“Hells Bells” AC/DC

This way: Hells Bells

Why wait 'til next year? Jeff Twiss Baseball Song of the Day is here today. Also, being a baseball fan is a lot like eternal damnation.

“Trevor Hoffman's entrance before save number 479, an MLB record at the time. That roar of the crowd as soon as the first bell rang.  Every closer needs a dangerous walk up song like this. To be an elite closer, you need a kickass entrance song.  This is the most badass entrance song ever!  This entrance not only is still awesome to witness over 20 years later, but it inspired other teams to create their own entrances for their closers.”  —adapted from fan comments at YouTube. "Hells Bells" was the entrance music for Major League Baseball pitcher Trevor Hoffman at home games from 1998 to 2010. "Everyone in the ballpark will turn their attention to the center field gate that will swing open." Hoffman trots onto the center field warning track as "Hells Bells" begins with the slow, funereal tolling of a one-ton bronze bell, manufactured by John Taylor & Co Bellfounders in Loughborough, in the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. The business originated in the 14th century, and the Taylor family took over in 1784. The sound of the bell was recorded by Tony Platt using Ronnie Lane's mobile studio inside the bell foundry. It's late in the afternoon and late in the season…the shadows are lengthening…dust has settled over the field. The funereal tolling continues every five seconds, as Hoffman runs toward the pitchers mound. Between the fourth and fifth peal, the guitar begins a bloodcurdling riff that is implacably repeated twelve times. The riff ends with three descending chords that make you feel like you're being taken down to hell.

On the seventh peal the cymbals begin sizzling quietly. On the ninth peal Hoffman reaches the mound, begins his warmup pitches, and the drums begin pounding. After the twelfth peal the sound of the bell is lost in the roar of the band and the crowd. But ten seconds later the bell is heard for the last time…the 13th peal. Seventeen seconds after that the vocalist begins: “I’m a rolling thunder pouring rain...” A fan said, “You guys have no idea how much I thought he was saying ‘I’m an undertaker...’ at first as a kid. This actually got me into baseball the most.”

"Hells Bells" is the first track of ‘Back in Black’, the seventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC and their comeback album after the death of lead singer Bon Scott. The album was released by Atlantic Records on July 25, 1980. “Hells Bells” was released as a single on October 31, 1980.

 

[Spotify] Hells Bells 

[Fan video of Trevor Hoffman entering a game on September 24, 2006,
to the sounds of Hell’s Bells:] Hells Bells