Guns for Hire

1984 single by AC/DC

For other subjects, see Department S (band) and Guns for Hire (film).

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"Guns for Hire"

Single by AC/DC
from the album  Flick of the Switch
B-side| "Landslide"
Released| September 1983 (1983-09)[1]
Recorded| April 1983
Studio| Compass Point (Nassau)
Genre| Hard rock
Length| 3:24
Label|

* Albert
* Atlantic

Songwriter(s)|

* Angus Young
* Malcolm Young
* Brian Johnson

Producer(s)| AC/DC
AC/DC singles chronology
| "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)"
(1982)  | "Guns for Hire"
(1983)  | "Flick of the Switch"
(1983)

|
|

Music video
"Guns for Hire" on YouTube

"Guns for Hire" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, from their album Flick of the Switch, released on 19 August 1983. Written by band members, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson, it was also released in September as a single with "Landslide" as the B-side. It charted at No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart,[2] and No. 84 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.[3] It also reached No. 19 in Ireland.[4]

Cash Box said that "raucous as ever, the track includes a matured guitar solo and is fused with a high rock ‘n’ roll energy."[5]

The track served as the opening song during the band's performances on the tour in support of Flick of the Switch, but has never been performed on any other AC/DC tours since.[citation needed] A promotional video was produced for the song, which featured drummer Simon Wright rather than Phil Rudd. Rudd had left the band during the recording of Flick of the Switch and was replaced by Wright before the start of the tour.

## Personnel

[edit]

* Brian Johnson – lead vocals
* Angus Young – lead guitar
* Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Cliff Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Rudd – drums

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1983)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 84
UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 37

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "AC/DC singles".
2. ^ "AC/DC singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
3. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History". Song Database. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
4. ^ "AC/DC". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
5. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 24 September 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
6. ^ "AC/DC Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 March 2020.

* v
* t
* e

AC/DC

* Angus Young
* Phil Rudd
* Cliff Williams
* Brian Johnson
* Stevie Young
* Matt Laug (touring)
* Chris Chaney (touring)

* Malcolm Young
* Bon Scott
* Chris Slade
* Mark Evans
* Dave Evans
* Larry Van Kriedt
* Colin Burgess
* Rob Bailey
* Peter Clack
* Tony Currenti
* Paul Matters
* Simon Wright

Studio albums|

* High Voltage (1975)
* T.N.T. (1975)
* High Voltage (1976)
* Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
* Let There Be Rock (1977)
* Powerage (1978)
* Highway to Hell (1979)
* Back in Black (1980)
* For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981)
* Flick of the Switch (1983)
* Fly on the Wall (1985)
* Blow Up Your Video (1988)
* The Razors Edge (1990)
* Ballbreaker (1995)
* Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
* Black Ice (2008)
* Rock or Bust (2014)
* Power Up (2020)

Compilations|

* Bonfire (1997)
* Volts (1997)
* Backtracks (2009)

Live albums|

* If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978)
* AC/DC Live (1992)
* Live from the Atlantic Studios (1997)
* Let There Be Rock: The Movie – Live in Paris (1997)
* Live at River Plate (2012)

EPs|

* '74 Jailbreak (1984)

Soundtracks|

* Who Made Who (1986)
* Last Action Hero (1993)
* Iron Man 2 (2010)

Singles|

* "Can I Sit Next to You, Girl"
* "Baby, Please Don't Go"
* "High Voltage"
* "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
* "T.N.T."
* "Jailbreak"
* "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
* "Love at First Feel"
* "Dog Eat Dog"
* "Let There Be Rock"
* "Whole Lotta Rosie"
* "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation"
* "Highway to Hell"
* "Girls Got Rhythm"
* "Touch Too Much"
* "Night Prowler"
* "You Shook Me All Night Long"
* "Hells Bells"
* "Back in Black"
* "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"
* "Let's Get It Up"
* "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)"
* "Guns for Hire"
* "Nervous Shakedown"
* "Flick of the Switch"
* "Danger"
* "Shake Your Foundations"
* "Who Made Who"
* "Heatseeker"
* "That's the Way I Wanna Rock 'n' Roll"
* "Thunderstruck"
* "Moneytalks"
* "Are You Ready"
* "Big Gun"
* "Hard as a Rock"
* "Hail Caesar"
* "Cover You in Oil"
* "Stiff Upper Lip"
* "Safe in New York City"
* "Satellite Blues"
* "Rock 'n' Roll Train"
* "Big Jack"
* "Anything Goes"
* "Money Made"
* "Shoot to Thrill"
* "Play Ball"
* "Rock or Bust"
* "Shot in the Dark"

Video albums|

* AC/DC: Let There Be Rock (1980)
* Fly on the Wall (1985)
* Who Made Who (1986)
* AC/DC (1989)
* Clipped (1991)
* Live at Donington (1992)
* For Those About to Rock: Monsters in Moscow (1992)
* No Bull (1996)
* Stiff Upper Lip Live (2001)
* Family Jewels (2005)
* Plug Me In (2007)
* Live at River Plate (2011)

Tours|

* Highway to Hell Tour (1979–1980)
* Back in Black Tour (1980–1981)
* For Those About to Rock Tour (1981–1982)
* Flick of the Switch Tour (1983–1984)
* Fly on the Wall Tour (1985–1986)
* Who Made Who Tour (1986)
* Blow Up Your Video World Tour (1988)
* Razors Edge World Tour (1990–1991)
* Ballbreaker World Tour (1996)
* Stiff Upper Lip World Tour (2000–2001)
* Club Dates/Rolling Stones Tour (2003)
* Black Ice World Tour (2008–2010)
* Rock or Bust World Tour (2015–2016)
* Power Up Tour (2024–)

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Members
* ACDC Lane
* Angus Bucks
* Tribute albums
* AC/DC (pinball)
* AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack

* Category
* Commons

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

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