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In 1974, Scottish-born guitarist Malcolm Young, living in Australia, wanted to form a band. He enlisted the services of his
teenage brother Angus on guitar and local wildman Bon Scott on vocals. From the start, AC/DC (the name was taken from the
back of their sister's sewing machine) garnered attention for Scott's lascivious tales of wine and women, and Angus's bizarre
onstage persona. Dressed as a schoolboy in cap, jacket, and shorts, he would careen madly around the stage, scraping his knees,
mooning the audience, and going into a hyperactive frenzy. With drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Mark Evans, the band cut their
first album in 1975, High Voltage. Although that and all their following efforts were released in the U.S. through Atlantic,
the band's first success came in Australia and Europe. Albums like Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), Let There Be Rock (1977),
Powerage (1978, featuring new bassist Cliff Williams), and the live If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978) showcased AC/DC
as one of the most hard-working, if basic, heavy rock bands around.
The brilliant Highway To Hell (1979) broke the band in America, selling over a million copies and launching them
on a hugely successful tour. But in February of 1980, after a night of hard drinking Bon Scott was found dead in his car he
choked in his own vomit. The heavy-drinking, fast-living Scott had been at his creative peak, establishing himself as one
of rock's premier frontmen and storytellers. AC/DC's future looked grim. But in one of rock's most dramatic comebacks, the
band re-grouped with Geordie singer Brian Johnson and cut Back In Black, their finest effort and widely considered one of
heavy metal's five all-time masterpiedes. The album has sold ten million copies since its release, bolstered by classics like
"Hell's Bells," "You Shook Me All Night Long," and the title track, and it's influenced countless younger bands. Since then,
AC/DC has released For Those About To Rock (1981), Flick Of The Switch (1983), 74Jailbreak (1984), the songs came from their
early years of the original Australin High Voltage, Fly On The Wall (1985), Who Made Who (1986), Blow Up Your Video (1987),
The Razors Edge (1990), and AC/DC Live (1992). Except for drummer changes (Simon Wright replaced Phil Rudd in '87, and was
replaced himself by Chris Slade in '90), the band and their music has remained pretty much the same over the years. Album
sales have varied from one to two million, although The Razors Edge moved three million, fueled by the hit single " Money
Talks." AC/DC has always been a consistently powerful live attraction, helped by their nononsense approach, plus Angus,s legendary
persona and fiery lead playing. Reviled by the critics since the beginning, AC/DC has finally earned their grudging respect
simply by virtue of sticking with the basics of great rock 'n' roll for nearly twenty years.
1992 saw the release of the Bruce Fairbairn produced live album Live drawing on material recorded worldwide over the
course of the tour. 1995 saw the return of Phil Rudd on drums and the release of the Ballbreaker album. The album saw
a welcome return to a more rawer sound which found favour with most of the bands loyal fans.
1997 brought about the
jewel in the AC/DC back catalogue with the release of Bonfire a 5 CD box set featuring previously un-released tracks recorded
with previous lead singer Bon Scott.
1998 sees the all of the AC/DC fans waiting for the the next installment in the
bands recorded output.
1999 AC/DC Commence recording in Vancouver Canada for the follow up album to Ballbreaker
2000 The long awaited release of the new album "Stiff Upper Lip" was on the 28th Feb (Europe) and 29th Feb (USA). Elektra,
MTV, Ebay and AC/DC teamed up to form an on-line auction where you can bid for a guitar lesson with Angus Young.
The album
was premiered at a special listening party at the New York Hard Rock cafe.
AC/DC kicked off their world tour at Grand
Rapids on the 1st August 2000. The tour would see the band travel across USA, Canada , Europe , Australia and Japan.
2001 The early part of 2001 saw the band playing in Australia and Japan. In the summer AC/DC returned from some American
concerts to play large open-air concerts in Europe. The Milton Keynes concert saw the introduction of the Angus Statue cartoon
at the start of the gig. A few old classics were added to the set list for the European concerts.
The end of the year
also saw the release of a LIVE DVD of the Munich concert in June 2001.
2002 AC/DC signed a deal with Epic Records a division of Sony Entertainment which will see their back catalogue being re-issued
and future records appearing on the Epic Records label.
2003 AC/DC are to inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame on the 10th March 2003.
AC/DC play a one off gig at the Roseland
Ballroom , New York on the 11th March 2003.
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