It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as the Zoo Crew spins the iconic track "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)" by AC/DC from their album High Voltage. This song, a gritty anthem about the struggles of a rock band chasing fame, is packed with wild trivia. One standout feature is the use of bagpipes, a bold choice inspired by co-producer George Young, who recalled that frontman Bon Scott had been in a pipe band in his youth. Scott, however, was a drummer, not a piper, but he learned the instrument for the track, buying a set for a steep AU$479 at a Melbourne music store. The bagpipes caused headaches on tour, though—during a 1976 gig at St Albans High School in Victoria, Australia, fans destroyed Scott’s pipes, forcing the band to use a recording or Angus Young’s guitar solo in later performances. The song’s title and chorus were sparked by a Melbourne club manager’s warning to young bands that it’s “a long bloody way to the top,” a phrase that resonated with the band’s grueling early days.

The music video for the song is just as legendary, filmed on February 23, 1976, for Australia’s Countdown TV program. It shows AC/DC and members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band rocking out on a flatbed truck cruising down Swanston Street in Melbourne, with a modest budget of $380. Directed by Paul Drane, the video has racked up over 38 million YouTube views since its upload in 2010. Another quirky tidbit: Australian fans often jokingly sing, “It’s a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll,” a playful twist that’s become a cultural staple, as noted by fans on platforms like Songfacts. The song’s legacy is so strong that Brian Johnson, who replaced Scott after his death in 1980, refuses to perform it live out of respect for his predecessor, making it a rare treat in AC/DC’s setlists, played only 235 times between 1975 and 1979.

AC/DC was born in Sydney in 1973, founded by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, whose raw energy and no-nonsense rock ethos would make them global legends. The brothers, born in Scotland before migrating to Australia, were inspired by their older brother George Young’s success with The Easybeats. They started jamming with drummer Colin Burgess, bassist Larry Van Kriedt, and vocalist Dave Evans, but the lineup shifted quickly. Bon Scott, a charismatic singer with a rebellious streak, joined in 1974 after meeting the band while working as a chauffeur. Their debut album, High Voltage, released in Australia in 1975 via Albert Productions, captured their gritty pub-rock roots, blending bluesy riffs with high-octane energy. Tracks like “It’s a Long Way to the Top” showcased their knack for storytelling and relentless drive, honed in sweaty pubs and clubs across Australia.

The band’s early days were anything but glamorous—they faced dodgy promoters, cheap motels, and hostile crowds, experiences that fueled the lyrics of “It’s a Long Way to the Top.” By 1976, after signing with Atlantic Records, AC/DC took their thunder to the UK and beyond, with Angus’s schoolboy uniform and frenetic stage antics becoming iconic. Despite lineup changes, including Scott’s tragic death and Malcolm’s passing in 2017, the band has sold over 200 million records, earning a 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Their music, often called hard rock or blues rock, is simply “rock and roll” to them, a label that’s stuck through decades of electrifying performances.

Stay connected with AC/DC through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for the latest news and tour updates. Fans can dive deeper into the AC/DC universe on sites like ACDCfans.net, a hub for diehards sharing bootlegs and setlist debates, or join vibrant discussions in Facebook groups like AC/DC Fans, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over Bon Scott’s bagpipe solos and Angus’s duckwalk. Keep rocking, Zoo Crew, and let’s salute the long, hard road to the top!