AC/DC have created some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll hits of all time. From gritty anthems to stadium-shaking choruses, these Aussie legends have influenced generations of rock bands, cementing a legacy that will not fade.
From blistering riffs to rebellious lyrics, AC/DC has been the heartbeat of hard rock for over five decades. The band was formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young.
They led the band with unyielding dedication to their passion, and now, they are one of the best-selling bands ever, with over 200 million records sold globally. Their sound is a gritty blend of blues rock and heavy metal fuelled by Angus Young’s schoolboy swagger and the distinctive vocals of Bon Scott and Brian Johnson.
AC/DC’s music is a shot of adrenaline, a middle finger to the mundane, and a fist bump to every rebel with a stereo. Their songs don’t just play; they explode. With Angus shredding the guitar like a chainsaw and vocals that growl, howl, and soar, they have solidified themselves as one of the greatest rock bands in the world.
Their hits have topped charts, earned accolades, and become anthems for fans across decades. These hits are not just chart-toppers; they are the kind of songs you scream along to at 2 a.m., windows down, living your best life and not caring if the neighbours are asleep.
Here are eight of their biggest hits:
1:”Back in Black”
“Back in Black” was the second US single from their seventh studio album of the same name. The track was dedicated to the band’s former singer, Bon Scott, who died from alcohol poisoning in 1980. “Back in Black” was released on July 25, 1980, and by 1981, it peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.
With over 1.45 Spotify streams and over 1 billion views on YouTube, it is the band’s most-streamed song. From London to Sydney, AC/DC fans roared as “Back in Black” became a rallying cry on their 1980-1981 “Back in Black Tour.” With the help of new singer Brian Johnson, the band was able to honour Scott as they trod the path to global dominance.
More than forty years since its release, AC/DC’s Back In Black continues to rack up impressive sales and streaming numbers.
In August 2024, the album received RIAA certification for 27 million shipments in the US alone, nudging it just ahead of The Eagles’ Hotel California, which remains steady at 26 million.
2: “Thunderstruck”
After 10 long years, the Australian rock band released “Thunderstruck” on September 10, 1990. After the release of their album, “Back in Black,” the band struggled to get hits, but they struck gold in 1990 with the release of their twelfth studio album, “The Razor’s Edge.”
It reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts in 2010 and peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles chart. “Thunderstruck” was a global anthem, certified 10x platinum in Australia and 2x platinum in the US.
With over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify, it was featured in “Iron Man 2.” The track was a vicious thunderstorm that drove shows with its stadium-shaking energy during the band’s “The Razor Edge World Tour” in 1990.
3: “Highway to Hell”
Bon Scott’s final masterpiece, “Highway to Hell,” is the opening track of the band’s 1979 album “Highway to Hell.” Before the release of the song, the band had constantly been on the road promoting previous releases, and the track and album captured the arduous nature of their life on the road.
It peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1992 and hit No. 4 in the UK via a 2013 fan campaign. It ranked No. 258 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The band promoted the track on their “Highway to Hell Tour” in 1979. A 3-leg tour that broke AC/DC into the US market. AC/DC tickets for the tour sold out for every show. Although it was tragically cut short by Scott’s death, the European and US legs made the song a timeless anthem.
4: “You Shook Me All Night Long”
The story behind this signature track is kind of amusing. During the production phase of “Back in Black” in the Bahamas, the band’s new frontman, Brian Johnson, saw a couple of American women.
“They were blond, bronzed, tall… so I was just using my imagination about what I could do if I could,” he said. This inspired the song, a flirty, groove-heavy track that became a hit all across the world. It peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly became a concert favourite on their “Back in Black Tour.”
5: “Hells Bells”
“Hells Bells” was released on July 25, 1980, as the first track on the album “Back in Black.” The track begins with the clanging of a 2000-pound bronze bell—a tribute to Bon Scott. Many fans were sceptical of the song and the album.
It was just a few months after Scott’s death, and the band had a new song and a new vocalist? It did not sit well with the fans; however, they did the impossible, and it was a chilling hit.
It is certified gold in the US and a sports arena favourite used by teams like the New Jersey Devils. Young usually delivered the opening of the track, “You’re only young, but you’re going to die,” with mystic intensity during their “Back in Black Tour.”
6: “T.N.T.”
“T.N.T. is an explosive anthem from AC/DC’s early days, released on December 1, 1975. It was featured on their Australian “T.N.T. album and later on “High Voltage” internationally. Bon Scott’s charismatic “Oi! Oi! Oi!” chant and Angus’s hard riffs on the track defined its rebellious spirit.
With over 648 million streams on Spotify and 253 million YouTube views for a 2009 live version, the track is certified gold in the UK.
The “High Voltage Tour” from 1975 to 1976, grossing roughly $5 million, saw the band play across small venues and festivals. “T.N.T.” energised Aussie crowds and early European gigs. Its raw intensity, performed in clubs like London’s Marquee, laid the foundation for AC/DC’s global ascent, making it a fan-favourite live song.
7: “Whole Lotta Rosie”
“Whole Lotta Rosie” serves as the eighth and final track on AC/DC’s fourth Australian studio album, Let There Be Rock, released in March 1977. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, it also closes out the international edition of the album, released in June that same year.
The song made its live debut in February 1977, with the earliest known performance taking place at the Perth Entertainment Centre on February 15—widely believed to be its first-ever live rendition, as it was absent from prior setlists.
Bootleg recordings from that show, as well as earlier gigs, support this. Since its debut, “Whole Lotta Rosie” has become a staple of AC/DC’s live performances, appearing at nearly every concert since.
8: “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”
As they did with High Voltage, AC/DC knew that a powerful album title could double as an electrifying track, and “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” proved just that. Although the title had already graced their first live album in 1978, the song itself debuted a year later on Highway to Hell, packing all the bite its name promised.
Angus Young once revealed the title’s origin: after a gruelling early-morning slot at the Day on the Green festival, a film crew asked what kind of show to expect. Bon Scott quipped, “Remember when the Christians went to the lions? Well, we’re the Christians.” Angus followed: “If they want blood, they’re gonna get it.”
The resulting track delivered on both fronts—driven by a bruising riff, a stomping rhythm, and Scott’s raw vocal imagery: “feeling like a Christian locked in a cage, thrown to the lions.” It wasn’t just a statement—it was prophecy made sound.
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