Back in Black (song)

"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC, known for its distinctive opening guitar riff, appearing as the sixth track on their 1980 album of the same title, Back in Black. Two live versions of the song later appeared on both versions of the album Live, as well as the Australian tour edition of Stiff Upper Lip. It has been covered by bands such as The Hives, Steriogram, Living Colour, Foo Fighters with Jack Black, Travis and Colombian pop singer Shakira. The band's unstated tribute to Bon Scott, it was a worldwide success, and peaked in the U.S. at #37 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1981 and #51 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

The song was ranked #4 by VH1 on their list of the VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs ^[1] . It was also ranked #187 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Back in Black" was certified as an RIAA Platinum Ringtone (a million downloads).^[2]

1 Personnel
2 Selective list of recorded versions
3 In the media
4 Sampling
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Personnel

Brian Johnson - Lead vocals
Angus Young - Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals
Cliff Williams - Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
Phil Rudd - Drums

[edit] Selective list of recorded versions

1980 AC/DC, original song on the album Back in Black
1984 Beastie Boys, sampled without permission on "Rock Hard"
1987 Boogie Down Productions, sampled without permission on "Dope Beat"
The Evolution Control Committee, sampled without permission on "Rocked by Rape"
1989 Skrewdriver, on their album Warlord
1995 Kid Rock, demo with no vocals he scratch over the riff and added a hip hop beat to it
1996 The Recliners
1997 Refused, on The Demo Compilation
2001 Hayseed Dixie, on A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC
2003 Living Colour, on Collideøscope
2003 Back in Baroque... The String Tribute to AC/DC
2004 Shakira, on Live & Off the Record
2004 Six Feet Under, on Graveyard Classics 2
2005 Wing, on Wing sings AC/DC
2006 Robot Goes Here, on The Byte Is In My Blood
2006 Art Brut, sampled without permission on a live recording of "Formed A Band"
The Hives
ApologetiX, the Christian parody band re-wrote the song as "Back Intact", about Jesus' resurrection.[1]

[edit] In the media

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The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

The Song was used twice in BZW first from February 27th 2007 to August 8th 2007 as the theme song for Chris Cross and then again from September 21st 2007 to April 8th 2008 as the theme song for Tank.
The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after an 80s hit song, named an episode after this song.
Was used as an entrance theme by Eric Bischoff during his debut in WWE
On New Years Eve Dec 31, 2002, this song was performed live by The Foo Fighters with vocalist Jack Black for US MTV.
In the Australian TV quiz show RocKwiz (2004-present), the live band plays the riff to "Back in Black" for the segment entitled "Million Dollar Riff".
In September 2006, "Back in Black" was used in a US Gap TV commercial featuring footage of Audrey Hepburn.
The CW's series Supernatural has used the song several times throughout the series, but fans of the series have connected this song with Dean Winchester's Chevy Impala, nicknamed "Metallicar" for Dean's love of Metallica.
The song is featured in School of Rock.
The song is played in the Lilo & Stitch trailers, but the song is not included in its soundtrack.
The song is played when the University of Iowa Hawkeye football team runs onto the field of Kinnick Stadium.
The song was used for advertising of the Black Motorola Razr
The song was used as entrance music for now-deceased professional wrestler Chris Candido.
The song is played in a commercial for The Brak Show insinuating that show is back on the air (with new lyrics sung incredibly off-key by Brak).
The Chicago Blackhawks use the song after the starting lineups when they wear their black jerseys at home.
It was used during the trailer for Men in Black 2.
Lewis Black uses a re-recording of the opening riff on his segment on The Daily Show.
The song was used in teaser advertisements for Big Brother 2004 (UK) alongside catchphrase "Black Friday," a reference to the show with an "evil" theme premiering after the last episode of Friends.
The song was used in an episode of Alias in which Jennifer Garner uncharacteristically sported a bikini.
Australian car manufacturer, Holden has used Back in Black (as well as other AC/DC songs) in its commercials.
It was used in the new trailer and the opening credits for Iron Man.
Nickelodeon parodied this song in advertisement for the 2008 Kids' Choice Awards. The song is called "Jack is Back", sung by Jack Black because of his second year hosting Kids' Choice Awards.
The song also featured in an episode of The Sopranos, in a scene where Tony Soprano was receiving oral sex from a stripper while driving. The song was playing over the radio.

[edit] Sampling

A number of artists have sampled "Back in Black" without permission from the copyright holders (see above list of recordings).

In 1984 the Beastie Boys sampled "Back in Black" without permission for their song "Rock Hard". In 1999, when they wished to include it on an upcoming CD compilation release, they sought permission but AC/DC refused. Mike D of the Beastie Boys quoted Malcolm Young's reason for refusing as: "'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'" ^[3]

Art Brut usually begin their song "Formed a Band" with the intro to "Back In Black" when they play it live. A recorded version of this can be found on their 2006 "Nag Nag Nag Nag" EP.

British boy band 5ive sampled the distinctive intro riff in "Lay All Your Lovin on Me" from their album Kingsize. Boogie Down Productions used a sample of the same riff on their track "Dope Beat" from their 1986 debut album Criminal Minded.

Eminem released a version of his hit, "My Name Is", with "Back In Black" as the bassline.