AC/DC
AC/DC was formed in Sydney, Australia, by ex-patriot Scotsmen
Malcolm and Angus Young (brothers of George Young - one of the
mainstays of 60s Aussie supergroup, The
Easybeats). Their sister suggested Angus should wear his
school uniform on stage, a gimmick that would still be in use more
than twenty years into the band's career. The band made their debut at
the Chequers club in Sydney along with Dave Evans (vocals), Larry Van
Knedt (bass) and Colin Burgess (drums) and in July 1974 recorded a
rather Glam number called Can I Sit Next To You Girl? which
became their first single, in July 1974.
A move to Melbourne brought yet another change as
Mark Evans (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums) were brought in. One night
when Dave Evans refused to go on stage, the band's chauffeur, Bon
Scott, was asked to take over. Evans moved on to front Aussie
glam-rockers, Rabbit, and in Scott AC/DC now had the perfect
combination of rasping, sleazy vocals, a knack for smutty lyrics and a
magnetic front man able to hold his own against Angus' bad-schoolboy
image.
Angus Young on lead singer Bon Scott's first
AC/DC gig in Adelaide in 1974: "Bon downed two bottles of bourbon with
dope, coke, speed and says 'I'm ready'". The pace was set. Bon Scott ,
school-uniform clad Angus and his brother Malcolm kept up the frenzy
to establish AC/DC as one of the world's top heavy rock bands. Having
signed to Albert Productions the next couple of years brought the
release of High Voltage (1974) and TNT (1975).
The pop-glam that had influenced their first
single had been stripped away and instead their love of blues-based
rock and roll gave them a raucous and raw studio sound. Neither record
was officially released outside Australia but upon signing to Atlantic
and moving base to the UK a selection of the material was released as
High Voltage (1976).
Their first UK headlining tour was dubbed Lock Up
Your Daughters, whilst the summer of 1976 brought an appearance
at the Reading Festival and the winter, the release of Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - yet another collection of tracks from the
Australian albums and not to be confused with the Antipodean version
bearing the same name. By now the band were alternating their touring
and recording schedules at a hectic pace and with Let There Be Rock
(1977) the band at last began to produce classic material.
The album made them a chart act in the UK - some feat
considering much of the rock world was gripped by punk at the time -
and the mighty Powerage (1978), featuring hit single Rock
and Roll Damnation, proved the addictive power of simple rock and
roll. As a live attraction their appeal was simply staggering; widely
acknowledged as one of the all-time great live rock albums If You
Want Blood You've Got It (1978) remains a definitive statement to
this day and peaked at No.13 in the UK charts.
It was not until Highway To Hell (1979)
that they became true international stars. The bad-boy image coupled
with their risqué lyrics made them obvious targets for moral
extremists and also ensured that the US finally took notice; it became
their first million-seller and peaked in America at Number 17. This first
highly successful collaboration with producer Mutt Lange and his
unerring production sensibilities also proved to be the last with Bon
Scott.
Having been on a heavy drinking binge in Camden
Town, on 20 February 1980, Scott was found dead in a car in Dulwich,
South London, after choking on his own vomit; the coroner recorded a
verdict of death by misadventure; he had literally 'drunk himself to
death'.
Scott had been one of the main attractions and it
seemed inconceivable that AC/DC could go on. Incredibly the band found
Brian Johnson (former lead singer with a UK band called Geordie, and
were recording a new album within two months. Back in Black
(1980) was a storming return to form and went on to sell over 10
million copies over the next decade in the US alone.
The last ten years have seen the band sticking to
an increasingly relaxed schedule with bouts of touring carefully
planned to support each unchanging release. Christmas 1997 brought the
band's tribute to Bon Scott, Bonfire. it included some classic
concert recordings as well as a disc of unreleased demos and live
rarities. It also served as a useful stop gap exercise whilst the band
started work on a new studio album.
The world may always call them "ey see dee see"
but in Australia they will forever be known as "Acker Dacker".
| The
Band |
Angus Young
Guitar
Bon Scott
Vocals
Malcolm Young
Guitar
Mark Evans
Bass
Phil Rudd
Drums |
Brian Johnson
Vocals
Rob Bailey
Bass
Cliff Williams
Bass
Simon Wright
Drums
Chris Slade
Drums |
Steve Young
Guitar
Peter Clack
Drums
Dave Evans
Vocals
Larry Van Knedt
Bass
Colin Burgess
Drums |
|
