Thunderstruck! How Angus Young, Brian Johnson and AC DC Created a Classic | Professor of Rock 

great review mate. honourary aussie citizenship if you ever need one 🤙

I don’t always listen to AC/DC but when I do, so do the neighbors.

I was listening to AC/DC one day and I looked up to see the 70-year-old neighbor walking over from his house. He was relatively new and I didn't know the guy very well. I thought: "Ut-oh. Here comes a noise complaint." I turned the volume down to hears him say: "Can you please play 'Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution'?"

In my opinion, “Thunderstruck” is the best rock song ever written. I still get goosebumps whenever I hear it. It’s perfect. 🤘🤘

my mother used to blast AC/DC when she cleaned the house. Yes, my mother was THAT cool.

I love Thunderstruck more every time I hear it. It's the total package: vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, drums all spot on. And the sheer energy of it is breathtaking from the first note to the last.

If you want to talk about Brian Johnson's voice, he sounds as great as ever on the new album. It's insane.

AC⚡️DC Thunderstruck, this song is responsible for the most speeding tickets in history 🤘🤘

I'm 68 years old (tomorrow). I LOVE AC/DC!

I remembered buying Razors edge on CD when it came out and was immediately blown away from the first note of Thunderstruck. Great memories

Took me the first 55 years of my life to find AC/DC and Thunderstruck. Where on earth was I?????!!!!! 10 years later and I love it more every, single, day. 💪💪💪🤘🤘🤘

When my wife and I first started dating in the early 90s, she wanted me to make her tapes of my favorite music. The first tape I ever made her Side 1 was Thunderstruck. Side 2 was Poundcake. This New Year's Eve we will have been married 26 years.♥️🎸

Me and my mate were working in Holland and were being bussed onto the site. Thunderstruck came on on the bus radio and the driver turned it down. A 6’6” German sat behind me stood up and shouted “UP, UP, UP” so the driver turned it up full blast. Unreal moment that will live with me forever. The bus was rocking with blokes of all nationalities stamping their feet, clapping & whistling. We got to our stop and nobody left the bus until the song finished then let off a massive cheer. This song has no boundaries and is my favourite all time song.

A story of regret: When I was in high school in the late 80's, ACDC was playing in a city 3 hours away, I begged my parents to let me go, they said I was high. Nope. My best friend mentioned his mom was out of town the night of the concert, he had is driver's license I did not, and tried to convince me to let my parents let me spend the night at his house and we would drive down Saturday watch the concert and drive right back, home by Sunday morning. Because I was a "good" kid I said no-way! I was convinced something would happen; fender bender, flat tire, running out of gas, something... Told my parents about this years later, and they both asked me if were high right at that moment. Both said I should have just gone and damn the consequences. I may or may not have been caught but either way I would have seen ACDC!!! Moral of the story, DON'T BE LIKE ME KIDS! SNEAK OUT AND GO SEE ACDC!!!

Your voice is perfect for this subject. It's like listening to Casey Casem back in the 80's.

Merry Christmas to the people down under. You gave us the gift of AC/DC a long time ago and we thank you forever.

Everything AC/DC did is GREAT!

I'm not only a proud Aussie, but also went to the same school as the Youngs... The uniform worn on stage from Ashfield Boys High School. I commenced in 1980 to 84. The year Back In Black was released. What an album, what an era, what a band 🤘🤘🤘🤘

To all AC/DC fans... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching their concert in River Plate... AC/DC’s powerful performance was like energy for the audience... Ive never seen a performance or audience complete participation... It is a GREAT performance!!!

Not only responsible for blowing speakers, but also my hearing. After one particular AC/DC concert my ears had a ringing in them for 5 days.

It always blows my mind when I'm reminded that "Thunderstruck" came out in the 90s. It just sounds like it goes right along with their late-70s/early-80s stuff. But then, AC/DC's sound hasn't ever really changed, even on their new album.

