The West Australian reports that football theme songs and rock anthems by AC/DC and Metallica are now the most requested at WA funerals. West Australian funeral directors say they had noticed a rise in more contemporary funerals where heavy metal had replaced traditional hymns for final send-offs.

Adrian Barrett, of William Barrett and Sons, Busselton, said there had been a shift away from the more traditional hymns to pub-rock songs that may have been a favorite of the deceased. “In the last few years there have been requests for more contemporary music that reflected the likes of the deceased,” he said. “AC/DC music is very popular with Long Way to The Top, I’ve also had requests for…Metallica.”

Other funeral directors report that Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Led Zeppelin are also popular. Mark Rae, of Chippers in Subiaco, said, “Families ask us to make sure we play the music really loud, while we are bringing the coffin through to really make that statement,” he said. “I have been here 15 years and when I first started about 80 per cent of funerals were very traditional and religious.

“Now we go out to parks, people’s back yards and have funerals while people are having a few beers and a barbecue in honour of their friend who has died.”

Another funeral director said Highway to Hell, with lyrics including “Going down, party time”, was among a number rock classics, including Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, that were replacing traditional hymns.