Total Guitar – August 2020
English | 99 pages | pdf | 63.68 MB
Inside Total Guitar magazine August 2020 issue
You probably already know some of the backstory to AC/DC’s iconic Back In Black album. By 1980, the band were well established, building on the breakthrough success of 1979’s Highway To Hell and planning their follow-up when lead vocalist Bon Scott tragically died. Fans thought Bon was irreplaceable. AC/DC could’ve ended right there. But, of course, fate would bring Brian Johnson into the picture, a singer Angus Young described as sounding “like somebody dropped a truck on his foot.” A pretty good fit then, and, with Bon’s soon to be legendary replacement in situ, the band began work on Back In Black. A tribute to the late singer and amassive commercial success, 40 years later Back In Black remains the best-selling rock album of all time,
and is second only on the all-time list to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
TG’s very own Paul Elliott is a self-confessed AC/DC nut, having interviewed Angus a handful of times – which in my view makes him the man to tell the story behind the making of the album, complete with career-spanning quotes from Angus himself. We’ve even interviewed ’DC superfan Justin Hawkins of The Darkness who gives his perspective on Back In Black and fraternal guitar duos!
Hopefully we’ll spark your interest to try out our tutorial on Angus and Malcolm’s playing style, too. There’s a perception that the duo’s playing is simple – and, though there’s a seed of truth to that, there’s magic behind those simple chords and pentatonic riffs that often goes unnoticed. And, when it comes to Angus’ lead playing, well, I’d say he has a habit of playing down his abilities! It’s all topped off with Rockschool’s tab of You Shook Me All Night Long. Enjoy the issue!
Chris Bird Acting Editor
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