One of the defining moments of my life is seeing this song, one chilly late August’s night in 2009 in Edmonton, Canada. A storm was rolling in, and rolled over the stage, just as Angus started that iconic intro. The clash of nature’s fury and the electricity of Ac/Dc was both humbling and awesome!

I remember head banging in my car a long time ago to Thunderstruck at the lights. Both my kids, who were 3 and 4 at the time in the back in their car seats were trying to head bang too. I looked up and there were a couple of truckers in big rig looking down at me, laughing and giving me the thumbs up. 👍🏻 It was a funny moment I haven’t forgotten. Thank you AC/DC.

I am 71 and I cannot remember when THUDERSTRUCK was not one of my favorite rock songs.

I’m so glad RU-vid’s algorithm decided to recommend a video from this channel. Watched one last night, and now am on my 9th!. Seriously underrated channel with terrific content and production value. This 80’s kid is taken back to my childhood. To be continued...

As a Navy vet, the best use of Thunderstruck was in the movie Battleship when the USS Missouri pulls out of port. Gets you everytime

My best memories of Thunder Struck were as a US Army Cobra pilot during Desert Storm. Me and my Walkman 120 Knots 3 feet off the deck blasting AC/DC. It doesn’t get any better that…

The riff still makes the hair on my neck stand up with excitement today and every time I hear it.

I can't imagine life without this song. There is only three songs I clearly remember hearing for the first time: Born in the USA, Sweet child o' mine and Thunderstruck. Sweet child o' mine had the biggest effect on me.

AC/DC, one of the best rock bands ever!! Still going in 2020. Unbelievable!

2cellos does an incredible cover of Thunderstruck, and the video for the cover is completely hilarious.

This is my son's favorite song - he's 10 years old. What an anthem!

I remember the day this song came out on radio, I knew a new was being released that day... i was in my car with two other kids from high school when it came on the radio station for the first time....When Thunderstruck ended, all three of us were blown away and cheered! Never celebrated hearing a song like that before then, and btw the new album is GREAT>>>>>

Thank you for mentioning the drummer. Chris Slade. That dude never got credit for his 2 &4 like Phil. Look up radioactive people.. Thanks Prof! Bringing the memories back!

I have a senior colleague, the oldest guy in the company, now retired but still comes in to work 2 days a week. Very prim and proper, to this day always wore suit and tie when everyone else is casual. A true classic gentleman. For years he had Thunderstruck as his ringtone. Such a contrast.

Thunder Struck is 100% timeless... I loved it from the start and it never gets old.

I will always be amazed at how fast Angus Young can play the guitar while simultaneously bobbing his head and doing a one-legged hop across the stage.

It was such an amazing experience to see and listen to AC/DC live. Incredible concert.

My favorite part of the video to this song is in the very beginning, when Brian looks up in awe at the fans chanting along with the song. He is truly amazed!

I was lucky enough to take part in the video at Brixton Academy in London. As a 16 year old fan I was completely blown away. One of the best days of my life. I still have the T shirt complete with Angus autograph.

It was Malcolm young and his stomping rhythm that would be one of my greatest guitar teachers!! Some of the first guitar songs that I ever learned were the killer rhythms of whole lotta Rosie and riff raff and beating around the bush. Malcolm young has a very VERY special place in my heart and I could never thank him enough for the gift of music that he gave me!!! Rest In Peace Malcolm young, Bon Scott!! AC/DC is the voodoo that we do!

The Live version of this is a great moment in rock. The way it builds is so brilliant, it has a non-standard structure, quite captivating and they put solos wherever the hell it suits the drama of the song. Half the song is foreplay then it blows up.

As a proud Aussie, ACDC has always been recognised as our greatest export and gift to the world. Thank you lads for your service!

