On July 25, 1980, AC/DC released “Back In Black,” their first album without the late Bon Scott as the lead singer. This album served as a heartfelt tribute to Scott, who tragically passed away five months prior due to alcohol poisoning after a drinking binge. Rather than disbanding, the remaining members of the band made the bold decision to carry on and enlisted Brian Johnson, formerly the vocalist for “Geordie.”
“Back In Black” went on to achieve unprecedented success both commercially and critically, cementing its position as one of the best-selling albums in the history of music. Sales estimates from around the world consistently place it second only to Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller.”
After Back in Black was released, AC/DC’s previous records “Highway to Hell,” “If You Want Blood You’ve Got It,” and “Let There Be Rock” all re-entered the British charts, which made them the first band since “The Beatles” to have four albums in the British Top 100 simultaneously.