AC/DC: The Song That Resulted In A Lawsuit Against The Band

AC/DC: The story of the song 'Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap'

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I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

Whenever I think of AC/DC’s song DIrty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap the first thing that comes to my mind is the norm mcdonald and artie lange movie Dirty Work. Perhaps it’s more on my mind because of Norm McDonalds recent passing. But the film perfectly encapsulates the message of the song, which is why it was licensed for the movie. The song tells the story of a hitman you can hire to deal with your problems. Dirty Work loosely inspired by the song tells the story of two guys who start a business in which you can hire them to get revenge on people. But what inspired the AC/DC song? It’s not exactly what you might think and there would be a pretty funny lawsuit.

By 1976 Australian group AC/DC hadn’t yet established a foothold in America. there new album at the time dirty deeds done dirt cheap wouldn’t be officially released in the country until 5 years later following the success of 1979’s highway to hell and 1980’s back in black. In the meantime people could only get their hands on import copies. The album’s self titled track on the surface might appear to call for revenge, but it wasn’t with frontman Bon Scott saying in a 1977 interview

“Rugby clubs have been doing the same thing for years - songs like that,” “The songs that won the Second World War were like that, with the chaps singing them as they marched into battle.” Guitarist Angus Young would add

“There’s not much seriousness in it,” “It’s just rock ’n’ roll. Chew it up and spit it out.”
Guitarist Angus Young came up with the album title and song thanks to an Australian children’s cartoon named Beany and Cecil. The program aired on ABC television. The main villian a character named Dishonest John would carry a business card on him that read "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. Holidays, Sundays, and Special Rates."

the lyrics, "Just ring: 3-6-2-4-3-6," this line had two meanings - this was meant to be a phone number, and it was also described the measurements of an hourglass figured women if you group the numbers together: 36-24-36. A year later, the Commodores used the same measurements to describe a woman in their song "Brick House." Rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot, referenced the lyrics in his 1992 hit "Baby Got Back," where he says: "36-24-36? Only if she's 5'3." It would be that six digit phone number that created some problems for the band. In 1981, a couple from Libertyville Illinois named teh whites filed a quarter of a million lawsuit against the band’s american label atlantic records as well AC/DC and it’s distributors for invasion of privacy. The lawsuit was filed in lake county illinoi circuit court after the couple received hundreds of prank phone calls. Their attorney told the Chicago Tribune that the song's 36-24-36 digits were followed by a "hey!", which to his clients sounded like an "8", When you combine the eight with the first six digits that was the couple’s phone number 362-4368.
Mrs. White would release a statement to UPI telling the publication. 'I'm just a normal person -- at least I'm trying to be. It's been like a nightmare with these phone calls at all hours.' The Whites have asked the court to order AC-DC to record a new version of the song, with a new phone number, and to ban the current version from the radio airwaves and of course quarter of a million in damages.The Whites lawsuit failed, but they changed their number to 867-5309.

The single would be released in Australia on October 5 in 1976 and wouldn’t be released in America until 1981. It peaked at number 4 on the US mainstream rock charts and is one of the band’s most popular songs.

Sources:

[michaelfried]

Slipping in the classic Tommy Tutone "jenny" digits in like that was slick....

[snakeeater]

Bon, what a character! Forever missed and never forgotten! Ride on!

[jmanson]

Nice jab with the number change joke. Lols were had.

[angusyoung]

Norm was the best. I'm glad he's popping up everywhere getting some recognition nowadays

[rdstone]

Bon Scott, the eternal true poet of rockn' roll lyrics. Listening to 70s AC/DC today, it's just ridiculous how good they were compared to all the mindless crap we have to endure today.

[jasonnewby]

I dig the Jenny joke. Good one. One of my favorite ACDC songs and albums! So many stupid lawsuits have been filed over rock songs over the years. What a waste of time and resources. It seems they rarely win.

[ivankaleoniefuchs]

No one I know in many countries ever thought "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was
about getting revenge or harming anyone physically. We always thought it was about
hiring another guy to sneak around und steal your girl-friend away so you could more
easily get out of a relationship you no longer want. No matter it's true message...It ist
still an awesome tune. :-) Auf Wiedersehen aus Wiesbaden

[vnette]

Thank you for all the Great Rock and Roll Stories.I think I'm becoming addicted to your channel.😄👍💖

[philhogan]

Wrong album cover.
The Australian release which you mentioned had a cartoon of the band around a pool table on the album cover. Bon was holding up his forearm which had a tatto with the words "dirty deeds done dirt cheap" on it.

[skydvr]

I always thought it 362436-oh! Like, zero. And, I just have to add, there is ZERO chance that the White's changed their phone number to Jenny's. That's just in there to see who's paying attention right?

[bonnerscott]

We used to sit around the litening to the radio waiting for my uncle Bon to come on, Margaret used to come over somtimes Bon's mom, I was really young at the time, just kind of have photo images im my mind of it. we moved to Peterhead shortly after Bon passed and never really saw Aunty Margret after that.

[beeragainsthumanity]

An iconic rock song inspired by a kid's cartoon...epic!

[Axess-svnq]

Mr and Mrs White = people with ENTIRELY too much time on their hands. Talk about a frivolous lawsuit.

[Boleskinebeatz]

Where there’s a hit there’s a writ indeed..

[fluidikons]

Wow what timing! I was just blasting this song driving through the loop in Chicago 2 days ago.

[johnhammond]

" I did not know that." Thanks

[novastar]

Those poor poor people 😢, what unfortunate telephone numbers.

[andrewarcana]

You found one of my secret fandoms. I now feel compelled to apologize for the impending fanboy moment. I promise, this is all in good fun. :)

Bob Clampett was an American animator who created Beany & Cecil for ABC Television in the United States. Beany & Cecil itself was an animated follow-up to a puppet show entitled "Time for Beany."

Beany & Cecil often excelled at double entendres. Children and adults could enjoy the exact same jokes for entirely different reasons - with children usually being none the wiser. Some episodes went this route and some episodes were just good family entertainment.

It's incredibly easy to see how AC/DC could have been inspired by the show. I absolutely suggest anyone find a few episodes if they can.

[fredgreen]

My favorite AC/DC tune!
RIP Bon and Malcolm!

[titowrestling]

I LOVE that Angus got through title from Dishonest John. LOVE me some Beanie & Cecil