February of 1980, my roomate in my college fraternity informs me Bon Scott died. I didn't know his name, but been listening to distinct voice for years. The rest of that cold winter semester, AC/DC played, louder than usual, from our room, the Veranda, in Fenton, Michigan. That album reminds me of Integral Calculus, Physics II, Materials Engineering, Static Mechanics, and the subtle art of drinking coffee when you get tired, beer when you get too wired up doing your homework. Thanks AC/DC for contributing to some of the best times in the best time my life.

having Chris Slade on drums for this album helped. I can't imagine Phil Rudd bashing the skins at the beginning of this one. Slade is 76 years old and still hits the drums like he's using Thor's Hammer!

When ever I hear Thunderstruck it just makes me feel young happy and thank god for rock and roll 🎸

The first time I heard Thunderstruck I was on an exploration crew in the middle of the forest, in the middle of winter, in central Alberta, Canada. A co-worker got back from days off and had the Thunderstruck cassette, so I borrowed it to listen to while driving a truckload of cable a few km through the bulldozed forest cutlines that were were working. Everyone knows its impossible to drive a reasonable speed while this is playing , so I wound up getting the front end of my company truck stuck in the snow-covered bulldozed piles of forest debris referred to as the 'slash' that formed 3 to 4 foot high mounds on either side of the makeshift access roads that we were driving on (, of course, not to be confused with G&R's Slash). We could only make access in winter as the terrain is what is know as 'muskeg' which is essentially a mossy bog that is impassible to wheeled vehicles when its not frozen solid. I was driving alone and had to winch myself out of my predicament, which is much more time-consuming to do solo than with a helper. I repeated this cycle of getting stuck & winching myself out a total of three times before I got that load of cable to its destination, but happily didn't catch too much grief as I had been reliable prior to, and following that escapade. Thunderstruck reminds me to this day of getting stuck in a winter forest :)

My all time favorite AC/DC song of all time. Still gives me goosebumps.

When my 13 year old mind heard Thunderstruck for the first time I knew I wanted to play guitar to be like Angus, at that time it was the coolest riff I had ever heard, literally life changing.

at 45 years old, I am now the old guy sitting at the red light on the Harley, blasting AC/DC on the radio. I feel so powerful and cool rocking this jam.

Sorry, Flick of the Switch is completely underrated

1990 - I was 18 and in the army at the time... This was THE perfect anthem for the military! I salute YOU!!

The DJ at the skating rink I went to as a teenager used to play this song for every speed skate. I remember just two kids, both about 14 years old, would get out on the floor for the speed skate, so a huge crowd would gather around the edges of the rink to watch them fly while Thunderstruck boomed through the speakers and just electrified the place. So much fun!

The razors edge was my first cd purchase that accompanied my pioneer rack system from Sears. September 22,1990.

Adam is so damn amazing.. I feel like he is literally talking to me as I'm watching and I get so lost in the story and get so slammed back in the memories of exactly everything he says. When it's over I want more!

These boys sure new how to craft their songs! It’s great to hear how much Malcolm and Angus leaned on their siblings for help and ideas. It was truly a family venture 😎

Thunderstruck got me into Hard Rock and Metal back in 1991. Thanks AC/DC.

You can feel the electricity in the song. ⚡️⚡️ Nikola Tesla would be proud.

Aussie here- "Token comment". Fyi, grew up down the road from The Beegees in Redcliffe👍

I remember it was the day the album was released September 21st 1990, it was very warm day and I was heading back from the states to Canada at the Peace Arch border in a long and slow lineup I had my windows down because my 1982 Mustang Gt had no air conditioning when the radio announced they were going to play a brand new AC-DC song. It was Thunderstruck and within a few seconds I had my car stereo cranked so loud, it was one of those moments I'll never forget for the rest of my life.

Thunderstruck is the balls to the wall, take no prisoners, kick ass epitome of a ROCK CLASSIC....hands down, it's a wrap!! LOVE IT!

This is also the most reacted to song on RU-vid, and I've yet to see even the most die hard rock haters not be taken in by it. Something very special about this song, and yes. Thank you Malcolm. You left us with this to remember you by.

My favorite AC/DC song.

