Rock N Roll Train

The Zoo Crew is spinning the high-voltage anthem "Rock N Roll Train" by AC/DC from their 2008 album Black Ice, and the Zoo Freaks are surely cranking it up! This track, the album’s lead single, was originally titled "Runaway Train" during production, a nod to its relentless, runaway energy. The song’s creation was sparked by Angus Young’s riff, with his brother Malcolm crafting the iconic backing vocal harmony for the chorus ("Running right off the track"). Fans got their first taste on August 15, 2008, during the music video shoot in London, where a Scottish fan memorized the riff and shared it on YouTube, leading other fans to add vocals and guitar parts in a viral, collaborative leak. This novel fan-driven reveal became a unique moment in the song’s history, showcasing the band’s passionate community.

The song’s impact was immediate, hitting No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks for three weeks and even charting on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, a first for AC/DC. Its infectious energy made it a staple in media, from ESPN sports bumpers to a promo for CBS’s Criminal Minds. The Black Ice tour brought the song to life with a spectacular stage setup: a cartoon played on a giant video screen, culminating in a life-sized train crashing onto the stage, a visual that left fans, like one Reddit user’s mom, regretting not dragging their kid to the show. By December 2024, the song had been performed live over 250 times, ranking among the band’s top 30 most-played tracks, a testament to its enduring appeal among fans.

AC/DC’s journey began in Sydney, Australia, in 1973, founded by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The siblings, who had moved to Australia in 1963, were inspired by their older brother George Young’s success with the Easybeats and the raw energy of early rock and roll. Starting as teenagers, they honed their craft in local pubs, with Angus adopting his now-iconic schoolboy uniform as a gimmick that stuck. Their gritty sound, blending hard rock, blues, and heavy metal, took shape with early members like vocalist Dave Evans and drummer Colin Burgess. By 1974, the addition of singer Bon Scott and drummer Phil Rudd solidified their lineup, leading to their debut album, High Voltage (1975). After Scott’s tragic death in 1980, Brian Johnson stepped in, and the band’s landmark album Back in Black cemented their global stardom. Over five decades, AC/DC has sold over 200 million albums, earning a 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Zoo Freaks can keep up with AC/DC through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where the band shares tour updates, merch drops, and throwbacks like a March 2025 post about recording Black Ice in Vancouver. Fans also gather on dedicated sites like AC-DC.net for news and forums, or ACDC Hungary for lyrics and local fan content. On Facebook, groups like AC/DC Fans buzz with discussions, memes, and concert stories, while Reddit’s r/ACDC community dives deep into track rankings and tour regrets. Whether you’re a longtime Zoo Freak or new to the AC/DC thunder, “Rock N Roll Train” and the band’s legacy keep the rock rolling!