"Highway to Hell" is a song by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the opening track of their 1979 album Highway to Hell. It was initially released as a single in 1979. The song was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, with Angus Young credited for writing the guitar riff which became an instant classic. AC/DC had made several studio albums before and were constantly promoting them via a grueling tour schedule, referred to by Angus Young as being on a highway to hell, hence the name. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Highway to Hell" was ranked number 40.
Background
The song's title and lyrics reflects the incredibly arduous nature of touring constantly and life on the road.. The highway that inspired the name of the song, Canning Highway, connects the Perth Kwinana freeway to its port Fremantle and was home to many of Bon Scott's favourite pubs and hotels, including the Raffles Hotel. The single spent 45 weeks on the German Singles Chart, even though it peaked at only No. 30, in its 19th week on that chart. Lead vocalist Bon Scott was found dead in the back of a friend's car, just over six months after the song was released. The song is in the key of A Major. "Highway to Hell" won the 'Most Played Australian Work Overseas' category at the 2009 APRA Awards.
"Highway to Hell" was produced by Mutt Lange as part of the album by the same name, and his work is regarded as a significant factor in delivering one of the classic AC/DC albums, the emergence of the double-guitar sound, which was later perfected on Back in Black, and improved backing vocals with Malcolm Young, joined by Cliff Williamsfor the first time.
"Highway to Hell" has been included on three official live albums:
Live: This was also released as a single. A video for the single was also released, containing a montage of footage from the Live at Donington home video.
Sam Kinison covered the song in 1990 for his comedy album Leader of the Banned.
Tiny Tim covered the song on his 1993 album Tiny Tim Rock.
Ukrainian folk-punk band Vopli Vidopliassova used the music as the basis for a bayan-based song, "Galyu, prykhod'!". The song was released for the first time on the band's debut albumKraina Mriy in 1994.
Quiet Riot covered the song on their 1999 studio release, Alive & Well.
Marilyn Manson covered it as part of the soundtrack for the 1999 film Detroit Rock City.
Phish have performed the song 77 times from 1989 to 2009. One performance was included on their "Live Phish Volume 15" album. Though recorded in 1996, it wasn't released until 2002.
In 2002, Angry Samoan covered it for the punk tribute album For Those About To Rawk: A Punk Tribute to AC/DC.
Maroon 5 performed it on the Songs About Jane Tour, with Ryan Dusick on vocals and lead guitar. Their version of it is also on their live EP 1.22.03.Acoustic.
American band Lazlo Bane recorded the song in 2007 for their 1970s covers album Guilty Pleasures, though hard rock is not their typical music style.
In 2010, the song was covered by Jonathan Groff in the Glee episode, "Hell-O".
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed the song several times through their tour of Australia in 2014, and released a single of the song that year.
X Factor UK 2014 contestant Ben Haenow covered the song at on the 4th live show.
Stary Olsa, a medieval folk music band from Belarus included "Highway to Hell" on a 2016 album of classic rock cover songs.
