert.... Never see fans like that
It's their best recorded performance, I've watched it at least a dozen times. I absolutely love how young the audience is, it gives me hope for the future.
It´s not close to Donnington 91
having Chris Slade on drums for this album helped. I can't imagine Phil Rudd bashing the skins at the beginning of this one. Slade is 76 years old and still hits the drums like he's using Thor's Hammer!
Chris Slade is a great power rock drummer. But Phil's swing and groove are essential to the classic AC/DC sound.
He's a beast!!!! It's awesome!!!!
Chris is good, but even Malcolm said Phil is the only true drummer for the band.
Chris Slade is a monster. I first saw him with The Firm.
He’s also the drummer on “It’s not unusual” by Tom Jones. He did a lot of sessions in the 60’s
Professor of Rock, I salute you.
And in a Flick of the Switch, he liked your comment.
@@SonnyGTA And I'll back in black to like it! :))))
One of the defining moments of my life is seeing this song, one chilly late August’s night in 2009 in Edmonton, Canada. A storm was rolling in, and rolled over the stage, just as Angus started that iconic intro. The clash of nature’s fury and the electricity of Ac/Dc was both humbling and awesome!
🎉 what a show it was
I remember head banging in my car a long time ago to Thunderstruck at the lights. Both my kids, who were 3 and 4 at the time in the back in their car seats were trying to head bang too. I looked up and there were a couple of truckers in big rig looking down at me, laughing and giving me the thumbs up. 👍🏻 It was a funny moment I haven’t forgotten. Thank you AC/DC.
It always blows my mind when I'm reminded that "Thunderstruck" came out in the 90s. It just sounds like it goes right along with their late-70s/early-80s stuff. But then, AC/DC's sound hasn't ever really changed, even on their new album.
The riff still makes the hair on my neck stand up with excitement today and every time I hear it.
My best memories of Thunder Struck were as a US Army Cobra pilot during Desert Storm. Me and my Walkman 120 Knots 3 feet off the deck blasting AC/DC. It doesn’t get any better that…
Thank you for mentioning the drummer. Chris Slade. That dude never got credit for his 2 &4 like Phil. Look up radioactive people..
Thanks Prof! Bringing the memories back!
I will always be amazed at how fast Angus Young can play the guitar while simultaneously bobbing his head and doing a one-legged hop across the stage.
Wonder if Eddie Van Halen could have pulled that off too?
@@Thomasmemoryscentral
Thank you for your reply.
Eddie Van Halen is also a legend in his own way. I loved his guitar intro’s and his quick fingers. His music will live on forever.
@@bobkloth57 you're welcome, eddie is a hig fan of ac dc and it makes you wonder if either he or Angus could gave played each other's work?
@@Thomasmemoryscentral
That would have been awesome to see!!!
This is my son's favorite song - he's 10 years old. What an anthem!
sink the pink could be one of their most underappreciated songs in history!
And Shake your foundations
Danger
For me, it's "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be". Maybe because of the song's title.
Definitely
Squealer, great base / rythem lines, nice solo. Typical dirty lyrics of the Scott era.
I can't imagine life without this song. There is only three songs I clearly remember hearing for the first time: Born in the USA, Sweet child o' mine and Thunderstruck. Sweet child o' mine had the biggest effect on me.
The original (long version video) version of a Sweet Child o Mine that starts with Slash plugging up the guitar into the amp instantly inspired me to start playing guitar. Great song and with a huge effect on me as well. Still my ring tone to this day.
Born in the USA is classic America all the way! With all our ups and downs there’s no other place I would want to call home.
Thunderstruck is the sound track of my sports life. Every game, stadium, etc.. when it’s played game on!
Ace of Spades is another one of the songs for me
AC DC while wearing Metallica is so Beavis and Butthead. Lol
Lmao
That’s funny. I bet he talks about Metallica when wearing an AC/DC shirt at some point LOL. Just like Butthead LOL
TP for my bunghole.
😂😂😂
Uhhhhh. Thith guy seems pretty cool.
Aussie here- "Token comment". Fyi, grew up down the road from The Beegees in Redcliffe👍
Yeah mate me too, just down the road here in Brisbane 🤘🏻
Lived in Clontarf Beach at that time. Went to their last concert in Australia at the State Theatre, Sydney.
Beegees and AC/DC my 2 favorite bands growing up 👍
I was lucky enough to take part in the video at Brixton Academy in London. As a 16 year old fan I was completely blown away. One of the best days of my life. I still have the T shirt complete with Angus autograph.
