The True Origins of AC/DC’s Satanic Hit “Highway to Hell”

This makes sense to many people. No matter where you are in the world and no matter how big the language barrier, music can act as an interim translator. It remains a universal language because people, regardless of their background, can communicate on some superficial level through sound.

Ahmed Abdullah, one of Sun Ra’s trumpeters, said he believed that if God existed and they sent someone to Earth, they would send a musician because of the universal nature of music. “It seems logical to me that if the Creator sent someone here, it would be someone who had mastered music, the universal language of the planet,” he said. “Sound is the beginning of all creation, the Nomma, Om and Nam that directs our lives.

Of course, where there is good, there is bad. With heaven also comes hell, and therefore many people believed that if music could be used to spread the word of God, it could also be used to promote Satan. After all, Lucifer was originally the leader of God’s choir, so when he fell from the sky, it would make sense that he would start making music, which was the antithesis of worship. For many, this was the origin of rock’n’roll.

The harsh sound, alleged hidden messages and rugged appearance of the musicians who created it meant that many listeners believed rock bands were the product of Satan and should be stopped at all costs. When you look at it now, these hidden messages were so hidden that they can still barely be seen or heard when reported, and the Satanic Panic was more of a reaction to an extreme new sound in music than an actual message religious. uprising.

That being said, just because the idea was stupid doesn’t mean rock bands didn’t participate. AC/DC certainly did, mocking those who thought a distorted guitar foreshadowed the end of the world. This is best reflected in their album Highway to Hellwhich saw the band celebrate their rejection from heaven and made Angus Young grow devil horns.

“It was the result of a question about what we would call one of our tours, and I said, ‘A highway to hell!’ It was another joke! Angus Young laughed when asked about the inspiration for the album and cover: “When we came to America I didn’t know what a fundamentalist was and I didn’t really care. All these satanic things, it’s more groups pretending because it fits their image.

Young continued to talk about the concept of heaven and hell, reaffirming that while he might not be religious and didn’t believe in what was being promoted by the group if he had the choice he would go to hell any day now. “If someone talked to me about heaven on a religious level, I wouldn’t appreciate a place like that. I mean, what’s going on there? I couldn’t hack it! He said: “A few angels, lots of peace and love – doesn’t sound like much fun, nor does it sound like there’s rock music to begin with! If the other place has rock music and a few mini skirts, then, hey, I’m the first member! »

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