Hosts: Neil & Chris
Duration: ~60 minutes
Release: 5 August 2024
Neil and Chris dive into one of rock’s ultimate “how did they pull this off?” moments, the making of Back In Black in the wake of Bon Scott’s death, and the lightning strike arrival of Brian Johnson. Along the way they celebrate Brian’s unbelievably entertaining storytelling, including the now-legendary phone call that summoned him to London for an audition with “AC Unsedisi”.
This episode is part love letter, part studio-geek rabbit hole, looking at why this record still sounds so immediate 44 years on. From the bone-dry mix and ruthless performance standards to the chaos of recording in the Bahamas with storms, power cuts, and gear that kept breaking, it’s a masterclass in turning limitations into a signature sound.
“Hell’s Bells” gets the full treatment, including the story of the custom-cast bell from Loughborough, the problems recording it (birds in the bell tower), and why the album bell is pitched lower than the touring bell. The hosts also dig into the album’s tight arrangement philosophy, riffs first, then instruments “drop in” exactly when their moment arrives.
Guitar talk includes the classic SM57 on cabs approach and the wide stereo field trick, hard-panned guitars with additional stepped-in doubles that keep size without losing clarity.
Back In Black is not just a blockbuster comeback, it’s a template for timeless hard rock recording: minimal effects, maximum performance, and songwriting that never wastes a second. Neil and Chris show how the album’s technical constraints, relentless standards, and pure riff economy created something that still hits as “now”.
Perfect for: AC/DC fans, recording and production nerds, guitar players chasing that Marshall-and-attitude punch, and anyone who loves the stories behind classic albums.