AC DC Bio
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 was 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 their lead vocalist when
their 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 was
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.
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 their
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, the band'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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All
Music Guide
Written by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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