Thunderstruck – AC/DC
One of the best-selling singles of all time, "Thunderstruck" remains a defining anthem of AC/DC's legacy.
"Thunderstruck" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released as the lead single from their twelfth studio album The Razors Edge (1990).
Quick Facts
- Artist
- AC/DC
- Song
- Thunderstruck
- Album
- The Ballroom Blitz (1990)
- Genre
- Hard rock
- Featured in
- Rock Band (2007)
- Rock Band 2 (2008)
- Rock Band 3 (2010)
- Rock Band 4 (2015)
- Community role
- Showcase staple; high-difficulty guitar benchmark
Lore & Background
The song peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, No. 1 in Finland, and No. 5 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. In 2010, it topped Triple M Melbourne's Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Australia. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time with over 15 million units sold. The music video, directed by David Mallet, was filmed at London's Brixton Academy in 1990. The audience wore free T-shirts with the words "AC/DC – I was Thunderstruck" on the front and the date on the back.
Reader's Guide
The track is a popular song to learn among beginning guitarists. Writing for WRKR in 2025, Joe Davita expressed resentment towards children who play the riff in music stores, such as Guitar Center, and included the song on his list of the "10 Worst Guitar Center Songs Ever."
Did You Know?
- The song was reportedly used as part of the payload of a computer virus which attacked the Iranian nuclear program in 2012.
- In 2025, it was revealed that the US Department of Agriculture in Oregon was using drones playing the song to deter wolves from attacking livestock.
- During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, "Thunderstruck" was the goal song for Australia.
- A 2024 study revealed "Thunderstruck" is the most popular rock drinking song on drinking playlists.
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