FLASHBACK: Stephen King, AC/DC & “Who Made Who”
Iconic author Stephen King celebrates his birthday today (September 21), and out of all of his contributions to pop culture, we’d like to take this opportunity to single out 1986’s Maximum Overdrive, one of his lesser-celebrated films.
Why doesn’t Maximum Overdrive get more attention? Frankly, it might be one of King’s worst films. (Fun fact: It’s King’s only director credit in his entire career, and he blames the film’s lack of direction on being “coked out of my mind.”) However, one big element saves the picture: AC/DC.
King, a massive AC/DC fan, convinced the band to contribute some hits, as well as some new music, to the film’s soundtrack titled Who Made Who. Three new tracks were featured on the soundtrack: Two instrumentals (“D.T.” and “Chase The Ace”) and the title track, which was one of AC/DC most successful singles on the 1980s.
AC/DC created one other soundtrack in their career, 2010’s Iron Man 2, which would feature no new music and really act as a pseudo-greatest hits package. Fortunately for AC/DC, Iron Man 2 proved to be a far bigger success than Maximum Overdrive.
But, man…even 32 years later, “Who Made Who” still rocks.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock reporter that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