I was playing Thunderstruck in the car a few years back. My 4 year old asked if the singer was Donald Duck 😂
😂
That thought had never crossed my mind before, but listening to the song again I can understand why your son asked that question! :)
Hilarious, same thing with my kids!
Whahahaa LOL shit man can't stop laughing Lmfao
😂
I remember the day this song came out on radio, I knew a new was being released that day... i was in my car with two other kids from high school when it came on the radio station for the first time....When Thunderstruck ended, all three of us were blown away and cheered! Never celebrated hearing a song like that before then, and btw the new album is GREAT>>>>>
This is also the most reacted to song on UA-cam, and I've yet to see even the most die hard rock haters not be taken in by it.
Something very special about this song, and yes. Thank you Malcolm. You left us with this to remember you by.
Though I've never disliked them when I've heard them over the years, AC/DC never became one of my favorite bands. However, the Professor here pointing out Malcolm's part made me realize how incredibly tasty that rhythm part is. In all the years hearing the song, I've only paid attention to "Thunderstruck"'s awesome lead part. But, man! That rhythm part is as sophisticated as something you might hear from Mark Knopfler or Alex Lifeson. I think it's time I go off and start giving AC/DC a proper chance.
@joshuadramsey You really should watch their songs from the river plate concert here in youtube, That concert was arguably one of the best rock concerts of all time. This is a great one to start you off if you see this.
ua-cam.com/video/QMvE0yFnR0I/v-deo.html&ab_channel=acdcVEVO
These guys are the real deal. I love all kinds of music but this is my favorite band.
Listen to the 70s albums and pay close attention to how Malcolm and Angus are playing together. Mal is in the left speaker and Angus is on the right. They're almost always playing different parts but it all comes together to create this Wall of guitars. It's insane. Cheers!
AD/HD "I'm on the highway to hey is that a squirrel?
Very good
A tip of the proverbial hat to you Scuba Steve. Nicely done.
Thunder Struck is 100% timeless... I loved it from the start and it never gets old.
The first time I heard Thunderstruck I was on an exploration crew in the middle of the forest, in the middle of winter, in central Alberta, Canada. A co-worker got back from days off and had the Thunderstruck cassette, so I borrowed it to listen to while driving a truckload of cable a few km through the bulldozed forest cutlines that were were working. Everyone knows its impossible to drive a reasonable speed while this is playing , so I wound up getting the front end of my company truck stuck in the snow-covered bulldozed piles of forest debris referred to as the 'slash' that formed 3 to 4 foot high mounds on either side of the makeshift access roads that we were driving on (, of course, not to be confused with G&R's Slash). We could only make access in winter as the terrain is what is know as 'muskeg' which is essentially a mossy bog that is impassible to wheeled vehicles when its not frozen solid. I was driving alone and had to winch myself out of my predicament, which is much more time-consuming to do solo than with a helper. I repeated this cycle of getting stuck & winching myself out a total of three times before I got that load of cable to its destination, but happily didn't catch too much grief as I had been reliable prior to, and following that escapade. Thunderstruck reminds me to this day of getting stuck in a winter forest :)
You forgot to mention almost every military montage is put to this song.
There is no content like this in any other medium. I really enjoy these segments. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy it!
80% of the Stuff he talks about ACDC IS WRONG...
As a proud Aussie, ACDC has always been recognised as our greatest export and gift to the world. Thank you lads for your service!
A big well done for paying respects to older brother George. The Youngs were an extremely talented family when they migrated to Australia. George not only produced most of the early albums and composed and appeared in the magnificent Easybeats with a lead singer who could have replaced Bon, except for his being contracted. George incidentally, formed up with one of the other talented Easybeats in Harry Vanda (lead guitarist) to become a duo called Flash and the Pan with two notable hits here in Oz. Vanda and (George) Young composed a plethora of songs for numerous Aussie artists many of which rated highly in the charts. Albert Music released a special album commemorating the compositions.
The story of the youngs and the Easybeats in well told in the ABC mini series televised in 2017.
And how could I forget not to mention Margaret Young, sister to the lads. We can all thank her for the indelibly marked name the band has.
Sorry, Flick of the Switch is completely underrated
As is Fly On The Wall. Wish they would remix it to make the instruments less muddied together and BJ's voice stand out more.
@@rushmore3927 Yeah the mix on FOTW is terrible
So good to hear someone else say this. Such an amazing album. So sick of these so called experts criticising such classic albums like flick, fly and my all time fave Brian album Blow up your video. Just cause they didn’t sell well, doesn’t mean they’re shit albums! God !
