The one AC/DC solo that set Angus Young’s amplifier on fire
Ever since Jimi Hendrix set his guitar ablaze at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, the image has endured as perhaps the most iconic emblem of rock spirit and of sacrificing your tools in the heat of passion caused by its own creation. By in 1977, AC/DC took it even further as one of Angus Young’s solos set their amp on fire, and he just kept on playing through it.
In a list of the ultimate guitar songs, AC/DC would unquestionably be in the top percentage. For any future player and anyone hoping to learn how to shred, their riffs are always there as a must-learn. They’re a gold standard to hit. Learning to nail their songs is a medal to gain on the journey to becoming a future rockstar.
But even for those with no interest in becoming a guitar player, simply to watch Angus Young perform is to be enthralled by the form. The whole band are natural born entertainers with their songs custom made to give their energy a perfect spotlight. Their spirit is built into the songs, or even on one track, it’s a dangerous streak that’s powering the music as the band almost set their studio on fire.
It was 1977. The band were in the studio working on the songs that would make up their forth album, Let There Be Rock. The title feels prophetic now as the band borrowed a God-like voice, transforming rock into a gift from up above right as some higher power or supernatural mischief maker stepped in.
While recording his shredding solo for the titular track, something sparked. Before Young knew it, his amp was ablaze. “Yes, it was on fire and I had to keep playing until the end, because my brother was in the control room, and yelling out ‘KEEP GOING!’” he recalled during a 2014 Q&A. “So I had to keep going until the thing kind of went into meltdown,” he added, remembering the moment when he faced up to danger to get the ultimate take of the powerful solo.
But that wasn’t the only time the band seemed to conjure the firey element. He recalled that on Rock Or Bust, it happened again. “We had the same thing,” he said, “my amp just went on fire. And I didn’t even know! I thought it was a cigarette going. But (producer Brendan O’Brien) was shouting out, ‘Ang, you’re on fire!’”
Maybe it was the rock gods sending their power down to the band. Or maybe, they should be paying more attention to the voltage of their equipment.
