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
Contact Grabow for more information or to book
AC/DC for your next corporate or private event.
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