Usually metal doesn’t get the credit it should when it comes to mainstream attention. Since metalheads are just a bunch of cool guys I doubt it’s really bothered us at all, but that doesn’t mean we won’t bask in the recognition whenever we receive it. Our latest triumph comes from one AC/DC and their iconic 17th album Back in Black, which is now the third best-selling album in all U.S. history. That’s a pretty big damn deal.
Back in Black was official certified by the Recording Industry Association Of America on August 21. The determining factor was how many copies of the album were sold, which was 27 million at the time of me writing this. It sits among greats, with Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) by the Eagles in first place with 38 million units sold, and Micheal Jackson’s Thriller in second place after being certified platinum 34 times. Back in Black was once in the fourth highest position, going 25 times platinum in December 2019.
The album didn’t come without some level of controversy, though. Released in 1980, it was the first AC/DC record to not feature their founding vocalist Bon Scott, who tragically passed away that same year. Instead, Brian Johnson and his interesting (to say the least) vocals ended up making the album, which made everyone think the record was gonna be a flop. Even though Scott was and still is missed, Johnson’s voice is what really made the album particularly unique. Just like everyone else at the time, he wasn’t sure how it all was going to be received by everyone.
Johnson shared his his worry about the album’s reception in an old interview with The Pulse of Radio:
“I’d just melted me brain in there, and I didn’t know if it was good or bad. That was the first time I’d been in the Bahamas, anyway, or near America, you know, and you (have to) remember, I was just fascinated by the whole culture and all, and I had no idea what the hell I was doing! And lucky, really — I was a bit lucky, I think.”
Lucky indeed, my friend. Lucky, indeed.