AC/DC's seventh album, "Back in Black", is one of the most reviewed in rock history. It's an anthology, sublime and essential record not only within hard rock and heavy metal but also within contemporary music. It was released at a crucial moment for the band; just a few months earlier they had lost their charismatic singer, Bon Scott, who died in tragic circumstances. After his death, the remaining members hesitated about whether to continue or call it quits, but their desire to carry on, and as a tribute to Scott himself, led them to decide to continue. However, the band faced a very serious problem: who would replace someone as great as Bon Scott?, who could even begin to fill his void without resorting to crude comparisons or being a mere third-rate imitator?. For weeks, the group auditioned numerous candidates, including Allan Fryer from the Australian band Heaven, Gary Pickford-Hopkins, who had worked with Rick Wakeman and was a member of Wild Turkey, Stevie Wright, singer of the EasyBeats, Terry Slesser, who had been with Paul Kossoff's band Back Street Crawler, and the legendary Slade member, singer and guitarist Noody Holder, among many others. However, thanks to producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, the band met and ultimately accepted Brian Johnson, former singer of Geordie, a British group that had released several albums with some success during the 1970s in the British Isles. His down-to-earth charisma, his sense of humor, his talent as a frontman with that raspy, carefree voice, and above all, his respect for Bon Scott, were key factors in his being hired as the new vocalist for AC/DC. Almost immediately, the band headed to the Bahamas to begin recording their next album. The choice of location was driven by two compelling reasons: first, the lack of availability at their chosen studios in England, and second, to escape the consistently high British taxes. Finally, during April and May of 1980, they completed the new album at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, under the production of Robert “Mutt” Lange. Officially released two months later, “Back In Black” is a heartfelt tribute to Bon Scott, beginning with its somber black cover and featuring content that continues to deliver what AC/DC does best: pure, unadulterated rock and roll. From the monumental opening track, "Hells Bells", the band unleashes a powerful, contained rage with its driving riffs and sheer force of energy. They are wounded, still reeling from the tragedy, yet this same rage propels them forward, forging one of the greatest songs in rock history. The raw and potent "Shoot to Thrill" showcases the classic AC/DC sound. In "Given the Dog a Bone", Johnson's powerful vocals prove his casting was the right choice, while the seductive hard rock track "Let Me Put My Love Into You" demonstrates the band's peak performance with a colossal piece. With "Back in Black", they reach for the stars, a song that is a treasure of humanity and needs no introduction; it is simply perfect. The heavy and powerful “You Shook Me All Night Long”, the blues rock “Have A Drink On Me”, the frenetic “Shake A Leg”, or the street rock with bluesy airs “Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” end up completing a great and unique album, which would achieve unprecedented success with almost 50 million copies sold today, numerous number ones around the world and considered one of the 100 best albums in the history of rock music.
