Back in Black

Back in Black is a hard rock album by Australian band AC/DC, released in 1980 (see 1980 in music). After the success of Highway to Hell, their previous album, AC/DC began developing this particular album when lead singer Bon Scott died of asphyxiation, after choking on his own vomit in his friend's car after a night of drinking. When Scott was replaced by Brian Johnson, the album was redone from scratch; with songs such as "Hell's Bells", "Have a Drink on Me" and the title track it became a loose concept album on the theme of mortality and hedonism. The album (a breakthrough one for the band) became a huge success in the US and elsewhere. PopMatters' Adam Williams claims that Back in Black 's importance in the development of 1980s music cannot be "overstated" http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/a/acdc-black.shtml; the album revitalized popular music and helped make radio-friendly heavy metal and hard rock music possible.

Related Topics:
Hard rock - Australia - AC/DC - 1980 - 1980 in music - Highway to Hell - Bon Scott - Asphyxiation - Brian Johnson - Hell's Bells - Have a Drink on Me - Hedonism - US - PopMatters - 1980s - Heavy metal

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There have been some interesting tribute albums released that have been entirely dedicated to Back in Black - one example being Back in Baroque... The String Tribute to AC/DC released in 2003. US death metal outfit Six Feet Under released their second covers album Graveyard Classics 2 in 2004, which was also an entire remake of Back in Black.

Related Topics:
Tribute albums - Back in Baroque... The String Tribute to AC/DC - 2003 - US - Death metal - Six Feet Under - Graveyard Classics 2 - 2004

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In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Back in Black the 82nd greatest album of all time.

Related Topics:
TV network - VH1

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In 2005 Back in Black was certified by the RIAA as the fifth best-selling album ever made, tying it with Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II with 21 million copies sold.

Related Topics:
RIAA - Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II

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