Which AC/DC album was the first to feature the classic lightning bolt logo?

Let There Be Rock was the first AC/DC album to feature the band’s classic lightning-bolt logo.

The logo was designed in 1977 by American typographer Gerard Huerta, who shaped the letters and bolt to suggest the electrical energy implied by the group’s name. It first appeared on the cover of Let There Be Rock, AC/DC’s fourth studio album, released that year.

The bolt is often mistaken for part of AC/DC’s original visual identity from the very beginning. However, the band’s early Australian releases used different lettering and cover designs. The logo became increasingly recognizable as AC/DC expanded internationally, helping establish the stark, industrial look associated with the band.

Let There Be Rock also marked an important period in AC/DC’s development: the lineup featuring Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams was taking shape, and songs such as “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Let There Be Rock” became concert staples. Later albums, including Powerage, Highway to Hell and Back in Black, used the familiar branding, but they did not introduce it.