Okanagan musicians reflect on the impact of iconic AC/DC record for the 40th anniversary

It’s an exciting day for rock and roll lovers, as legendary band AC/DC are celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of the genre’s most iconic records, Highway to Hell.

The last record of the band’s to feature the raunchy and rambunctious vocal stylings of the late, great Bon Scott, Highway to Hell is regarded as one of the most pivotal albums in rock and roll by music fanatics and musicians alike.

Home to heavy-hitting tracks such as “Highway to Hell,” “Shot Down in Flames,” and “If You Want Blood” — this record (along with their prior five) continued to set the tone for rock music as we know and hoist AC/DC to the immortal ranking of rock gods.

To celebrate this milestone, we reached out to some local members of the music community whom this ferocious album had quite the impact on, to see how AC/DC and the 10 dynamite songs on this record shaped not only their careers but even their lives.

Austen Sawchuk

Bassist and vocalist for Fated Sons

“My dad showed me Highway to Hell back when I was a kid, he taught me that AC/DC can only listen to LOUD — and I couldn’t have agreed more,” said Sawchuk.

“Now that I'm in a band, there’s no shortage of AC/DC songs being played at rehearsal. Their music is way too much fun to play and If I’m not mistaken, I think they own the rights to the A power chord as well.”

Kyle Haynes

Audio Engineer with Legion HQ Music Group

"Highway to Hell is without a doubt one of the greatest rock albums of all time, bluesy to its core but powerful in all the right places, it captures AC/DC (and producer Mutt Lange) at the hungriest point in their careers and drips with raw energy and power,” said Haynes.

“Although a very simply produced and engineered album, (thanks to engineer Mark Dearnley) it captures some of the best tones and straightforward rock recording techniques that stand the test of time — It is a standard for all other rock records to be measured against,” he added.

“It is one of the most influential albums in MY career, and has influenced countless other musicians and producers, If I only had to make ONE album in my career, I hope it would be half as good and impactful as Highway to Hell.”

Lucas Segall

Bassist and vocals for Pharm

“The first time I heard Highway to Hell as a kid, it opened so many doors from whence there was no return,” he said.

"Angus and Mal wrote the book on riffs with this one,”

“To this day when I hear those dirty riffs and tongue in cheek lyrics, I can't help but want to kick the crud out of some nerds!"

Jesse Valstar

Bassist for OdinFist

“When I was a kid there were a few bands that enticed me into exploring loud music — AC/DC was one of those bands,” said Valstar.

“When I started getting an allowance I would spend it on CD’s, I believe Who Made Who, Jailbreak and Highway to Hell where some of the first ones that I purchased — I also remember calling into the local rock radio station requesting that “Highway to Hell” be played and being told it was considered ‘too heavy’.”

“Highway to Hell marks a starting point in my life as one of the first records I can remember turning the volume all the way up.”

Braden Farr

Guitarist for Apollyon

“AC/DC has without a doubt been the most influential and impactful band to me on a musical level,” said Farr. “Although their influence may not be apparent in the music I write and perform, I would not have picked up a guitar had I not been introduced to them.”

“While Highway to Hell may not be my personal favourite album of theirs, it's certainly the quintessential AC/DC record and I have countless fond memories that have that particular album involved," he added.

"I won't hesitate to say that the trajectory of my entire life would have been very different without this record.”

This is only a small fraction of the impact AC/DC and their music has had on the world.

Do you have a fond memory of this album? Tells us all about it in the comments below and join in on the celebrations by cranking this album up to 11!