Rock on 🤘
Flick and Fly are criminally underrated in the DC catalog. Criminally.
In addition to title tracks, some highlights
Flick:
Rising Power
Brain Shake
Badlands rips
House Is On Fire
Nervous Shakedown
Bedlam In Belgium
Fly:
Sink The Pink
Danger
Shake Your Foundations
Send For The Man
Playing With Girls
Back In Business fucking slams
You're not a real AC⚡DC fan if you don't love every album they've ever done
FLick Of the Switch is weak , lazy and frustrating
It was Malcolm young and his stomping rhythm that would be one of my greatest guitar teachers!! Some of the first guitar songs that I ever learned were the killer rhythms of whole lotta Rosie and riff raff and beating around the bush. Malcolm young has a very VERY special place in my heart and I could never thank him enough for the gift of music that he gave me!!! Rest In Peace Malcolm young, Bon Scott!! AC/DC is the voodoo that we do!
These boys sure new how to craft their songs! It’s great to hear how much Malcolm and Angus leaned on their siblings for help and ideas. It was truly a family venture 😎
My favorite part of the video to this song is in the very beginning, when Brian looks up in awe at the fans chanting along with the song. He is truly amazed!
It was such an amazing experience to see and listen to AC/DC live. Incredible concert.
The razors edge was my first cd purchase that accompanied my pioneer rack system from Sears. September 22,1990.
Thunderstruck is the balls to the wall, take no prisoners, kick ass epitome of a ROCK CLASSIC....hands down, it's a wrap!! LOVE IT!
Thunderstruck got me into Hard Rock and Metal back in 1991. Thanks AC/DC.
The Live version of this is a great moment in rock. The way it builds is so brilliant, it has a non-standard structure, quite captivating and they put solos wherever the hell it suits the drama of the song. Half the song is foreplay then it blows up.
Hey prof, I'll put it this way. I been listening to acdc since I was a freshman in high school. I started growing my hair out in 03, the year I graduated, and I still haven't cut it. They got me through virtually all of my worst times in my life till present, including a blown out marriage. I have heard alot of people sing the highest of praises about these guys and what they are made of. You, brother, are the FIRST Person I've ever heard do justice when speaking of them. Chicken skin, the whole time. Literally had me in tears, at some points, no joke. And I'm not trying to sound weird or anything, just going thru a bad part of my life at the moment and they are still helping me along. I believe absolutely in them, and I thank you for how you portrayed them. Hope you know what I mean. Bad ass, thanks again. Take care
AC/DC are just great. I grew up in the 70’s in Australia and I’m glad I did!
Not only AC/DC is my favorite band ever and 'Thunderstruck' is my favorite song ever, but I am also a die hard Chicago White Sox fan. Thunderstruck (for the past 20 something years if I recall correctly) is the opening line up intro song for Chicago White Sox home games.
♥️♥️♥️ needed this today!!!
When my 13 year old mind heard Thunderstruck for the first time I knew I wanted to play guitar to be like Angus, at that time it was the coolest riff I had ever heard, literally life changing.
I'm now in my 60's but this is still one of my favourite songs.
Long after AC/DC is gone, they will have left us, and future generations, a treasure trove of music that will forever stand the test of time.
Mal was the brains behind the operation.
He really was a monumental rock writer.
The video for Money Talks was filmed at the old Spectrum in my hometown in Philly.
I was in the audience for that!
Adam is so damn amazing.. I feel like he is literally talking to me as I'm watching and I get so lost in the story and get so slammed back in the memories of exactly everything he says. When it's over I want more!
1990 - I was 18 and in the army at the time... This was THE perfect anthem for the military! I salute YOU!!
I have a senior colleague, the oldest guy in the company, now retired but still comes in to work 2 days a week. Very prim and proper, to this day always wore suit and tie when everyone else is casual. A true classic gentleman. For years he had Thunderstruck as his ringtone. Such a contrast.
If aliens came to earth, and asked me "What is this, 'high voltage rock n' roll' you speak of?" I would probably play them this track.
I would just play them High Voltage. :P
When ever I hear Thunderstruck it just makes me feel young happy and thank god for rock and roll 🎸
The AC DC saga lives forever
When I player my playlist of the bands hits. My 16yo daughter started recognizing the songs from soundtracks she heard from movies we watched. Now she's a fan.
It’s amazing to me what
Angus/Malcolm created over 40 yrs with just 3-5 chords!!