When I player my playlist of the bands hits. My 16yo daughter started recognizing the songs from soundtracks she heard from movies we watched. Now she's a fan.

Long after AC/DC is gone, they will have left us, and future generations, a treasure trove of music that will forever stand the test of time.

When this came on in Varsity Blues I feel off the couch. Perfect timing.

You forgot to mention almost every military montage is put to this song.

The story of how Brian Johnson got the job as frontman for AC/DC is fascinating to me because it’s almost FATE. As if the universe wanted him/needed him to get it. Before Bon Scott joined up with the Young brothers to form AC/DC he was in a band called Fraternity. Brian was in a band called Geordie who had a couple of top 40 hits in the UK. When Fraternity was touring Great Britain they had a gig where they were opening for Geordie. When Brian and his fellow band mates arrived they suited up and performed their set. Well, midway through a song Brian collapsed on his back and was flailing around; apparently having been struck by appendicitis. Unbeknownst however to Brian, Bon had been watching the set and when Brian began kicking and flailing Bon was over the moon because he thought it was part of his act. Brian’s stage antics reminded Bon of his heroes, James Brown and Little Richard. Later that same night, Geordie joined Fraternity on their tour bus and had a couple of drinks then went their separate ways the next day. Sometime later Bon joined up with AC/DC and one day mentioned offhand that he wasn’t impressed with the rock scene in Britain when he toured there previously, EXCEPT for this one band with a wild singer named Brian Johnson who reminded him of Little Richard. He was really impressed by that Brian fella. And Bon Scott didn’t like too many singers. Flash forward to 1980. Bon tragically passes away from alcohol poisoning. Malcom and Angus remain undecided about whether or not they should continue the band. They’d just broken through with Highway to Hell, but they weren’t superstars…yet. They decide to continue. A random fan from Cleveland, Ohio managed to contact their camp. The fan who followed the scene in Britain suggested a guy whom he believed would be a good fit for the band: Brian Johnson. Malcolm and Angus Young were thrown, “Wasn’t that the bloke Bon said he was impressed with all those years ago?” They recalled. Then their producer Mutt Lange also suggested a guy he’d known of on the scene…a man named BRIAN JOHNSON. The name kept coming up from two random sources so Angus and Malcolm knew then that they had to find this Brian and audition him. Brian, meanwhile…had been living with his parents in his native Newcastle and pretty much retired from music. Geordie wasn’t going anywhere except for clubs so he’d opened his own auto body shop. One day he got a call from an Eastern European woman who told him that a particular band wanted him to come to audition. The woman was hesitant to name the band but eventually relented and told Johnson that it was AC/DC, whom he’d heard of because they were developing a big following. However…Johnson didn’t want to drive six hours from Newcastle to London because he was thirty-two, had his own business, was semi-retired from showbiz and was convinced he wouldn’t get the gig because AC/DC was a whole other level. So he declined. But, as fate would have it, a friend of his who did some work for Monte Python called about thirty minutes later to offer Brian some work. A commercial for Hoover vacuums. The gig would pay him £350 plus residuals, but it was in London. However since it was a paid gig, Brian quickly accepted and then called back the mysterious woman to tell her that he’d be in London the following Monday and would be able to do the audition. Monday came and Brian left the studio having done the Hoover jingle and collected his money. It was late in the afternoon and he found himself stuck at a crossroads: He could drive a mile down the street and meet with AC/DC, a gig he’d never get. Or…he could drive the 5-6 hours back to Newcastle because he had to get home and open up his shop early in the morning. Brian chose to go to the audition. After a warm welcome from the band, they performed a few songs with Brian. Almost immediately Malcolm got goosebumps; magic was in the air. Angus and Malcolm were caught in Brian’s spell. They NEVER wanted the audition to end. It was like love at first sight. But Brian had to leave, despite his reluctance to do so since he felt the magic too. A few days later the band called him back and the rest is history.

