For rock and roll fans around the world, AC/DC is a household name. The band, originally formed in 1973 in Australia, has been a musical and commercial powerhouse for over four decades. While the music of AC/DC has been enjoyed by many, few know of their unlikely role in the downfall of Manuel Noriega, the notorious dictator of Panama.
At the tail end of the 1980s, Panama was in the grip of Spain-born dictator Manuel Noriega. Pacing Panama City in his olive green military uniform, Noriega seemed untouchable. In 1988, however, U.S. President George H.W. Bush authorised an invasion of Panama with the aim of removing Noriega from power. Interestingly enough, the invasion was aided in part by AC/DC’s hard-hitting anthem ‘Highway To Hell’.
The 1979 song was used by U.S. military personnel as psychological warfare against Noriega and his forces. American troops blasted the song as loud as possible from loudspeakers placed all around Panama City, hoping the sound of lead singer Bon Scott’s voice would make Noriega surrender. Despite its success in irritating Noriega and his compatriots, the plan did not work perfectly. Offering insight into the failed operation, Major Barry Brenner recalls: ‘Noriega was too strong and too stubborn… [the music’s] effect wore off over time, and Noriega was used to it’.
However, when AC/DC ceded the airwaves to a tape of church music on Christmas Day there was a turning point. Brenner recounts: ‘At that moment, everything changed. Noriega’s men became concerned and began to talk’. Eventually, the dictator had no option but to surrender to US forces and was taken into custody.
AC/DC’s rock and roll played an important part in the fall of Noriega, but it also had another impact. Major John H. Alexander, who was a senior US military operations officer and a former member of the Army Special Forces, claimed that the use of AC/DC’s music allowed members of the United States some sense of levity in the midst of a serious operation. A light-heartedness that he claimed extended to the Panamanian people as they were ultimately liberated from Noriega’s oppressive regime. Thus, an unlikely alliance between AC/DC and the U.S. military resulted in one of the most important geopolitical events in the late 20th century.
Impact on Cultural Representation of AC/DC
What began as Australian blues-inspired rock music which sought to have a good time evolved into an important symbol for freedom around the globe. The role of AC/DC in the surrender of Noriega caused the band to become a symbol of liberation for many people. Moreover, it meant that even while playing music, AC/DC had a major impact on geopolitics.
This newfound significance of AC/DC and their music was reflected in the media and spawned various pop culture references. Perhaps most famously, it even featured in The Simpsons episode ‘The Monorail’ in which AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ served as the soundtrack for the entire episode.
This increased significance of the band did not go unnoticed either, with lead singer Brian Johnson proclaiming in his 1990 memoir that he ‘really appreciate[d] just how much [AC/DC’s] music meant to people around the world and how it did in fact help to free an entire country’.
Transgenerational Music
AC/DC’s relentless dedication to their style of rock & roll and their refusal to compromise their sound has seen the band remain popular through the ages. The longevity and global reach of AC/DC is due in part to their association with the fall of Noriega. This is best expressed in the quote by lead singer Brian Johnson: ‘Music can have a tremendous psychological impact on a person… its special soundwaves have a hypnotic and calming effect that can bring about positive change’. The idea of AC/DC as bringing about positive change is far different from their traditional bad-boy image, but it is a situation few other bands have experienced.
AC/DC’s timeless appeal is evidenced by their continued popularity in international charts. In Australia alone, the band have had 15 top 10 singles, including 5 number 1 songs. Furthermore, their longevity is typified by ‘Rock or Bust – AC/DC’s seventeenth studio album – receiving solid reviews when it was released in 2014.
Throughout their journey, the band have sought to stay true to their original sound, an impressive feat considering the music industry is constantly evolving. AC/DC’s refusal to change their style of music means that younger generations – those born decades after the Noriega incident – are still able to relate and appreciate AC/DC’s musical offerings.
ACDC’s Legacy in Modern History
The episode of Noriega’s surrender has since become a key part of AC/DC’s story, and one which serves to demonstrate the power of music. In fact, the incident wasn’t intentionally rumoured in the press until after the US invasion. When news began to spread, AC/DC were thrust into a global spotlight and the event took on a legendary status within popular culture. One could say the incident has even become a lasting part of modern history, cementing the importance of AC/DC’s contribution.
Moreover, the ‘Highway to Hell’ incident has caused many young people to learn about the Noriega invasion and the importance of global politics, especially in moments of authoritarianism. In countries with oppressive regimes, a resurgence of AC/DC among the youth population could be seen as a sign of protest and revolution, as well as a reminder to keep fighting for freedom.
Clearly, AC/DC’s role in Panama’s revolutionary episode was an important feat for the band and for rock and roll music in general. It serves as a reminder of the power of music and its ability to unite people and ultimately bring down authorities.
The Significance of AC/DC on the Global Stage
The role AC/DC played in bringing down a militarized regime in Panama demonstrated the far-reaching significance of music. In fact, despite the plan not having a perfect outcome, it was able to spark a revolution within Panama, and latterly a spark of inspiration around the world.
AC/DC’s fame has even gone beyond Earth’s Atmosphere, with the United States’ space agency NASA using their music to fire up the engines of an earth-orbiting satellite. This reinforces their position as megastars to many people and generations across the world.
AC/DC’s music is still necessary today. In countries with governments accused of misconduct, corporations accused of corruption, and people accused of injustice, the AC/DC way – the protest way – is still a route to liberation. And just as they helped bring down a Panamanian dictator, one day, there will be a band to help bring down more.
Economics of Music and AC/DC
The influence of AC/DC reached beyond geopolitics and into the world of economics with the band achieving a level of success rivalled by few others. Boasting sales of 64 million albums in the USA alone and an estimated 200 million albums sold worldwide, AC/DC are undoubtedly one of the most successful rock bands to have ever graced the charts.
The commercial success of AC/DC has been seen as a positive development from an economic perspective, particularly for the Australian music industry. Furthermore, it is thought that the success of the band has helped the nation’s overall cultural industry.
This is why AC/DC have received numerous accolades, such as their induction into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 2003 and the award of knighthoods for both Angus and Malcolm Young in 2018. In addition, the band have also been recognised by the Australian Music Industry as contributing to the success of the nation’s music industry and for their help in putting Australia on the map.
The success of AC/DC, however, has not been without controversy. Both