Angus earned the right to be mentioned with the likes of
Eddie, Jimi, SRV, etc....
I agree ! And he plays those 3 - 5 chords like nobody elese in this world does ! I can't look at an SG without thinking of him. \m/
@@JWF99 HELL NO!! That’s HIS guitar!! HE IS THE SG!!
All bands use a limited pallet of chords. Not that many to use for rock
My favorite AC/DC song.
Thunderstruck! But Money Talks. 2 great songs!
My all time favorite AC/DC song of all time. Still gives me goosebumps.
Thunderstruck ! Unreal Rock Tune ! Out State College uses it when they play at Home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama! When they get off the Buses and walk the Walk of Champions into the Bryant Denny Stadium 🏟! ROLL TIDE! ROLL. Great stuff PROFESSOR! For Thoes about to Rock we Salute YOU!
When this came on in Varsity Blues I feel off the couch. Perfect timing.
I was watching my five-year-old grandson, and he starts singing. I wasn't completely paying attention, and then I hear "Da da da da da da da da THUNDER!" Excellent taste in music, I'd say!
The story of how Brian Johnson got the job as frontman for AC/DC is fascinating to me because it’s almost FATE. As if the universe wanted him/needed him to get it.
Before Bon Scott joined up with the Young brothers to form AC/DC he was in a band called Fraternity.
Brian was in a band called Geordie who had a couple of top 40 hits in the UK.
When Fraternity was touring Great Britain they had a gig where they were opening for Geordie. When Brian and his fellow band mates arrived they suited up and performed their set. Well, midway through a song Brian collapsed on his back and was flailing around; apparently having been struck by appendicitis.
Unbeknownst however to Brian, Bon had been watching the set and when Brian began kicking and flailing Bon was over the moon because he thought it was part of his act. Brian’s stage antics reminded Bon of his heroes, James Brown and Little Richard.
Later that same night, Geordie joined Fraternity on their tour bus and had a couple of drinks then went their separate ways the next day.
Sometime later Bon joined up with AC/DC and one day mentioned offhand that he wasn’t impressed with the rock scene in Britain when he toured there previously, EXCEPT for this one band with a wild singer named Brian Johnson who reminded him of Little Richard. He was really impressed by that Brian fella. And Bon Scott didn’t like too many singers.
Flash forward to 1980.
Bon tragically passes away from alcohol poisoning.
Malcom and Angus remain undecided about whether or not they should continue the band. They’d just broken through with Highway to Hell, but they weren’t superstars…yet.
They decide to continue.
A random fan from Cleveland, Ohio managed to contact their camp. The fan who followed the scene in Britain suggested a guy whom he believed would be a good fit for the band:
Brian Johnson.
Malcolm and Angus Young were thrown, “Wasn’t that the bloke Bon said he was impressed with all those years ago?” They recalled.
Then their producer Mutt Lange also suggested a guy he’d known of on the scene…a man named BRIAN JOHNSON.
The name kept coming up from two random sources so Angus and Malcolm knew then that they had to find this Brian and audition him.
Brian, meanwhile…had been living with his parents in his native Newcastle and pretty much retired from music. Geordie wasn’t going anywhere except for clubs so he’d opened his own auto body shop.
One day he got a call from an Eastern European woman who told him that a particular band wanted him to come to audition.
The woman was hesitant to name the band but eventually relented and told Johnson that it was AC/DC, whom he’d heard of because they were developing a big following.
However…Johnson didn’t want to drive six hours from Newcastle to London because he was thirty-two, had his own business, was semi-retired from showbiz and was convinced he wouldn’t get the gig because AC/DC was a whole other level. So he declined.
But, as fate would have it, a friend of his who did some work for Monte Python called about thirty minutes later to offer Brian some work. A commercial for Hoover vacuums.
The gig would pay him £350 plus residuals, but it was in London. However since it was a paid gig, Brian quickly accepted and then called back the mysterious woman to tell her that he’d be in London the following Monday and would be able to do the audition.
Monday came and Brian left the studio having done the Hoover jingle and collected his money. It was late in the afternoon and he found himself stuck at a crossroads:
He could drive a mile down the street and meet with AC/DC, a gig he’d never get. Or…he could drive the 5-6 hours back to Newcastle because he had to get home and open up his shop early in the morning.
Brian chose to go to the audition.
After a warm welcome from the band, they performed a few songs with Brian.
Almost immediately Malcolm got goosebumps; magic was in the air.
