AC/DC
Biography
AC/DC, an Australian rock band, was formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been described as hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal, though the band itself calls it "rock and roll". The initial lineup included the Young brothers, bassist Larry Van Kriedt, vocalist Dave Evans, and drummer Colin Burgess. Angus Young's signature schoolboy uniform, a suggestion from his sister Margaret, became a visual trademark for the band. After a number of lineup changes, the band stabilized with Bon Scott as the lead vocalist, Phil Rudd on drums, and Cliff Williams on bass, alongside the Young brothers.
The Bon Scott Era
In 1974, Bon Scott replaced Dave Evans as the lead singer, bringing a charismatic and rebellious edge to the band. The band released their first two albums, "High Voltage" and "T.N.T." (both 1975), exclusively in Australia. An international version of "High Voltage" was released in 1976, which was a compilation of tracks from their first two Australian records. This was followed by albums like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (1976), "Let There Be Rock" (1977), and "Powerage" (1978). The band's international fame grew with the release of "Highway to Hell" (1979), which became their first album to break into the US Top 20.
Tragedy and a New Beginning
Tragedy struck in February 1980 when Bon Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning. The band considered disbanding but, encouraged by Scott's parents, decided to continue. They recruited English singer Brian Johnson as their new frontman. Johnson's first album with the band, "Back in Black" (1980), was a tribute to Scott and became a monumental success. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.
The Brian Johnson Era and Continued Success
With Brian Johnson, AC/DC released a string of successful albums. "For Those About to Rock We Salute You" (1981) was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 in the US. The 1990 album, "The Razors Edge," which featured the hit single "Thunderstruck," marked a significant commercial resurgence for the band. Throughout the years, the band has seen several lineup changes. Phil Rudd was replaced by Simon Wright in 1983, who was then replaced by Chris Slade in 1989, before Rudd's return in 1994.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2014, Malcolm Young retired from the band due to dementia and was replaced by his nephew, Stevie Young. The band released "Rock or Bust" in the same year. Brian Johnson was forced to stop touring in 2016 due to hearing loss and was temporarily replaced by Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. Johnson later returned to record the album "Power Up" (2020), which was a tribute to the late Malcolm Young. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. With over 200 million records sold worldwide, they are one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Their powerful, riff-based rock and roll has had a lasting influence on countless rock bands.