I coached a U8 ymca soccer team. I had a team that understood the way I wanted them to play. Attack! Attack! Attack! And they did...we dominated the season. They passed, they played position, and they were aggressive! We were winning with scores like 23-1, 22-2...all I could see on the field and hear in my head was THUNDERSTRUCK!! The worst part was I couldn't really cheer them on or really show my joy, because it would seem uncool. Taught them, how use their left feet how to use perreffial vision, how to target their corner kicks. The look on my players face and the stuned look on the parents of the other team when he bent a corner kick into the goal. Was priceless. 😁 After that season, the Y split us up. The Fighting Chihuahuas were awesome that season! Thunderstruck takes me right back to that team. 😎

Mal was the brains behind the operation. He really was a monumental rock writer. The video for Money Talks was filmed at the old Spectrum in my hometown in Philly. I was in the audience for that!

Though I've never disliked them when I've heard them over the years, AC/DC never became one of my favorite bands. However, the Professor here pointing out Malcolm's part made me realize how incredibly tasty that rhythm part is. In all the years hearing the song, I've only paid attention to "Thunderstruck"'s awesome lead part. But, man! That rhythm part is as sophisticated as something you might hear from Mark Knopfler or Alex Lifeson. I think it's time I go off and start giving AC/DC a proper chance.

This opening riff is my ringtone on my mobile. Everyone loves it and is often a conversation opener with people when my phone rings.

When BJ sings the first "thunder!", Malcom's guitar line, those two bass drums from de back, the crowd in the video...and much more, that song makes you wanna eat the World out

There is no content like this in any other medium. I really enjoy these segments. Thank you.

sink the pink could be one of their most underappreciated songs in history!

AC/DC are just great. I grew up in the 70’s in Australia and I’m glad I did!

A big well done for paying respects to older brother George. The Youngs were an extremely talented family when they migrated to Australia. George not only produced most of the early albums and composed and appeared in the magnificent Easybeats with a lead singer who could have replaced Bon, except for his being contracted. George incidentally, formed up with one of the other talented Easybeats in Harry Vanda (lead guitarist) to become a duo called Flash and the Pan with two notable hits here in Oz. Vanda and (George) Young composed a plethora of songs for numerous Aussie artists many of which rated highly in the charts. Albert Music released a special album commemorating the compositions. The story of the youngs and the Easybeats in well told in the ABC mini series televised in 2017.

Hey prof, I'll put it this way. I been listening to acdc since I was a freshman in high school. I started growing my hair out in 03, the year I graduated, and I still haven't cut it. They got me through virtually all of my worst times in my life till present, including a blown out marriage. I have heard alot of people sing the highest of praises about these guys and what they are made of. You, brother, are the FIRST Person I've ever heard do justice when speaking of them. Chicken skin, the whole time. Literally had me in tears, at some points, no joke. And I'm not trying to sound weird or anything, just going thru a bad part of my life at the moment and they are still helping me along. I believe absolutely in them, and I thank you for how you portrayed them. Hope you know what I mean. Bad ass, thanks again. Take care

Professor of Rock, I salute you.

I am an avid American football fan, have watched hundreds of games and not one game did I not hear Thunderstruck or Hells Bells!!...It pumps rhe crowd up!!

I went to Marshall University in the mid-90s. Their mascot is "The Thundering Herd." Hearing Thunderstruck blasted over the football stadium speakers before a home game turned my game day energy all the way to 11.

One of Rock's guitar player's all time favourites!

♥️♥️♥️ needed this today!!!

I saw them in Vegas in late 80s. Angus was playing a solo and bouncing around. He laid down on a speaker cabinet and 4 dudes picked up the speaker and carried him on the floor up and down the aisle and around the sides. He never stopped playing.

This song and the entire album means so much to me. During Desert Shield/Storm, I drove a big Tractor Trailer that hauled Heavy Equipment. When my truck had to be painted sand color, I used tape to stencil THUNDERSTRUCK on the door. After painted I pulled the tape and there it was. I also hillbilly installed a car stereo in my truck and would CRANK Razors Edge. Everyone nearby would just be rockin'. When we got the go-ahead to cross into Iraq, I cranked it up and rolled North. After the ground war, My truck was very well known up and down Tapline Road as that Thunderstruck truck speeding. LOL Also, My Razors Edge CD actually says Made in West Germany.

