(Band Statement) On July 27, 1979, AC/DC released Highway To Hell, a timeless rock n' roll classic that ultimately marked both a triumphant beginning, and a tragic end for the young band from Down Under. Thirty years later, and after going platinum seven times over in the USA alone, it remains an undeniable classic of the genre, and has served as a musical touchstone for countless acts in the years since.By the time the band began recording Highway To Hell, their follow-up to 1978's Powerage, AC/DC had earned their reputation as a jaw-dropping live act, so much so that few bands would agree to let AC/DC open for them, for fear of being upstaged by the electric young Aussies. Despite their live reputation, their previous two albums, Let There Be Rock and Powerage, hadn't achieved widespread commerci al success, topping out in the twenties on the Australian charts, and in the mid-hundreds in the USA. Stepping into 1979, it was time for AC/DC to make the album that undisputedly captured their massive sound in its full glory. It took three months of recording, and the end result not only catapulted AC/DC to superstardom, but also served as a sonic blueprint for a generation of hard rock acts to come.
The full impact of Highway To Hell would come into focus as the band grew (and grew and grew) over the coming decades. Still, Highway To Hell stands today as a testament to the fact that in any era, on any continent, there will always be a place for cranked-up, dialed-in, earth-quaking, hip-shaking, head-banging rock & roll.
"We just want to make the walls cave in and the ceiling collapse. We all have always shared a common belief that music is meant to be played as loud as possible, really raw and raunchy and I'll punch out anyone who doesn't like it the way I do." -- Bon Scott
