Back in Black (song)

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"Back in Black"

Song by AC/DC
from the album Back in Black
Released	25 July 1980
Recorded	1980
Genre	Hard Rock
Length	4:15
Label	ATCO
Writer(s)	Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson
Producer(s)	Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Chart positions
#37 (US)
Back in Black track listing
Let Me Put My Love into You (5)	"Back in Black" (6)	You Shook Me All Night Long (7)

"Back in Black (live)"

Song by AC/DC
from the album Stiff Upper Lip Tour Edition
Released	January 8, 2001
Recorded	Plaza De Toros in Madrid, 1996
Genre	Hard Rock
Length	4:10
Label	Albert Productions
Producer(s)	Rocky Oldham
Stiff Upper Lip Tour Edition track listing
Cyberspace (1)	"Back in Black (live)" (2)	Hard as a Rock (live) (3)

"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC best known for its distinctive opening guitar riff, appearing as the sixth track on their 1980 album of the same title, Back in Black. Two live versions of the song later appeared on both versions of the album Live, as well as the Australian tour edition of Stiff Upper Lip. It has been covered by bands such as The Hives, Foo Fighters with Jack Black, Travis and Colombian pop singer Shakira. The band's unstated tribute to the late Bon Scott, it was a worldwide success, and peaked in the U.S. at #37 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1981 and #51 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

The song was ranked #4 by VH1 on their list of the VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs ^[1] . It was also ranked #187 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Back in Black" was certified as a RIAA Platinum Ringtone (a million downloads).^[2]

1 Personnel
2 Selective list of recorded versions
3 In the media
4 Sampling
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Personnel

Brian Johnson - Lead vocals
Angus Young - Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals
Cliff Williams - Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
Phil Rudd - Drums

[edit] Selective list of recorded versions

1980 AC/DC, original song on the album Back in Black
1984 Beastie Boys, sampled without permission on "Rock Hard"
1987 Boogie Down Productions, sampled without permission on "Dope Beat"
The Evolution Control Committee, sampled without permission on "Rocked by Rape"
1996 The Recliners
1997 Swedish hardcore punk band Refused, on The Demo Compilation
2001 Hayseed Dixie, on A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC
2003 Living Colour, on Collideøscope
2004 Shakira, on Live & Off the Record
2004 Six Feet Under, on Graveyard Classics 2
2006 Robot Goes Here, on The Byte Is In My Blood
Back in Baroque... The String Tribute to AC/DC
The Hives
ApologetiX, the Christian parody band re-wrote the song as "Back Intact", about Jesus' resurrection.[1]

[edit] In the media

On New Years Eve Dec 31, 2002, this song was performed live by The Foo Fighters with vocalist Jack Black for US MTV.
In the Australian TV quiz show RockWiz (2004-present), the live band plays the riff to "Back in Black" for the segment entitled "Million Dollar Riff".
In September 2006, "Back in Black" was used in a US Gap TV commercial featuring footage of Audrey Hepburn. [2]
"Back in Black" is also used as the theme for Lewis Black's section on "The Daily Show"
the CW's series Supernatural has used the song several times throughout the series.
The song is featured in School of Rock.
The song is played in the Lilo & Stitch trailers.
The song is played when the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football team runs onto the field of Kinnick stadium.
The song was used for advertising of the Black Motorola Razr
The song was used as entrance music for now-deceased wrestler Chris Candido.

[edit] Sampling

A number of artists have sampled "Back in Black" without permission from the copyright holders (see above list of recordings).

In 1984 the Beastie Boys sampled "Back in Black" without permission for their song "Rock Hard". In 1999, when they wished to include it on an upcoming CD compilation release, they sought permission but AC/DC refused. Mike D of the Beastie Boys quoted Malcolm Young's reason for refusing as: "'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'" ^[3]