It’s amazing to me what Angus/Malcolm created over 40 yrs with just 3-5 chords!! Angus earned the right to be mentioned with the likes of Eddie, Jimi, SRV, etc....

Thunderstruck ! Unreal Rock Tune ! Out State College uses it when they play at Home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama! When they get off the Buses and walk the Walk of Champions into the Bryant Denny Stadium 🏟! ROLL TIDE! ROLL. Great stuff PROFESSOR! For Thoes about to Rock we Salute YOU!

I'm now in my 60's but this is still one of my favourite songs.

I was a H.S. senior in 1990/91. We blasted Thunderstruck on our Walkman/discman headphones on the bus as we travelled to away soccer games to pump us up! And back then, that meant we all bought the album!

Despite all their other hits, I think this has become "THE" AC/DC song. I remember it blowing me away when it came out, but to this day, it never doesn't make me happy. Plus, I asked my guitar teacher to show me how to do Angus' part. And while we were starting, I asked if he thought it was true that Malcolm may be the greatest rhythm guitarist ever. He said absolutely, and showed me the sheet music for Malcolm's part - I forget for which song. As a greenhorn guitar student, looking at it blew my mind. He played some of it and it was way complex. So it's really true that Malcolm was kind of the glue that held everything together. Super talented guy, and a huge tragedy to lose him. Though I'm glad the rest of the guys are still with us. Great video Adam!

AD/HD "I'm on the highway to hey is that a squirrel?

I can remember hearing this song for the very first time. It was the world premier video on MTV. All my friends were at my house and everyone went ballistic when we heard it. I remember actually recording it on VHS that night and we watched and listened to it over and over again. It was one of those songs that you just felt right away was an instant classic. It's an amazing song and definitely stood the test of time.

Not only AC/DC is my favorite band ever and 'Thunderstruck' is my favorite song ever, but I am also a die hard Chicago White Sox fan. Thunderstruck (for the past 20 something years if I recall correctly) is the opening line up intro song for Chicago White Sox home games.

Thunderstruck is friggin AWESOME! A late entry in the 80’s rock music era that came just when hope of anymore great rock albums coming out was dwindling... Thunderstruck was just the anthem we needed... one last great song from the 80’s style of rock... couldn’t have asked for a more kickass way to say that for all the rock fans of the decade of decadence, that we’d been... THUNDERSTRUCK!!!

I was a teen in the 60s, and when ACDC came along my hearing seemed to get worse. Might have had something to do with, turn it up, and rock on with this fine band that made your soul come alive. Anytime I hear them, I can not sit still, makes you glad to be alive with many other things....

I was in Butzbach Germany at a bar outside Schloss casern the first time I heard Thunderstruck...Any other song I heard for the first time I would never be able to tell you...It just burnt right threw my soul!!!

I grew up on Ac DC and loads of other great bands but Ac DC was and always will be the best im 53 and hopefully I have many more years to listen to them.

I’m at a loss for words I’m trying to describe how you describe all these awesome songs…. keep up the great work!

Has ever you captured that feeling of sheer energy from such a classic from the Young brothers. I remember hearing this in my record shop being played a few days after its release and it was an "Oh my God!" moment...everything timed to perfection...the build up, the crescendo....I love playing this in the car as I escape the city and move out into the countryside...I always link it to the feeling of freedom and gaining fresh ideas when stressed. An idea or a solution to a problem gets solved!!! As ever you've captured the history and the story of this song. Keep them coming!!!

My proudest moment in life: completing basic training at Fort Knox in the field. To make the moment epic, “Thunderstruck” was blasting on the loudspeakers as we recruits were christened as Army soldiers. It always pays to have a awesome song to remember a moment by!