"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" is a song by the rock band AC/DC. It is the tenth and final track of their album released in 1980, ''

Back in Black ''Back in Black'' is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It was released on 25 July 1980 by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records. It is the band's first album to feature lead singer Brian Johnson, following the death ...

''. It is the fourth and final single released from the album. The song reached number 15 on the

UK singles charts The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top- ...

, the highest placing of any song on the album.

Background

Initially only 9 tracks were written for ''Back in Black'' but Atlantic Records, as well as the band's management recommended that they should write one more song. Angus and Malcolm wrote the song in about 15 minutes. Lead singer Brian Johnson recalled “I’ll never forget the start of it. I went into the recording booth, the intro starts and I hear: ‘Brian, it’s Mutt. Could you say something over that?" He starts to repeat the lyrics loudly, head tilted slightly back: “‘''All you middle men throw away your fancy clothes''…’. For some reason middle men were in the news at the time, the top guys weren't getting the blame and the workforce weren't getting it either, it was the middle men who were this grey area. I must have picked up on it and it just went from there.” During the intro, Brian lights a cigarette and takes a pull from it. Malcolm explained the origin of the song:

Release

The song also appears in videos like "

No Bull ''No Bull'' is a live video released by AC/DC in November 1996, filmed on Super 16mm at Madrid's Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas on 10 July 1996 during the Ballbreaker world tour. It was directed by David Mallet, produced by Rocky Oldham, mixed b ...

" (1996), " Family Jewels" (2005) and " Plug Me In" (2007), also appears on the boxset " Bonfire" (1997). The song appears on the 2003 tribute album by various artists to the band '' Back in Baroque: The String Tribute to AC / DC'', it was also covered in 2004 by death metal band Six Feet Under in the album '' Graveyard Classics 2''. Alex Gibson also covered the song in 2008 from the album '' Rockabye Baby!: Lullaby Renditions of AC/DC''. The song was featured in a commercial for

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...

in 2006, as well as one for

Applebee's Applebee's Restaurants LLC. is an American company that develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar restaurant chain. The Applebee's concept focuses on casual dining, with mainstream American dishes such as salads ...

in 2016.

Track listing

#"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" – 4:12 #"Hells Bells" – 5:10

Chart positions

Weekly Charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

Brian Johnson Brian Johnson (born 5 October 1947) is an English singer and songwriter. In 1980, after the death of Bon Scott, he became the third lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC. He and the rest of the band were inducted into the Rock and Rol ...

– lead vocals *

Angus Young Angus McKinnon Young (born 31 March 1955) is an Australian musician, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and only remaining original member of the hard rock band AC/DC. He is known for his energetic performances, schoolbo ...

– lead guitar * Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, background vocals *

Cliff Williams Clifford Williams (born 14 December 1949) is an English musician, best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. He started his professional music career in 1967 and had previously been in the English ...

– bass guitar, background vocals *

Phil Rudd Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd (born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecius, 19 May 1954) is an Australian drummer, best known as the drummer of AC/DC across three stints. On the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans from AC/DC, Rudd became ...

– drums

Notes

External links

Back in Black review

Rock N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution in Songfacts
* Rock N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution in Allmusic {{Authority control AC/DC songs 1980 songs 1980 singles Song recordings produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange Songs about rock music Songs written by Brian Johnson Songs written by Angus Young Songs written by Malcolm Young Protest songs Blues rock songs Atlantic Records singles