AC/DC Shares New Video Exploring Origin of ‘Hells Bells’

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

July 20th, 2020 1:37 PM

AC/DC continues their new YouTube series, “The Story of ‘Back In Black’,” with a new installment exploring the origins of the song “Hells Bells.”

The episode is embedded below, and it features the late Malcolm Young sharing a funny story of how that iconic intro came to be.

“I do remember takin’ a wee out the back [of the studio.] The toilet was a long way away,” said Young. “We were talking about the ‘Hells Bells’ intro, that really good intro, really ominous before anything. Angus had the title ‘Hells Bells.’ I was just taking a piss and it just sort of came to me, ‘What if we get a big f—ing bell?'”

And just like that, history was made. It just goes to show you that inspiration could strike at the most unexpected moments.

Back In Black turns 40 on July 25 and remains one of the best-selling albums ever selling 25 million copies in the United States alone.

‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ and 5 Other Tribute Songs

• AC/DC – “Back In Black”

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  A fitting tribute to Bon Scott, the lyrics to "Back in Black" were written by Brian Johnson. Johnson said in an interview with 'Mojo' in 2009 that his then new bandmates asked him to contribute lyrics. "I thought, 'Well no pressure there, then,'" recalled Johnson. "I just wrote what came into my head, which at the time seemed like mumbo, jumbo. 'Nine lives. Cats eyes. Abusing every one of them and running wild.' The boys got it though. They saw Bon's life in that lyric."

• Pink Floyd – “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”

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  The song was split into nine parts that book-ended Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, with parts one through five acting as side one/track one and parts six through nine as side two/track three.  Out of the band for several years due to various mental issues, Barrett coincidentally went to visit his old band while they were recording the album, and the day he arrived in the studio was the day they were laying down the lyric for “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

• U2 – “Angel of Harlem”

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  An original track on U2's 1988 album 'Rattle & Hum,' the soundtrack to the film of the same name, "Angel of Harlem" serves as a tribute to legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday
• Neil Young – “The Needle and the Damage Done”

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  Featured on 'Harvest,' "The Needle and the Damage Done" is about heroin addiction and its affect on Young's musical community and the drug's hold on Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten in particular. 'Harvest' was released in February 1972, and Whitten would sadly pass away that May.

• Alice Cooper – “Desperado”

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  Featured on the Alice Cooper band's 1971 album, 'Killer,' "Desperado" is a tribute to Jim Morrison, who was a friend of Cooper's. Morrison had passed away shortly before the recording sessions for 'Killer' began.

• George Harrison – “All Those Years Ago”

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  Harrison penned "All Those Years Ago" as a tribute to Beatles bandmate John Lennon. The track was feature on his solo album 'Somewhere in England,' which was released about six months after Lennon was tragically killed.

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Music
• Music News

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AC/DC