Hells Bells (song)
Encyclopedia
"Hells Bells" is the first track of Australian hard rock
band AC/DC
's album Back in Black
. It is the first song on their comeback album after the death of vocalist Bon Scott
, introducing his successor Brian Johnson
.
The song starts off with the slow tolling of a bell four times (out of 13 times in total, with the last one at 1:10) followed by an intro played by lead guitarist Angus Young
in the beginning; he is then accompanied by his brother and band mate Malcolm Young
. Eventually the bassist Cliff Williams
and the drummer Phil Rudd
start playing. The lyrics, sung by Brian Johnson, explain how the narrator will attack and drag a victim to hell, comparing his actions with natural phenomena such as rain, thunders and hurricanes.
The song was written to commemorate the death of AC/DC's former lead singer, Bon Scott.
The song also appears on Who Made Who
, AC/DC's 1986 soundtrack to the Stephen King
movie Maximum Overdrive
, and on both versions of 1992's AC/DC Live
.
It is one of few AC/DC songs to be written in a minor key.
In 2010, the band Gregorian
covered "Hells Bells" and it is included in their album Dark Side of the Chant
.
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"...
's 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....
. It is the first song on their comeback album after the death of vocalist Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
, introducing his successor Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian 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....
.
The song starts off with the slow tolling of a bell four times (out of 13 times in total, with the last one at 1:10) followed by an intro played by lead guitarist 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,...
in the beginning; he is then accompanied by his brother and band mate Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm 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...
. Eventually the bassist Cliff Williams
Cliff Williams
Clifford 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...
and the drummer Phil Rudd
Phil Rudd
Phillip 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...
start playing. The lyrics, sung by Brian Johnson, explain how the narrator will attack and drag a victim to hell, comparing his actions with natural phenomena such as rain, thunders and hurricanes.
The song was written to commemorate the death of AC/DC's former lead singer, Bon Scott.
The song also appears on Who Made Who
Who Made Who
Who Made Who is a hard rock album by Australian band AC/DC, released in 1986 as the soundtrack to the Stephen King movie Maximum Overdrive...
, AC/DC's 1986 soundtrack to the Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
movie Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 American action-horror-science fiction film written and directed by novelist Stephen King. The screenplay was inspired by and loosely based on King's short story, Trucks, which was included in King's first collection of short stories, Night Shift.Maximum Overdrive is...
, and on both versions of 1992's AC/DC Live
Live (AC/DC album)
AC/DC Live is a 1992 live album by Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. It was released both as a single album and as a double album...
.
It is one of few AC/DC songs to be written in a minor key.
In 2010, the band Gregorian
Gregorian (band)
Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
covered "Hells Bells" and it is included in their album Dark Side of the Chant
Dark Side of the Chant
'Dark side of the chant' is Gregorian's 13th album, released in 2010. It features songs which are originally made by artists varying from 'AC/DC' and the Dutch band 'Within Temptation' to their own work.- Track listing :# "O Fortuna"...
.
Chart positions
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 25 |
| U.S. Mainstream Rock | 50 |
In popular culture
- The song is used as the entrance theme for German soccer club FC St. PauliFC St. PauliFußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
, whose home games are described by the The New Zealand HeraldThe New Zealand Herald- External links :* * *...
as having "a carnival atmosphere". - The song is also used as the entrance theme for the traditional Brazilian soccer club São Paulo Futebol ClubeSão Paulo Futebol ClubeSão Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
, it was chosen by the captain of the team, Rogério CeniRogério CeniRogério Ceni is a Brazilian goalkeeper. He has been a member of the Brazilian Série A club São Paulo since September 7, 1990, playing more than 1,000 matches and winning 2 Copa Libertadores trophies and one Club World Championship with them...
. - The song is played every morning before the first competition of the Australian surfing contest, Rip Curl ProRip Curl ProFormerly the Bells Beach Surf Classic, The Rip Curl Pro is an ASP World Tour surfing competition held in and around Torquay, Victoria. The event is based at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia...
, held at Bells Beach, Victoria. "The stirring sound of the bell chiming from the beginning of the track is a stirring sound, especially when lines are pouring into Bells [Beach]," wrote Peter Wilson of ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
of the theme song. - The song was used as the entrance musicEntrance musicEntrance music is a musical piece or song that is played for sports persons or celebrities when they enter the ring or the playing field.-Wrestling:...
for former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) player Trevor HoffmanTrevor HoffmanTrevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
at homeHome (sports)In sports, home is a term referring to both the city and stadium, arena, or field where an athletic team plays games at their venue, whilst when the team plays elsewhere then they are considered the away team. The home term can refer to either the sponsoring institution or the place where it is...
games from 1998–2010, thrilling the crowd as he emerged. The San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
' usage of "Hells Bells" for Hoffman was a forerunner in the heavy metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
theme songs for closerCloser (baseball)In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
s used throughout MLB stadiums. San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury NewsThe San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
and ESPN.com wrote that the song should be honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumNational Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
. At Hoffman's number retirement ceremony, Brian Johnson paid tribute in a video to Hoffman for "rocking the mound."