 The first title considered for the album was Runaway Train . Malcolm suggested using a photograph of a famous 1895 derailment for the cover , but reconsidered after he found that Mr. Big had used it for their album Lean into It . According to Angus , Runaway Train was rejected was because it had been used by many musicians , including Elton John , Tom Petty and Eric Clapton , and he " wanted something unique , new , different " . So he suggested Black Ice , which refers to gigs played during winter in Scotland . He said , " it rolled off the tongue " and it reminded him of " radio warnings up north of black ice . " Angus was inspired to write the eponymous song by a similar warning heard on his car radio during production . 
