Going into 1980, it most certainly seemed like it would be smooth sailing across the finish line for AC/DC. After several years of slowly climbing up the ladder of success in the US and in Europe (they were already gigantic in their homeland of Australia), 1979 had perfectly set the stage for a bona fide worldwide breakthrough in the new decade. Their last album, Highway to Hell, had peaked at No. 17 in the US and went gold (while the album’s anthemic title track reached No. 47 on the singles chart), and the band — then comprised of singer Bon Scott, guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, bassist Cliff Williams, and drummer Phil Rudd — were about to make the transition from opener to arena headliner. And then …tragedy struck. Well-known for his fondness for partying and in particular, for alcohol, Scott was found dead on February 19, 1980, at the age of 33 in the backseat of a car in London (his death certificate lists the cause as “death by misadventure” — for many years it was assumed caused by alcohol, but in recent times, the possibility of a heroin overdose has come to light). A decision was eventually made by the surviving members to carry on, with Geordie singer Brian Johnson officially being named Scott’s successor on April 1st. Soon after, Johnson and his new bandmates (and the producer behind Highway to Hell, Mutt Lange), congregated at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas to get to work on AC/DC’s next studio LP. By May, the sessions had wrapped up, and on July 25th, the world was given one of rock’s all-time classic (and largest-selling) recordings, Back in Black. “They’re night and day,” Testament singer Chuck Billy explained concerning the differences between crooner Bon and shouter Brian in the book A Rockin’ Rollin’ Man: Bon Scott Remembered. “And I think especially lyric-wise for sure, I totally see the difference. But, something about Brian’s technique and his style of vocals — because he’s unique — really made him fit in there with a unique band. I think if they had someone ordinary, I don’t know if it would be the same AC/DC — they had to have that unique thing as the lead person out there. And I think Brian Johnson was that guy.”