More than five decades after forming in Sydney in 1973, AC/DC is climbing the charts once again.
The band's landmark 1980 album Back in Black has re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 167, marking another surprise return for one of rock music's biggest releases. The album has now spent 645 weeks on the chart and previously reached a peak position of No. 4.
The renewed chart activity arrives as AC/DC launches the North American leg of its 2026 "PWR/UP" tour, which opened in North Carolina on July 11 with a 21-song setlist packed with classic tracks.
Five songs from Back in Black appeared in the show, including "Back in Black," "Hells Bells," "Have a Drink on Me" and "You Shook Me All Night Long."
The timing also comes just days after late frontman Bon Scott would have celebrated his 80th birthday.
AC/DC in concert at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Oct. 19, 1979.Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage
Formed 53 years ago, AC/DC remains one of the world's biggest-selling bands, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. Their 1980 comeback album continues to attract new listeners while longtime fans revisit one of hard rock's defining releases.
Released on July 25, 1980, Back in Black became a turning point for AC/DC. The album was the group's first release with singer Brian Johnson following the death of original frontman Bon Scott in February 1980.
After Scott's passing, the remaining members briefly considered ending the band before deciding to continue and eventually bringing Johnson in as their new vocalist.
The record was written by Johnson together with brothers Angus and Malcolm Young and recorded in the Bahamas over seven weeks with producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange.
The album quickly became a commercial powerhouse. It reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and climbed to No. 4 in the United States, where it remained inside the Top 10 for more than five months.
Today, Back in Black is estimated to have sold around 50 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling album in music history. In August 2024, it received a 27-times Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America after reaching 27 million sales in the United States alone.
The title track remains one of the band's most famous songs and was created as a tribute to Bon Scott.
"The guys wanted it to be a good rock record in memory of Bon, but without all the slather, without all the mulch and the crap that usually goes with that," Brian Johnson told NME in 2020.
Johnson also explained that the song was never meant to become something sad or overly emotional.
Instead, the band wanted it to feel like "a celebration" of Scott's life.
The lyrics reflected that goal by focusing on Scott's fearless personality rather than his death. The opening idea came from the lines "I got nine lives / Cat's eyes," which helped shape the song's message about living life to the fullest.
Even so, the title itself carried a deeper meaning.
"They wanted the album to be black," Johnson later explained, referring to the band's decision to honor Scott while moving forward as a group.
The balance between grief and celebration helped turn "Back in Black" into one of rock music's defining songs.
AC/DC's 2026 Tour Is Fueling New Interest
The band's latest chart return also follows the launch of its 2026 North American tour.
Opening night featured fan favorites including "Thunderstruck," "Highway to Hell," "Shoot to Thrill," "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "T.N.T." and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)."
View this post on InstagramThe concert also included two songs from the band's latest studio album, Power Up: "Shot in the Dark" and "Demon Fire."
The current run of shows continues through the United States during July and August before wrapping up later this year.
More than half a century after AC/DC first plugged in their guitars, the band is once again proving that classic rock can still find new life on today's charts.
Related: 1970 Rock Song, the Only No. 1 Hit for Iconic Rock Band, Remains a Classic 56 Years Later
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