About The Song
“Highway to Hell” is a song by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released as the lead single from their sixth studio album of the same name on July 27, 1979, through Albert Productions and Atlantic Records. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, the track was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Recording took place from March 24 to April 14, 1979, at Roundhouse Studios in London, with mixing completed at Basing Street Studios in North London in eight days. The single was released simultaneously with the album, marking AC/DC’s first major breakthrough in the United States.
The single achieved notable chart performance. It peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, marking AC/DC’s first entry on the chart. In the UK, it reached No. 56 on the Official Singles Chart, charting for four weeks from August 26 to September 16, 1979. Internationally, it hit No. 4 in Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders), No. 14 in Germany (GfK), No. 17 in the Netherlands (Single Top 100), No. 24 in France (SNEP), and No. 68 in Australia (Kent Music Report). The album Highway to Hell was a commercial success, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard 200 on November 10, 1979, with 83 weeks on the chart, and No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart. It has sold over 8 million copies in the US, certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA, and was ranked No. 200 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list in 2003 and 2012.
The song’s creation began in Miami during rehearsals at Criteria Studios in early 1979. Angus and Malcolm Young developed the iconic A, D/F#, G chord intro, which Malcolm later said in a Guitar World interview instantly felt special. A cassette demo was nearly lost when a studio worker’s child unraveled the tape, but Bon Scott repaired it. The title was inspired by Angus Young’s response to a journalist’s question about the grueling nature of touring, likening it to a “highway to hell,” as noted in a 2003 Rolling Stone interview. Initially, Atlantic Records opposed the title, fearing backlash from conservative US groups, but the band stood firm.
Production marked a shift for AC/DC, as Atlantic pushed for a radio-friendly sound, replacing their long-time producers George Young and Harry Vanda with Mutt Lange. Early sessions with producer Eddie Kramer in Miami were unproductive, with Malcolm Young calling Kramer “hopeless” in a 1994 book, Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott. After firing Kramer, the band recorded six demo tracks in a single day and sent them to Lange, who took over. Lange’s meticulous approach, including coaching Scott on breathing techniques for vocals and refining Angus’s guitar solos, extended recording to three months, a departure from the band’s usual three-week process. The track features Angus on lead guitar, Malcolm on rhythm, Scott on vocals, Cliff Williams on bass, and Phil Rudd on drums, with Lange adding backing vocals.
Trivia includes the song’s B-side, “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).” It was performed on Top of the Pops days before Scott’s death on February 19, 1980. The music video, directed by David Mallet, was shot in a studio mimicking a live performance. The song has been covered by artists like Marilyn Manson (1995) and used in films like Iron Man 2 (2010). It remains a staple in AC/DC’s live sets, notably opening their 1980 Back in Black tour.
Video
Lyric
Livin’ easy
Livin’ free
Season ticket on a one-way ride
Askin’ nothin’
Leave me be
Takin’ everythin’ in my stride
Don’t need reason
Don’t need rhyme
Ain’t nothin’ I’d rather do
Goin’ down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there tooI’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hellNo stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody’s gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody’s gonna mess me around
Hey Satan
Paid my dues
Playin’ in a rockin’ band
Hey mama
Look at me
I’m on my way to the promised land, whoo!I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hellDon’t stop me
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway toYeah, highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Highway to hell