AC/DC are sharing the inspiration behind their classic track, “Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution”, on the fifth and latest episode of a 40th anniversary video series celebrating the band’s 1980 album, “Back in Black.”
“We were in London at the time and there was a big deal about noise pollution with clubs around London and everything else,” explains guitarist Malcolm Young. "They wanted to ban them….we’d gone in with nine tracks and we needed another song and we left it to the end.”
"The title was already written by Malcolm and Angus and it was more anthemic than anything else,” add singer Brian Johnson.
While the group had a scheduled night off during sessions for the record, the members went to dinner while the Young brothers stayed behind to work on the tune.
“Angus had that title,” explains Malcolm. “We just put a slow blues feel around it, and the chorus – Angus had the chords for the chorus of it – we bopped it down in about 15 minutes and sat around for a while; the guys come back and we played it to [producer] Mutt [Lange] and Mutt went, ‘That’s cool, let’s go for that one.’”
“Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution” would become the closing track on “Back In Black”, which went on to become the best-selling hard rock album in history, with estimated worldwide sales of 50 million.
See also:
AC/DC revisit Back In Black classic Shoot To Thrill
New AC/DC album reportedly delayed due to pandemic
AC/DC: Gibson host Back In Black 40th anniversary virtual celebration
AC/DC tribute Bon Scott with Back In Black
Search AC/DC at hennemusic
