Thunderstruck (song)

The song peaked at number #5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was released as a single in Germany, Australia and Japan. Shown is the cover of the German release of the "Thunderstruck" single. The song is said to be inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's hair-raising experience when a plane he was on was struck by lightning.

Contrary to popular belief, Young does not play Thunderstruck's main riff with one hand. Instead, he picks every note; one can hear the scraping sound that the plastic of his plectrum makes as it hits each note. Additionally in all AC/DC live videos, Angus can clearly be viewed picking every note. The one-handed tapping technique can only be seen in the "Thunderstruck" music video.

The video which accompanied the single was filmed at London's Brixton Academy on 17th August, 1990. The audience members were given free T-Shirts with the words 'AC/DC - I was Thunderstruck' on the front and the date on the back, and these T-shirts were worn by the entire audience throughout the filming of the video.

1 Sports Usage
2 Other Usage
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Sports Usage

Thunderstruck is the theme song of the Australian under 20 open ultimate frisbee team. It was first used at the World Ultimate and Guts Championships in Turku, Finland in 2004. The team is called Aussie Thunder, which explains the connection and why it fires the team up so much.
An instrumental version of the song is also played by BBC Radio Five Live during the formation lap in their Formula 1 coverage.
The song is a staple of Michigan State University football games. Prior to every home game, an electrified Sparty comes to life to the tune of Thunderstruck and slashes the opponents' emblem in half.
The song is used for preliminary player introduction at Super 14 home games for the Wellington Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
It is also used prior to the beginning of Chicago White Sox games at U.S. Cellular Field,as well their NBA counterparts, the Chicago Bulls to spark rallies at the United Center and their NFL Counterparts, the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field and at second-half tipoff of Seattle Storm games at KeyArena.
The Houston Texans use it after they run onto the field or score a touchdown at Reliant Stadium.
The University of Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team uses the song in their pre-game introduction at the John Paul Jones Arena.
The song is also the unofficial theme song for the ECHL's Stockton Thunder and is played during shootouts at fellow ECHL team Las Vegas Wranglers games , the Marshall University Thundering Herd, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League, and the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League.
The NHL's New Jersey Devils take the ice to this song at their home games. It follows a video intro set to Hells Bells.
This song is also used when Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz comes up to bat, and was also used as his theme song when he spent three seasons as a closer.
Salomon Torres of the Milwaukee Brewers also used the song during his duration as the team's closer.
Another baseball closer, Seattle's J. J. Putz currently uses "Thunderstruck" as his theme song.
Australian NRL team the Melbourne Storm also use this song when running out onto the field.
The song is played at the start of Texas Longhorns men's basketball games during pre-game activities, just before the team's introduction onto the court at the Frank Erwin Center.
The song was also an unofficial theme song for the National Basketball Association player Dan Majerle. Majerle's nickname was "Thunder Dan"; thus, "Thunderstruck" would usually be played as an introduction, or after an exceptional Majerle play. This usage of the song was prominent during Majerle's home games as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
The song is played when Thunda, the mascot of the Australian AFL team Port Adelaide Power is entertaining the home crowd.
The song was also noted for it's use as Arturo Gatti's entrance theme. This referenced his "Thunder" Nickname.
K-1 Fighter Peter Graham runs down the walkway and into the ring with this song playing as his entrance music.
Whenever the New England Patriots score a touchdown it is played, and is followed by the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky following the Extra Point.
During the team introduction and after every touchdown and point after attempt, the af2 team Mahoning Valley Thunder uses this song.
The song was also the entrance song for boxer Arturo "Thunder" Gatti for his second fight with Micky Ward
Thunderstruck was also the song played at Berlin Thunder (former NFL Europe team) when the team came on the field.
American CHL team, The Rocky Mountain Rage, use this song to return to the ice after intermission.
The Odessa Roughnecks Professional Indoor football team in the Intense Football League use this song as their introduction to the field as well as in the video to get the fans pumped up before the pre-game intros.
The opening song for [The Chicago White Sox]
The song is used at BNHS for sporting events, The mascot is Blue Thunder.

[edit] Other Usage

The beginning of this song is also often played on the Lars Larson show.
Song is used for Blue Thunder(Monster Truck) during Monster Jams freestyle event.
The song has also spawned a drinking game popular among college students called "Thunderdrunk." During this game participants alternate chugging an alcoholic beverage every time the word "Thunder" is said during the song. There are 33 times when you are able to hear "Thunder" during the 4:52 studio version of the song, with two 51 second breaks where one person is in charge of chugging. This occurs on the 16th "Thunder" to the 17th, as well as 20th to 21st. That fact makes this game very dangerous for playing in groups of four and sitting in the fourth position.^{[citation needed]}
The song is used in the 1999 movie Varsity Blues
The song is used in the 2005 movie The Longest Yard starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, before the movie's climatic final game.
The song is used for a commercial for the 2007 movie Hot Rod.
During the campaign of 2004, then Leader of the Opposition, now Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper named "Thunderstruck" as his favorite song.[1]
Australian car manufacturer Holden has used Thunderstruck (as well as other AC/DC songs) in its commercials.
British rock band The Darkness would sometimes perform the intro to this song at certain concerts during their tours.^{[citation needed]}
The Song Is Played At A Port Adelaide Power Home Game When The Cheer Squad & Dancers Come On AAMI Stadium Before The Game.
Thunderstruck doesn't just have the riff, there's background sound which sounds like "Angus plays a nasty riff" (Angus is the lead guitarist of AC/DC).