Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.
This issue we will cover "Who Made Who" by AC/DC. The song was released in May of 1986 as the title track and one of three new songs included on their album which was mostly a compilation of hits and was used as the soundtrack to the Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive. "Who Made Who" was written in particular for the film which had the theme of machines that came alive and began killing people, so the lyrics explore the idea of the gadgets and devices created by mankind coming to rule over human beings instead of the other way around. Though the film was more of a flop at the box office, the album and song were the band's most successful in years. "Who Made Who" did not make the Billboard Hot 100, but it did peak at #23 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in July.
The music video for "Who Made Who" was directed by David Mallet who is another one of the most prolific video directors of the '80s. He co-founded MGMM along with Brian Grant, Russell Mulcahy and Scott Millaney. Mallet directed Joan Jett "Bad Reputation", Iron Maiden "Run to the Hills", Def Leppard "Photograph", Def Leppard "Rock of Ages", Def Leppard "Foolin'", Billy Idol "White Wedding", David Bowie "Let's Dance", David Bowie "China Girl", Queen "Radio Ga Ga", Scorpions "Rock You Like a Hurricane", Queen "I Wanna Break Free", Billy Idol "Eyes Without a Face", Kool & the Gang "Fresh", David Bowie & Mick Jagger "Dancing in the Street" among many others before starting to work with AC/DC in 1986. In addition to "Who Made Who", Mallet also directed a new video for "You Shook Me All Night Long" that coincided with the new album. Mallet directed Queen "I Want it All" among even more and continued to work into the '90s (mostly with AC/DC).
"Who Made Who" was filmed in the lobby and onstage at the Brixton Academy in London, England. Approximately 300 members of AC/DC's British fan club as well as others who had simply heard about it on the radio were dressed like Angus Young carrying red cardboard guitars. The plot of the video had masked scientists replicating lead guitarist Angus Young then showing the clones marching to the song only raising their heads to chant the title phrase in the chorus while the band performs the song on stage. Here is the music video for "Who Made Who" by AC/DC...
AC/DC even released a VHS titled Who Made Who featuring the title video along with four others to support the album which went on to sell over five million copies.
Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!
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