THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

245-AC/DC-Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation.

1978-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 0.15. Malcolm Young (1953-2017) and Angus Young developed the idea for the band’s name after their sister Margaret Young, (1935-2019) saw the initials ‘AC/DC’ on a sewing machine. ‘AC/DC’ is an abbreviation meaning ‘alternating current/direct current’ electricity. The brothers felt that this name symbolised the band’s raw energy, power-driven performances of their music. ‘AC/DC’ (see also best songs 797 and 170) is pronounced one letter at a time, though the band are colloquially known as ‘Acca Dacca’ in Australia.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ was the only single released from ‘Powerage,’ which was the fifth studio Album released by AC/DC, from May 1978, the Album version of the song which is 32 seconds longer than the 7 inch single release was co-written by Malcolm, and Angus Young, along with the bands lead singer Bon Scott, (1946-1980) with the production being by Harry Vanda, along with Malcolm and Angus’ older brother George Young (1946-2017) (see also best songs 939 and 447.) This would be the last AC/DC Album produced by Vanda and Young, who had also been responsible for the bands first four studio Albums. AC/DC’s record label had released the Album, but then realised that if they were to break into the lucrative American market they would need a commercially sounding track that the radio would play. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ features hand claps and maracas, and unusually for an AC/DC song does not have a guitar solo. Once the track had been recorded it was added to future pressings of ‘Powerage’ appearing as the opening song, replacing ‘Gimme a Bullet.’ Some Albums replaced the track ‘Cold Hearted Man’ with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation,’ but there are also pressings which include both tracks.

Malcolm Young was born Malcolm Mitchell Young on January 6th, 1953, in Glasgow, Scotland, In 2010 he was diagnosed with lung cancer, which was treated at an early stage, and the surgery was successful, and the cancer was removed. He also had an unspecified heart problem and had a pacemaker. In September 2014 it was reported that he had been diagnosed with dementia, and had been admitted to a nursing home, where he could receive full time care. Malcolm Young died from the disease on November 18th, 2017, at the age of 64. Young was a founding member of AC/DC, and was one of the groups songwriters, and the rhythm guitarist, he also provided backing vocals. As a member of AC/DC, he was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ in 2003. Young’s father William (1911-1985) uprooted his family from Glasgow in June 1965, after seeing a television advertisement offering assisted travel for families to start a different life in Australia. 15 members of the Young family left Scotland, including Malcolm, Angus, and George, along with the eldest brother Stephen, (1933–1989), his only sister Margaret, (1935–2019) and brother William Jr. Malcolm Young was influenced by 1950’s ‘Rock and Roll’ and ‘Blues’ based ‘Rock’ guitarists of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The American music magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ has named Young as the 38th best guitarist of all time.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ is a ‘Hard Rock’ song. ‘Hard Rock’ or ‘Heavy Rock’ is a heavier sub-genre of ‘Rock’ music typified by aggressive vocals, and distorted electric guitars. Hard Rock began in the mid-1960’s with the ‘Garage,’ (see also best songs 155) ‘Psychedelic’ (see also best songs 992) and ‘Blues Rock’ (see also best songs 851) movements. Some of the earliest Hard Rock music was produced by artists including the Kinks, (see also best songs 1014 and 770) Cream, (see also best songs 726) and the Jimi Hendrix Experience (see also best songs 983 and 492.) By the 1970’s ‘Heavy Rock’ had developed into a major form of popular music, but it began losing some of it’s popularity by the 1990’s, with the commercial success of other competing genres including R&B, (see also best songs 359) Hip-Hop, (see also best songs 17) Urban Pop, (see also best songs 785) Grunge (see also best songs 9) and Britpop (see also best songs 256.) The roots of Hard Rock can be traced back to the mid-to-late 1950’s, particularly ‘Electric Blues,’ which laid the foundations for key elements such as a expressive vocal style, heavy guitar riffs, string-bending Blues-scale guitar solos, strong beat, and thick riff-laden texture.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ was a breakthrough hit for AC/DC in Europe. Up until this song they had achieved six top 40 hits in Australia, but they only had a cult following elsewhere. This song would chart in the UK at Number 24, and also in The Netherlands, where it peaked at Number 18, it would be another year until they would break into the American Billboard singles chart with ‘Highway to Hell’ (see also best songs 170.) ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ could be considered to be loosely based on AC/DC themselves, as the lyrics tell us that it is a tough road to the top if you want to be a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ star. During the course of AC/DC’s lifespan, since their formation in 1973, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, there have been 16 different band members come and go. The line up who played on this song, and it’s parent Album ‘Powerage’ were, Bon Scott, (vocals) Angus Young, (lead guitar) Malcolm Young, (rhythm guitar) Cliff Williams, (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums.)

‘They say that you play too loud, well baby that’s tough. They say that you got too much, can’t get enough. They tell you that you look a fool, and baby I’m a fool for you.’