AC/DC - IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP (IF YOU WANNA ROCK N’ ROLL)

Released: December 8, 1975

Album: High Voltage

“It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” is an autobiographical AC/DC song about the struggles of making it in the music industry. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, it was released on the album “T.N.T.” in Australia and later on the international version of “High Voltage”. At the time, AC/DC was still an up-and-coming band, playing in rough venues and dealing with shady promoters. The song captures the hardships of touring but also the determination that ultimately led to their success in selling out arenas.

“It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” became an anthem for AC/DC, perfectly capturing their journey as a hard-working, audience-driven band. Angus Young told Rolling Stone that their fans were the key to their success, allowing them to reach the studio. Unlike Boston’s “Rock and Roll Band”, which told a fictional story of struggle, AC/DC’s song was rooted in real-life experience. The track was unconventional for a metal song, featuring bagpipes played by Bon Scott instead of a lengthy guitar solo. Scott, originally from Scotland like the Young brothers, was skilled in various instruments, including the bagpipes. The song became AC/DC’s best single at the time, reaching #5 on the Australian charts, and at 5 minutes 15 seconds, it was unusually long for a single.

AC/DC filmed a promotional video for the song on February 23, 1976, riding through Melbourne on an open-topped truck alongside three Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band members. The video captured Bon Scott’s enthusiasm, though some, like biographer Clinton Walker, felt it hinted at his tragic fate, as he would pass away just four years later.In addition to the famous truck version, three other video versions exist:

1. A live-miming version filmed the same day in Melbourne’s City Square, featuring the pipers (included in the Backtracks box set).

2. A rarely seen studio performance miming the song as if it were live.

3. A Bandstand performance (Channel 9, Australia) recorded two days before the truck video, where Scott sang live over the studio track.