Dean Turner stood on Baz Luhrmann's Elvis movie set, taking a photograph of a shabby general store he had just painted himself. That same evening, he called his wife, saying that he would use it for his next painting.
The photograph formed the background of the Highway To Hell painting, while the store is still there behind thirty rock musicians driving down an Arizona desert road. Generally, most AC/DC canvas art begins with a band picture and a filter. This one began from a film set, the Route 66 fixation, and a Dodge Charger belonging to a member of Dean's former band.
The Backdrop Came Off an Elvis Film Set
Dean Turner acted as a visual artist for the 2022 film "Elvis" and painted the shacks depicted in the opening sequence where the young Elvis sings gospel. The buildings provided the inspiration for the painting because of their sun-bleached wood and highway-like lighting.
He had finished the Ultimate Gangster Reunion in late 2020 and went straight into the concept drawing. American desert highways had interested him for years. Combining that with the store gave the Dean Turner Highway to Hell its setting before a single face went in.
Every Musician in the Highway to Hell Painting
Thirty musicians from ten bands appear in the artwork, and AC/DC gets the biggest share.
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AC/DC (7): Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams, and Mark Evans
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Mötley Crüe (4): Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars
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Guns N' Roses (3): Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan
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Led Zeppelin (3): Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham
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Metallica (3): James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Lars Ulrich
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ZZ Top (3): Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard
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Black Sabbath (3): Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler
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Aerosmith (2): Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
- Van Halen and Motörhead (2): Eddie Van Halen and Lemmy Kilmister
Seven AC/DC members cover the classic run of the band, including both bassists people forget. That is why this reads as AC/DC tribute wall art rather than a general rock piece. Dean has said space forced him to leave out plenty of bands he loves, because crowding the picture would have killed it.
The Cars in the Painting Are Personal
The given characters seem to have more meaning than just the backdrop of the performers. Firstly, Dean decided to use the Charger because he knows someone who drives the same car when playing bass guitar in his Australian band called the Kings of the Sun. Dean also added the Triumph and Indian Motorcycles as he is a fan of the brand.
The Ford car was necessary as the track Eliminator by ZZ Top, which Dean included in the project, was played on it. Those who know the cover of this song by AC/DC will see this detail without looking at the other characters. However, this is the aspect that distinguishes this performance and is unique to all AC/DC wall art.
Eighteen Months From First Idea to Finished Canvas
Finishing this canvas took Dean about eighteen months. It took the artist six months to plan and stage this painting, searching for the right place and the right balance in the composition.
Dean began working on this canvas in 2022 for seven months and painted it with acrylics on a three-by-one-and-a-half-metre canvas, mounting it on the wall. He worked on it while drawing murals and helping his wife with their five children. This is hardly the work of an artist who has selected his best musicians’ portraits as his favorite songs.
What the AC/DC Canvas Art Ships As
The Highway to Hell poster art consists of three types, as follows.
- Big framed: 140 cm x 70 cm
- Small framed: 120 cm x 60 cm
- Big rolled-out version: 140 cm x 70 cm
The canvases have been made of a poly-cotton material, which protects them from moisture. The framed versions contain A4 maps and lists, which facilitate solving conflicts. Shipping is free, which means that customers do not have to pay anything.
Buy It for the Bands, Keep It for the Store
It is the faces, memories, and nostalgia that make this painting an easy purchase. It is the background that draws attention, leaving people staring at this piece year after year, because Dean has painted this building twice, once for filming purposes and now for this stunning artwork. As for the story about canvas wall art for rock music fans, it is more fascinating than a tour poster license.
For all sizes and products, please visit Highway to Hell at Dean Turner Art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Highway to Hell canvas by Dean Turner?
Highway to Hell by Dean Turner is a reproduction of an original hand-painted acrylic canvas containing 30 hard rock musicians on the road in the desert. Dean painted the original piece on a three-meter canvas during 2020-2022 using his store from the Elvis film set as the background.
Who is featured on the Highway to Hell canvas?
30 musicians from AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and Motörhead. AC/DC has seven members featured in the scene – Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, and both Young brothers.
Why is the Highway to Hell canvas popular with AC/DC fans?
Because AC/DC is the star of this art piece and not just another band featured in the piece. Seven members are featured in this scene, covering both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras that cannot be done in one-band shots.
What sizes are available for the Highway to Hell canvas print?
Highway to Hell canvas comes in three size variations. The first one is a large framed size with a display frame of 55 inches by 28 inches. The second one is a small framed size of 47 inches by 23.6 inches. The third option would be an unframed large canvas of the same size, i.e., 55 inches by 28 inches. The latter two would have a solid black frame, which delivers the print ready for hanging.
Is the Highway to Hell print worth buying for a rock music lover?
Absolutely, for those who are about fifty now, and who listened to these legends when they were kids. This sort of premium AC/DC print comes with both a frame and the names written down so that one could easily match the faces.
What is original about Dean Turner artwork?
Every print originates from Dean's hand-painting. Dean creates an image in acrylic before he starts printing.
Is the Highway to Hell canvas suitable for home decor?
It is better suited for the room dedicated to music, bar, and man cave than to the more formal lounge. It has a warm and dusty color scheme that works well with the brick and timber backdrops. The larger framed size requires five feet of wall space to fit properly.