Angus and Malcolm were caught in Brian’s spell. They NEVER wanted the audition to end. It was like love at first sight.
But Brian had to leave, despite his reluctance to do so since he felt the magic too.
A few days later the band called him back and the rest is history.
I'm not the biggest AC/DC fan. It's just not really my thing. But Malcolm Young has to be one of the greatest rhythm guitarists ever. His timing is impeccable.
There's a clip somewhere on UA-cam that completely isolates Malcolm's part, and makes you realise how important he was to the overall AC/DC sound. He was criminally good at what he did for someone with very little knowledge of music theory.....
This is my absolute fav channel I can't get enough of it. Your are awesome and have the greatest knowledge of music I mean like I swear your the brother I never had!! Keep this channel going man and keep the preservation of music alive!!!!!!!
I remember it was the day the album was released September 21st 1990, it was very warm day and I was heading back from the states to Canada at the Peace Arch border in a long and slow lineup I had my windows down because my 1982 Mustang Gt had no air conditioning when the radio announced they were going to play a brand new AC-DC song. It was Thunderstruck and within a few seconds I had my car stereo cranked so loud, it was one of those moments I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
When BJ sings the first "thunder!", Malcom's guitar line, those two bass drums from de back, the crowd in the video...and much more, that song makes you wanna eat the World out
at 45 years old, I am now the old guy sitting at the red light on the Harley, blasting AC/DC on the radio. I feel so powerful and cool rocking this jam.
Despite all their other hits, I think this has become "THE" AC/DC song. I remember it blowing me away when it came out, but to this day, it never doesn't make me happy. Plus, I asked my guitar teacher to show me how to do Angus' part. And while we were starting, I asked if he thought it was true that Malcolm may be the greatest rhythm guitarist ever. He said absolutely, and showed me the sheet music for Malcolm's part - I forget for which song. As a greenhorn guitar student, looking at it blew my mind. He played some of it and it was way complex. So it's really true that Malcolm was kind of the glue that held everything together. Super talented guy, and a huge tragedy to lose him. Though I'm glad the rest of the guys are still with us. Great video Adam!
Thunderstruck is friggin AWESOME! A late entry in the 80’s rock music era that came just when hope of anymore great rock albums coming out was dwindling... Thunderstruck was just the anthem we needed... one last great song from the 80’s style of rock... couldn’t have asked for a more kickass way to say that for all the rock fans of the decade of decadence, that we’d been... THUNDERSTRUCK!!!
This opening riff is my ringtone on my mobile. Everyone loves it and is often a conversation opener with people when my phone rings.
I coached a U8 ymca soccer team. I had a team that understood the way I wanted them to play. Attack! Attack! Attack! And they did...we dominated the season. They passed, they played position, and they were aggressive! We were winning with scores like 23-1, 22-2...all I could see on the field and hear in my head was THUNDERSTRUCK!! The worst part was I couldn't really cheer them on or really show my joy, because it would seem uncool. Taught them, how use their left feet how to use perreffial vision, how to target their corner kicks. The look on my players face and the stuned look on the parents of the other team when he bent a corner kick into the goal. Was priceless. 😁 After that season, the Y split us up. The Fighting Chihuahuas were awesome that season! Thunderstruck takes me right back to that team. 😎
I’m at a loss for words I’m trying to describe how you describe all these awesome songs…. keep up the great work!
One of Rock's guitar player's all time favourites!
The DJ at the skating rink I went to as a teenager used to play this song for every speed skate. I remember just two kids, both about 14 years old, would get out on the floor for the speed skate, so a huge crowd would gather around the edges of the rink to watch them fly while Thunderstruck boomed through the speakers and just electrified the place. So much fun!
February of 1980, my roomate in my college fraternity informs me Bon Scott died. I didn't know his name, but been listening to distinct voice for years. The rest of that cold winter semester, AC/DC played, louder than usual, from our room, the Veranda, in Fenton, Michigan. That album reminds me of Integral Calculus, Physics II, Materials Engineering, Static Mechanics, and the subtle art of drinking coffee when you get tired, beer when you get too wired up doing your homework. Thanks AC/DC for contributing to some of the best times in the best time my life.
Hell yeah! This and Hell's Bells. I crank them both to 11 and rock!
I was a teen in the 60s, and when ACDC came along my hearing seemed to get worse. Might have had something to do with, turn it up, and rock on with this fine band that made your soul come alive. Anytime I hear them, I can not sit still, makes you glad to be alive with many other things....
Professor of Rock is very quickly becoming my favorite UA-cam channel!