AC/DC Material Thrives on the Rock Charts Following Malcolm Young’s Death
As tends to happen frequently after the death of a prominent musician, the interest is renewed in the classic releases they've been associated with, and such is the case if AC/DC after the death of founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. According to Billboard, a number of key releases in the band's catalog have surged back onto the charts over the period since Young's death.
On the Billboard Hot Rock Songs Survey, six AC/DC tracks have entered the charts, with 1990's "Thunderstruck" leading the way at No. 6 for the week. The track was downloaded over 6,000 times, with 4.1 million streams in the U.S. It also climbed to No. 3 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart and re-entered the Rock Streaming Songs chart at No. 9.
The other five songs to rocket back onto the Hot Rock Songs survey include "Back in Black" at No. 11, "You Shook Me All Night Long" at No. 15, "Highway to Hell" at No. 18, "T.N.T." at No. 23 and "Hells Bells" at No. 24.
Elsewhere, "It's a Long Way to the Top" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" hit the Hard Rock Digital Songs chart at No. 14 and No. 15, while the Back in Black album was the week's biggest gainer on the Hard Rock Albums chart, shooting up 85 percent. Back in Black also re-entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at No. 130.
Young passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 64. It was revealed in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with dementia. The guitarist was laid to rest Tuesday (Nov. 28) in Sydney, Australia, with many of his bandmates and peers in attendance at the funeral.
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