AC/DC's 'Back in Black' smashes new sales landmark in the US

AC/DC’s blockbuster 1980 album ‘Back in Black’ has been certified 26 x Platinum in the United States, with combined sales of 26 million.

The classic album officially reached the landmark on Monday 8th July according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

‘Back In Black’ first went platinum in October 1980, three months after its release, and it was previously been certified 25 times platinum in December 2019.

Produced by Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lang, ‘Back in Black’ is AC/DC’s first album with Brian Johnson on vocals and it features the singles ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’, ‘Hells Bells’, ‘Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution’ and the title track.

The RIAA currently lists ‘Back in Black’ as the fourth best-selling record in the US behind the Eagles’ ‘Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)’ (38 x Platinum), Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ (34 x Platinum) and Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’ (26 x Platinum).

Since February 2016, the RIAA has included on-demand audio and video streams in their sales data, alongside physical purchases and digital downloads.

AC/DC’s next best-selling album Stateside is Bon Scott’s final album ‘Highway to Hell’, which is eight times platinum.

The current incarnation of AC/DC played the second of two sold-out London Wembley Stadium shows on Sunday night (7th July).

AC/DC triumph at London's Wembley Stadium:

Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".

• AC/DC