{"id":614016,"date":"2026-05-31T17:40:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T17:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/614016\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T17:40:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T17:40:35","slug":"the-one-ac-dc-song-they-refuse-to-perform-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/614016\/","title":{"rendered":"The one AC\/DC song they refuse to perform live"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Angus<\/p>\n

Credit: Far Out \/ Joan Sorolla<\/p>\n

Sun 31 May 2026 16:50, UK <\/p>\n

When Bon Scott tragically lost his life in 1980, it was widely accepted by many that AC\/DC<\/a> would be unable to continue, let alone become more successful than ever.<\/p>\n

Deciding to fight on wasn\u2019t necessarily the route that AC\/DC were bound to take. The loss of Scott was heartbreaking for the rest of AC\/DC to take, as well as the wider musical world, which left them wondering how they could ever replace him.<\/p>\n

Eventually, after taking stock to consider their options, the group concluded that Scott would want them to continue. They also knew that the best way to respect his legacy was by keeping those songs alive and performing them on a nightly basis rather than allowing his contributions to music to be forgotten.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, they sought out Brian Johnson as a replacement and, for the last 46 years, have been steadfast in ensuring Scott\u2019s songs continue to live on. Nevertheless, as a mark of respect, there\u2019s one hit from his tenure that they refuse to play. <\/p>\n

Scott had struggled with excess throughout his adult life. On one hedonistic evening, the singer\u2019s body finally gave up on him<\/a> as he passed away due to acute alcohol poisoning. He was only 33, and AC\/DC looked to have the world at their feet before a tragedy brought his life to a devastatingly premature end.<\/p>\n

Scott\u2019s former bandmate in Fraternity, Bruce Howe, provided insight into the singer\u2019s destructive lifestyle, explaining how having time off from touring was when his behaviour would become dangerous. \u201cThat\u2019s when he would start taking risks, doing wild things,\u201d Howe once said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Angus<\/a>Credit: Far Out \/ Dena Flows<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cOn days when he was bored, there was no future, there was only now. He didn\u2019t give a bugger about whether he lived or died the next day. He\u2019d try anything \u2013 magic mushrooms, marijuana, alcohol \u2013 and he would take risks on his motorbike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Further reading: From The Vault<\/p>\n

Sadly, tragedy did strike, and Scott\u2019s life was cut short just as he was seemingly coming into the peak of his powers.<\/p>\n

The lifestyle that he followed was epitomised on the AC\/DC track, \u2018It\u2019s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll),\u2019 which they released in 1975, five years before his death. The classic rock effort is a celebration of living in the fast lane, while also warning about the dangers that come when you flirt with the edge of safety.<\/p>\n

While it wasn\u2019t a huge record at the time, \u2018It\u2019s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll)\u2019 is undoubtedly one of their most popular songs today, even though they haven\u2019t performed it live since the 1970s.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s former bassist, Mark Evans, once explained how the song has gradually grown in popularity over the decades, sharing, \u201cIn time, it became iconic and associated with the band, but oddly enough the band doesn\u2019t play it<\/a>. It has become a lot bigger song in time than when it first came out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Angus Young once told Rolling Stone of the composition and how it is the defining track of their early years:\u201d \u2018It\u2019s A Long Way To The Top\u2019 really summed us up as a band. It was the audience that really allowed us to even get near a studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the admittedly relative success of \u2018It\u2019s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll)\u2019, doors suddenly opened for AC\/DC, who grabbed the opportunities that came their way with both arms. It laid the foundations for everything that arrived afterwards, and made people take notice.<\/p>\n

However, AC\/DC performed the hit for the last time at Hammersmith Odeon in 1979, just months before Scott lost his life. While they vowed to continue without him, \u2018It\u2019s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll)\u2019 was a step too far, and they chose to retire it.<\/p>\n

Although it would undoubtedly be a highlight of their live performances if they did play it, nobody else can sing it quite like Scott. Moreover, it\u2019s a song that\u2019s so intertwined with their early career, AC\/DC believe that\u2019s where it should stay.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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