AC/DC

Australian heavy-metal band AC/DC features knickers-clad guitarist Angus Young, who became as famous for mooning audiences regularly as for his gritty blues-based lead guitar and songs about sex, drinking, and damnation. AC/DC’s raucous image, constant touring, and raw, juvenile yet amusing lyrics in songs like “Big Balls” and “The Jack” helped make it one of the top hard-rock bands in history. The group has remained a major concert draw, and its albums consistently go platinum despite its never having had a Top 20 single in the U.S.

The Young brothers moved with their family from Scotland to Sydney in 1963. In 1973 they formed the first version of AC/DC, adding vocalist Bon Scott in early 1974, followed by drummer Phillip Rudd and bassist Mark Evans later that year. Their first four albums were produced by ex-Easybeats Harry Vanda and George Young, Angus’ older brother. The group had gained a solid reputation in their homeland early on, but it wasn’t until 1979 with the platinum Highway to Hell (#17, 1979) that they became a presence on the American charts.

Within months of AC/DC’s American success, vocalist Scott died from choking on his own vomit after an all-night drinking binge. Two months later he was replaced by ex-Geordie vocalist Brian Johnson, and less than four months after that, Back in Black began a yearlong run on the U.S. chart, peaking at #4 (1980), selling over 13 million copies to date, and featuring the double-entendre-ridden “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, a 1981 reissue of a 1976 Australian LP, went to #3 in the U.S., followed by For Those About to Rock We Salute You, the group’s first and, to date, only U.S. #1 LP, in late 1981. The less spectacular showings of the gold albums Flick of the Switch (#15, 1983) and Fly on the Wall (#32, 1985) gave way to the multiplatinum Who Made Who (the soundtrack to Maximum Overdrive) and The Razors Edge (#2, 1990). The latter contains the group’s closest thing to a hit single, “Moneytalks” (#23, 1991). In January 1991. three fans were crushed to death at an AC/DC show in Salt Lake City, Utah. In late 1992, the group paid the families of the three deceased teenagers an undisclosed sum, following an out-of-court settlement. Other parties to the settlement included the convention center, the concert’s promoter, and the company in charge of security.

AC/DC laid low until 1995, when the Rick Rubin–produced Ballbreaker (which also marked the return of drummer Phil Rudd) entered the charts at #4. The bulk of the 5-CD box set Bonfire, released in 1997, was made up of live tracks recorded in 1977 and 1979, as well as of a remastered version of Back in Black. It marked the first time AC/DC had released material featuring Bon Scott since the singer’s death. With older brother George Young (who had worked on such early AC/DC albums as Let There Be Rock and Powerage) back on board as producer, Stiff Upper Lip (#7, 2000) confirmed AC/DC’s status as one of the most enduringly popular hard-rock bands on the planet. Wisely sticking to its time-tested formula of no-frills riffing, the band followed the record’s release with extensive touring, during which Angus Young wore, as always, a schoolboy uniform. (That outfit has become such a part of rock legend that it was included in “Rock Style,” an exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which opened in 1999.) Always a reliable live act, AC/DC once more brought out the big guns — literally, since the band’s stage act included cannons that went off during “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”

AC/DC spent more time touring than recording in the 2000s, though they did drop Black Ice in 2008, Rock or Bust in 2014, and Power Up in 2020. Malcolm Young had to leave the group following the 2008 Black Ice tour for health reasons. He died in 2017. Stevie Young, the nephew of Angus and Malcolm, took over his role in the group.

Rudd once again had to step away from the band in 2015 when he was arrested in New Zealand for a wide array of charges, including attempting to hire a hitman. Chris Slade stepped in for Rudd on the Rock or Bust world tour. Near the end of that run, they faced an even bigger dilemma when Brian Johnson’s hearing loss forced him off the road. Axl Rose stepped in and helped them finish out the dates.

Just when the band truly seemed over, the surviving members — Rudd and Johnson included — came back together to record Power Up. “This record is pretty much a dedication to Malcolm, my brother,” Angus told Rolling Stone. “It’s a tribute for him like Back in Black was a tribute to Bon Scott.”

The pandemic made it impossible for them to tour, but they came back together in October 2023 for a triumphant set at the Powertrip Festival on the Coachella grounds in Indio, California. —Andy Greene