For Those About to Rock We Salute You
Encyclopedia
For Those About to Rock We Salute You is the eighth Australian and seventh international studio album by Australian hard rock
band AC/DC
, released in 1981. The album was a follow-up to their highly successful album Back in Black
. For Those About to Rock has sold over four million copies in the US. It would be AC/DC's only No. 1 album in the US until the release of Black Ice
in October 2008. In their original 1981 review, Rolling Stone
magazine declared it to be their best album. In Australia, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Kent Music Report
Albums Chart.
The album was the third and final produced for the band by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
.
The name of the album was inspired by a book Angus Young
read, entitled For Those About to Die, We Salute You, about Roman
gladiator
s. The gladiators' final words to the emperor were "Ave Caesar morituri te salutant
" – or, "Hail Caesar, we who are about to die, salute you". The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
, The Black Crowes
, and Pantera
.
chart and stayed on the top for three weeks. This is the first of two AC/DC album to make it to No. 1 on the Billboard chart, the second being Black Ice
. The album held this position for three weeks. To date, in the US, it has achieved sales. In the UK, the album's two singles, "Let's Get It Up
" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
", made it to No. 13 and No. 15, respectively. The album has sold an approximated seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the highest sold AC/DC albums worldwide.
Singles – UK (United Kingdom)
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, released in 1981. The album was a follow-up to their highly successful album Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
. For Those About to Rock has sold over four million copies in the US. It would be AC/DC's only No. 1 album in the US until the release of Black Ice
Black Ice (album)
Black Ice is the 15th Australian and 14th international studio album by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was produced by Brendan O'Brien and released internationally on 17 October 2008. Guitarists Angus Young and Malcolm Young got together in London in 2003 to start composing tracks...
in October 2008. In their original 1981 review, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine declared it to be their best album. In Australia, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Albums Chart.
The album was the third and final produced for the band by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Robert Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
.
The name of the album was inspired by a book Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
read, entitled For Those About to Die, We Salute You, about Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
s. The gladiators' final words to the emperor were "Ave Caesar morituri te salutant
Ave Caesar morituri te salutant
"Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant" or "Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant" is a well-known Latin phrase quoted in Suetonius, De Vita Caesarum...
" – or, "Hail Caesar, we who are about to die, salute you". The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
Track listing
According to the official AC/DC website, the second track is "Put the Finger on You". On some versions the title is shown as "I Put the Finger on You".Video
For Those About to Rock was also the name of a movie including live performances by AC/DC, as well as MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, and Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
.
Sales
The album's sales, although good, paled in comparison to sales of Back in Black. Nevertheless, the album became the first AC/DC album to ever hit No. 1 in the US on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart and stayed on the top for three weeks. This is the first of two AC/DC album to make it to No. 1 on the Billboard chart, the second being Black Ice
Black Ice (album)
Black Ice is the 15th Australian and 14th international studio album by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was produced by Brendan O'Brien and released internationally on 17 October 2008. Guitarists Angus Young and Malcolm Young got together in London in 2003 to start composing tracks...
. The album held this position for three weeks. To date, in the US, it has achieved sales. In the UK, the album's two singles, "Let's Get It Up
Let's Get It Up
"Let's Get It Up" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, first released on their 1981 album For Those About to Rock We Salute You, and later as its first single....
" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
"For Those About to Rock " is a song by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. The song was first released on AC/DC's eighth studio album For Those About to Rock We Salute You in 1981, and later as a single in 1982. The single's B-side contains an edited live version of "Let There Be Rock", recorded...
", made it to No. 13 and No. 15, respectively. The album has sold an approximated seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the highest sold AC/DC albums worldwide.
Personnel
- Brian JohnsonBrian JohnsonBrian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
– lead vocals - Angus YoungAngus YoungAngus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Malcolm YoungMalcolm YoungMalcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Cliff WilliamsCliff WilliamsClifford Williams is an English bassist and backing vocalist, who has been a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC since mid-1977. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Phil RuddPhil RuddPhillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Charts
Album| 1981 | US Billboard The 200 Albums Chart | |
| 1981 | Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... Albums Chart |
|
Singles – UK (United Kingdom)
| 1982 | "Lets Get It Up" | UK Pop Singles | |
| 1982 | "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" | UK Pop Singles |
Certification
| Country | Sales | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4,000,000 | 4x Platinum |