Video: pop star Rick Astley plays AC/DC's Highway To Hell
This is not a Rickroll. We repeat, this is not a Rickroll
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
Louder
Louder’s weekly newsletter is jam-packed with the team’s personal highlights from the last seven days, including features, breaking news, reviews and tons of juicy exclusives from the world of alternative music.
Every Friday
Classic Rock
The Classic Rock newsletter is an essential read for the discerning rock fan. Every week we bring you the news, reviews and the very best features and interviews from our extensive archive. Written by rock fans for rock fans.
Every Friday
Metal Hammer
For the last four decades Metal Hammer has been the world’s greatest metal magazine. Created by metalheads for metalheads, ‘Hammer takes you behind the scenes, closer to the action, and nearer to the bands that you love the most.
Every Friday
Prog
The Prog newsletter brings you the very best of Prog Magazine and our website, every Friday. We'll deliver you the very latest news from the Prog universe, informative features and archive material from Prog’s impressive vault.
Rick Astley, the Newton-le-Willows hitmaker who originally retired from the music business in 1993 but returned once he’d become the successful internet meme known as rickrolling, has made another bid for viral stardom. This time he’s covered AC/DC’s 1979 smash Highway To Hell.
“One of the first instruments I learned to play was drums,” says Astley, in footage shot at The Troubadour in West Hollywood last week. “And one of the best feelings in the world is to count the song in that we’re about to play.” He then goes on to politely ask the audience if they wanna rock.
The audience clearly do wanna rock, and the band proceed to perform the devilish classic, with Astley cleverly filling both the Bon Scott and Phil Rudd roles. At the same time.
Listeners keen to hear more of Astley playing Highway To Hell may enjoy previous versions filmed at the O2 Academy in Islington in 2012, in Brisbane, Australia the same year, or at Cancun’s Moon Palace earlier this year.
Rick Astley is currently on tour.
The 10 Best Unexpected Rock Covers
Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!
Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

