Hells Bells (song)

"Hells Bells" is the first track of Back in Black, the seventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC and their comeback album after the death of lead singer Bon Scott. "Hells Bells" is the second single from Back in Black, released on 31 October 1980. The song also appears on Who Made Who, AC/DC's 1986 soundtrack to the Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive and on both versions of 1992's AC/DC Live.

"Hells Bells"
Artwork for one of the continental European releases
Single by AC/DC
from the album Back in Black
B-side"What Do You Do for Money Honey"
Released31 October 1980
RecordedSpring 1980 at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas
GenreHard rock[1]
Length5:12
LabelAtlantic Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Robert John "Mutt" Lange
AC/DC singles chronology
"You Shook Me All Night Long"
(1980)		 "Hells Bells"
(1980)		 "Back in Black"
(1980)
Audio sample
  • file
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Music video
"Hells Bells" on YouTube

Composition

"Hells Bells" begins with the slow, funereal-sounding tolling of a 2000-pound bronze bell.[2] Manufactured by John Taylor & Co Bellfounders in Loughborough, the sound of the bell was recorded by Tony Platt using Ronnie Lane's mobile studio inside the bell foundry following the completion of the Back in Black tracking sessions at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas.[2]

Personnel

Charts
Year Chart Peak
position
1980 France (IFOP)[3] 16
1981 Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 25
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[5] 50
2012 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 49
France (SNEP)[7] 43
Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 25
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[8] 51
2015 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 61

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10]
(Ringtone) 		Gold 20,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[11] Gold 30,000
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Use in sports

"Hells Bells" was used as the entrance music for former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Trevor Hoffman at home games from 1998 to 2010.[13][14]

The song is listed on the NHL's website as part of the New Jersey Devils in-arena playlist.[15]

References
  1. Ertegün, Ahmet (2001). 'What'd I Say?': The Atlantic Story: 50 Years of Music. Welcome Rain Publisher. p. 546. ISBN 978-1-56649-048-1. Back in Black includes one of their best known songs, 'You Shook Me All Night Long' (#35 Pop), and hard rock classics 'Hells Bells', 'Back in Black' (#37 Pop) and 'Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution'.
  2. "Classic Tracks: AC/DC 'Back In Black'". Sound on Sound. November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. "Le Détail par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "AC/DC" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. "Offiziellecharts.de – AC/DC – Hells Bells". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  5. "AC/DC Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  6. "Austriancharts.at – AC/DC – Hells Bells" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  7. "Lescharts.com – AC/DC – Hells Bells" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. "AC/DC Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  9. "Swisscharts.com – AC/DC – Hells Bells". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  10. "Canadian single certifications – AC/DC – Hells Bells". Music Canada.
  11. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Type AC/DC in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Hells Bells in the box under TÍTULO
  12. "American single certifications – AC/DC – Hell's Bells". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  13. Capozzi, Joe (11 January 2011). "Hell's Bells — Trevor Hoffman, who started his career with Florida Marlins, bound for Hall after retirement". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  14. Center, Bill (26 September 2006). "Story of Hells Bells anthem, etc". U-T San Diego. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
  15. "Devils DJ". National Hockey League. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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