Heatseeker

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as the Zoo Crew spins "Heatseeker" by AC/DC from their 1988 album Blow Up Your Video. This track, the album’s lead single, is a high-octane rocker that exploded onto the charts, reaching No. 12 on the UK singles chart, making it AC/DC’s biggest UK hit at the time until "Highway to Hell" surpassed it in 2013. The song’s music video, directed by David Mallet, is a wild ride featuring Angus Young bursting out of a life-sized TV, tossing his cap onto a switch to launch a cruise missile. The missile zips across the globe, crashing into the Sydney Opera House during an AC/DC gig, where Angus emerges from the warhead in his iconic schoolboy outfit, shredding a solo. Angus himself called it “a fun one” during the Blow Up Your Video tour, and fans agree, with posts on X celebrating its release on January 11, 1988, as a defining moment in hard rock history.

Behind the scenes, "Heatseeker" marked a pivotal moment for AC/DC. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Brian Johnson, it was crafted early in the album’s process as a blueprint for recapturing the raw, 12-bar rock ‘n’ roll sound of their early days. Malcolm Young, in a 1992 Metal CD interview, explained that after a creative slump with albums like Flick of the Switch and Fly on the Wall, the band aimed to channel the energy of their Who Made Who soundtrack. To achieve this, they reunited with producers Harry Vanda and George Young, Angus and Malcolm’s older brother, who had shaped their early albums. The result was a track that, as fans on AC/DCfans.net rave, “rocks hard” with a brilliantly constructed guitar solo and a driving rhythm that became a live staple, often opening shows with a heat-seeking missile pod rising on stage.

However, the Blow Up Your Video sessions weren’t without challenges. George Young, in a 2008 Rolling Stone cover story, revealed he noticed Malcolm’s heavy drinking escalating into alcoholism during this period, affecting his performance. Malcolm later admitted to VH1’s Behind the Music that his drinking had turned him into “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” prompting him to step back from the North American leg of the tour to attend AA meetings. His nephew, Stevie Young, filled in, keeping the band’s relentless energy alive. Despite these struggles, "Heatseeker" and its parent album put AC/DC back in the spotlight, hitting No. 2 in the UK and No. 12 in the US, setting the stage for their massive comeback with The Razors Edge.

AC/DC’s journey began in Sydney, Australia, in 1973, founded by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The siblings, inspired by their older brother George’s success with the Easybeats, started jamming with a raw, blues-infused rock sound. Malcolm, the rhythm guitarist, and Angus, the lead guitarist known for his schoolboy uniform and frenetic stage antics, recruited vocalist Dave Evans, bassist Larry Van Kriedt, and drummer Colin Burgess. Their name, inspired by the “AC/DC” label on their sister Margaret’s sewing machine, symbolized the high-voltage energy they aimed to deliver. By 1974, after lineup changes, Bon Scott joined as frontman, and their gritty debut album, High Voltage, released in 1975, cemented their reputation in Australia. After Scott’s tragic death in 1980, Brian Johnson stepped in, and the band’s global breakthrough came with Back in Black, now one of the best-selling albums ever.

Over five decades, AC/DC has become a hard rock institution, selling over 200 million albums worldwide, with their no-nonsense riffs and rebellious spirit resonating across generations. Zoo Freaks can stay connected with the band through their official website, follow their latest updates on Facebook, check out tour throwbacks and iconic imagery on Instagram, and catch fan-driven posts and release anniversaries on X. For deeper dives, fans on AC/DCfans.net share reviews and rare tracks, while the AC/DC Fans Official Facebook Group buzzes with discussions about everything from vinyl collections to live show memories. So, crank up "Heatseeker," Zoo Freaks, and let AC/DC’s electric legacy light up your airwaves!