AC/DC
Biography
AC/DC's mammoth power chord roar became one of the most influential hard rock sounds of the '70s. In its own way, it was a reaction against the pompous art rock and lumbering arena rock of the early '70s. AC/DC's rock was minimalist -- no matter how huge and bludgeoning the guitar chords were, there was a clear sense of space and restraint. Combined with Bon Scott's larynx-shredding vocals, the band spawned countless imitators over the next two decades. AC/DC were formed in 1973 in Australia by guitarist Malcolm Young after his band, the Velvet Underground, collapsed (Young's band has no relation to the seminal American group). With his younger brother Angus as lead guitarist, the band played some gigs around Sydney. Angus was only 15 years old at the time and his sister suggested that he should wear his school uniform on-stage; the look became the band's visual trademark. While still in Sydney, the original lineup featuring singer Dave Evans cut a single called "Can I Sit Next to You," with ex-Easybeats Harry Vanda and George Young (Malcolm and Angus' older brother) producing.
The band moved to Melbourne the following year, where drummer Phil Rudd (formerly of the Coloured Balls) and bassist Mark Evans joined the band. The band's chauffeur, Bon Scott, became the lead vocalist when singer Dave Evans refused to go on-stage. Previously, Scott had been vocalist for the Australian prog rock bands Fraternity and the Valentines. More importantly, he helped cement the group's image as brutes -- he had several convictions on minor criminal offenses and was rejected by the Australian Army for being "socially maladjusted." And AC/DC were socially maladjusted. Throughout their career they favored crude double entendres and violent imagery, all spiked with a mischievous sense of fun.
The group released two albums -- High Voltage and TNT -- in Australia in 1974 and 1975. Material from the two records comprised the 1976 release High Voltage in the U.S. and U.K.; the group also toured both countries. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap followed at the end of the year. Mark Evans left the band at the beginning of 1977, with Cliff Williams taking his place. In the fall of 1977, AC/DC released Let There Be Rock, which became their first album to chart in the U.S. Powerage, released in spring of 1978, expanded their audience even further, thanks in no small part to their dynamic live shows (which were captured on 1978's live If You Want Blood You've Got It). What really broke the doors down for the band was the following year's Highway to Hell, which hit number 17 in the U.S. and number eight in the U.K., becoming the group's first million-seller.
AC/DC's train was derailed when Bon Scott died on February 20, 1980. The official coroner's report stated he had "drunk himself to death." In March, the band replaced Scott with Brian Johnson. The following month, the band recorded Back in Black, which would prove to be its biggest album, selling over ten million copies in the U.S. alone. For the next few years, the band was one of the largest rock bands in the world, with For Those About to Rock We Salute You topping the charts in the U.S. In 1982, Rudd left the band; he was replaced by Simon Wright.
After 1983's Flick of the Switch, AC/DC's commercial standing began to slip; they were able to reverse their slide with 1990's The Razor's Edge, which spawned the hit "Thunderstruck." While not the commercial powerhouse they were during the late '70s and early '80s, the '90s saw them maintain their status as a top international concert draw. In the fall of 1995, their 16th album, Ballbreaker, was released. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album received some of the most positive reviews of AC/DC's career. Ballbreaker entered the American charts at number four and sold over a million copies in its first six months of release. Stiff Upper Lip followed in early 2000 with similar results. The group signed a multi-album deal with Sony the following year that resulted in a slew of reissues and DVDs. The band returned to the studio in 2008 for Black Ice, an all-new collection of songs that was followed by the group's first world tour since 2001. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

For Those About To Rock
1981

Back In Black
1980

Highway To Hell
1979

If You Want Blood You've Got It
1978

High Voltage
1976
OK, I think AC/DC are a pretty good band, but Pandora is giving me WAY too much AC/DC!
|
||
Who doesn't like to crank up a ac/dc tune every once a while, it helps feed that fire inside.
|
||
and The Good Shepard/The Bad Wolf needs to take a chill pill.
|
||
the vocals really irk me, but I can still easily enjoy AC/DC (or at least the songs I'm hearing). awesome guitars!
*two thumbs up* |
||
npchargers: First, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to The Good Shephard. Second, "WHAT DO KNOW ABOUT JIM M?" Oh, what do I know? Got it. Sorry if my having a different opinion offends you (sarcasm.)
|
||
The Good Shephard is dumber that the s**t on the show. If they suck, then why are they selling out everywhere and making craploads of money. It's because people like their music, dipstick.... I mean dips**t.
|
||
Hey DuBose, You make a great point. But you sure do sound like a b**ch making it!
|
||
actually the article is wrong...Angu s was 18 at the time AC/DC was started. The public at the time was told he was 18 to fit the school-boy appearance.
|
||
TGS: Certainly every song sounds the same, and I'm sometimes dissapointed by that, but I don't care, they still have plenty of classics. You do have some good taste, but the fact that you have a Disturbed page ruins your credibility, because they're bland. Lots of their songs sound the same, you hypocrite. Plus you're still insane, and Jim Morrison was and still is very overrated and can't touch Bon Scott or Brian Johnson. Okay... speech over. Great band, period.
|
||
i got a question.... a c c o r d i n g to the Good Shepard's offensive comment. and other people that complain about the music in comments...i f you dont like the music...they why the hell are you on the band's page looking at it? obviously you dont have enought of a life so you crap on other peoples taste in music. GET A LIFE PPL!
|
||
As I fly over the cool ocean I play this in my head, love to catch those wind drifts and ride!
|
||
AC/DC F**KING ROCKS!
Lots of..*slight* sexual innuendo as well.. |
||
Going to see them in November. The defined high school for me with a dirty love of guitar pickers! It's going to be a religious experience, can't wait!
|
||
I grew up with AC/DC....the y are still one band that will continue to inspire all ages!!!
|
||
DUDE!!! AC/DC ROCKS!!! They makes u feel pretty bad azz and makes u wanna drive fast... It's good strip club music.
|
||
I'd rather listen to a song about getting some and having a beer than some of the self-indulge n t , hand-wringin g songs that come out now. If the lyrics are more complex now, the guitar cords sure aren't.
|
||
eh, i could live with or without ac/dc. but back in black was a good song.
|
||
I'm 14 and I love AC/DC. Their songs aren't extremely repetitive if you actually listen. This is much different than the boring crap that comes out today.
|
||
psh, whatever! it's not true! Elvis ain't dead! he just went home!
|
||
Only 45 yr olds listen to this repetitive bull crap music with bull crap f**king lyrics. Jesus Christ, 15 albums of the same high school lyrics, yadda yadda...shoo k me all night...yadd a yadda...more cocaine and booze please!. Come on old timers, give it up. Jim Morrison died, The Beatles are f**king gone and AC/DC is the s**t that never came off the shoe.
|
||
AC/DC kicks a**! who is willow? haha. this is like the coon, from southpark... no1 really cares.
|
||
there is a song by motley crue that i cant remember the name of ...the 1st verse starts off with "My babys got a smile , put you in a trance " can anyone help with name of song ? Thanks
|
||
Actually Garry D, I saw these guys last December in Phoenix, and Angus still rocks it.
|
| report abuse |






