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 (pictured at right).
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 subsequent 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".
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