THE STORY OF AC/DC : AUSTRALIAN SUPER GROUP

THE STORY OF AC/DC : AUSTRALIAN SUPER GROUP. AC/DC is a hard rock group formed in the city of Sydney (Australia) in 1973 by Scottish brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Their first concert was held the last night of 1973, coinciding with the release of her single Can I Sit Next to You Girl, whose lead singer was Dave Evans.

Initially made famous live performances, thanks in part to the flamboyant style of his lead guitarist, Angus Young, usually dressed in schoolboy uniform at concerts. In 1976, with the release of the album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap introduced the new singer Bon Scott would make a great impression on the band. That same year they moved to the UK, from where the brothers Young, of Scottish descent, and immediately took the top sales positions with albums like Let There Be Rock (1977) Powerage (1978), which followed If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978) and the album Highway to Hell (1979), which sold millions of copies. On February 19, 1980, vocalist Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in the back seat Your friend Alistair Kinnear and was replaced by Brian Johnson, who belonged to the Geordie. Although they came to the UK at the height of punk rock, soon gained a huge acceptance. The album Back in Black (1980) reached the first place in the list of best-selling albums in the country and catapulted the United States.

In the second half of the 1980s, a series of personal events led to believe that the group was past his best, but his records were kept in the charts until the 1990s. In 1993, the single "Big Gun", which used for the soundtrack of the film The Last Action Hero, by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, again reached the bestseller lists in Britain. In 1995, they recorded the album Ballbreaker, released in 2000 Stiff Upper Lip, in which proclaim their allegiance to rock rebel, and in 2008 they released Black Ice.

They have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, of which about 70 million have been sold in the United States Back in Black has sold over 50 million units in the world and more than 22 million just in the United States, so that is the fifth best-selling album of all time in the U.S. and the second between the top selling albums of all time behind Thriller in the world. Have risen to fourth in the list of VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" (The 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock) 5 and ranked seventh in the list of MTV's "Greatest Heavy Metal Band Of All Time" ( The best heavy metal bands of all time). In addition the song "Back In Black" was ranked second in the program's 100 greatest hard rock songs, VH1 channel. Q Magazine also placed them in the first place on your list the 50 groups that you see before you die.

Etymology of AC/DC

Angus and Malcolm Young, thought the idea of ​​the band name, written after viewing "AC/DC" at the bottom of the sewing machine of her sister, Margaret. AC / DC is an abbreviation, in English, of "alternating current / direct current (alternating current / direct current), which indicates that an electrical device can be connected to the AC mains and internally converts it to direct current or DC. Siblings , felt that this name symbolized the energy and power of the band's performances, and the name quedó. The name "ACDC" generally pronounced by spelling (English / eɪ.si:. Di:. si :/; Spanish / a.θe.ðe.θe / or / a.ce.de.ce /); without But they are known as "Acca Dacca" in Australia. The name has inspired tribute bands such as BC / DC, a Canadian band, AC / DShe, female group of San Francisco, Crazy DC.

History of AC/DC Band

The brothers Angus, Malcolm and George Young, born in Glasgow, United Kingdom, moved to Sydney, Australia in mid-1963, with most of his family and his best friend whom were based in most of his songs. George was the first to learn to play guitar. The group began in the Easybeats, successful Australian band in the 1960s. In 1969, they became the first local rock band international success with the song "Friday On My Mind" Malcolm then decided to follow in the footsteps of George, playing in the Welsh band The Velvet Underground (not to be confused with the New York band Velvet Underground).

Early years of AC/DC Band

In November 1973, Malcolm Young and Angus Young formed AC / DC and recruited bassist Larry Van Kriedt, singer Dave Evans and drummer Colin Burgess ex-Master's Apprentices. The band played their first gig at a club called "Chequers" in Sydney on New Year 1973. Later signed to Albert Productions of EMI in Australia and New Zealand. At first, the formation of the band changed often: Colin Burgess was the first member fired, and several bassists and drummers passed through the band over the next year. (See list of members of AC /DC).By this time, Angus Young had adopted his characteristic school uniform, following an idea of ​​his sister Margaret. The original uniform, say, your high school, "Ashfield Boys High School", Sydney. Angus had tried other costumes, such as Spiderman, Zorro, a gorilla, and a parody of Superman, named Super-Ang. In fact, in its early days, most members of the band dressed as glam, but abandoned that style, when they discovered that another group (Skyhooks) did the same in their presentations.

The brothers decided that Dave Evans was not a suitable representative for the group, as it seemed more like a glam rocker Gary Glitter. At that stage, Evans was occasionally replaced by the band's first manager, Dennis Laughlin; who was the singer of Sherbet, Daryl Braithwaite before he joined them. Evans had personal problems with Laughlin, which also contributed to the rejection of the band to Evans. Meanwhile Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott, an experienced singer and friend of George Young, showed interest in singing with them.

AC/DC : Arrival of Bon Scott (1974)
In September 1974, Bon Scott replaced Dave Evans. Until then, the group had recorded only one single with Evans Can I Sit Next to You / Rockin 'in the Parlour. Can I Sit Next to You then re-recorded with Bon Scott on vocals, entitled Can I Sit Next to You Girl. In January 1975, they recorded their first album (though only for Australia), called High Voltage. It took ten days, 16 and is based on instrumental songs written by the Young brothers, with lyrics written by Scott. After a few months, training stabilized: Scott, the Young brothers, bassist Mark Evans and drummer Phil Rudd. Later that same year, they released the single It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll), which became his him. This topic is included on their second album, TNT, which was published only in Australia and New Zealand. The album featured another classic song, High Voltage.

International success of AC/DC (1976-1978)
In 1975, they signed an international contract with "Atlantic Records" and began a European tour worldwide, with whom gained valuable experience playing alongside hard rock greats like Kiss, Aerosmith, Styx, Blue Öyster Cult and Cheap Trick among others.

The group made two albums in Australia: High Voltage (1975) and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976). The material from both albums helped develop the High Voltage for America. In fall of 1977, published Let There Be Rock. The following year, he joined Cliff Williams, who is one of the best bassists in the Powerage album. All these albums were produced by Vanda and George Young. The atmosphere of his concerts is reflected in If you want blood, you've got it. AC / DC toured with artists such as Alice Cooper, Rush, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Boston, Black Sabbath, Cheap Trick, Heart, Scorpions, Molly Hatchet, Ronnie Montrose, Nazareth, UFO, Journey, Foreigner, Van Halen, Styx , Blue Öyster Cult, Alvin Lee, Rainbow, Savoy Brown, REO Speedwagon, The Doobie Brothers, Thin Lizzy and The Who.

AC/DC : Success in America (1977-1979)

What really opened the doors to success, was Highway to Hell (1979), produced by Mutt Lange, for many their best album and peaked at number 17 on the U.S. charts and number 8 in the UK, was the first work on getting a million copies sold and is on the list of 500 essential albums, produced by Rolling Stone. The main theme of the LP, the song Highway to hell, would become for many a hymn of the rock and roll of the late '70s.

AC/DC : Death of Bon Scott (1980)
When everything seemed to go very well (had sales success in Europe and the United States), unfortunately I fell one night where they were stopping in London. This February 19, 1980 lost their vocalist. The cause of death was poisoning etílica.18 Scott took over in a London nightclub called "musicmachine" (better known as "Camden Palace" and then renamed "The KOKO"). His close friend Alistair Kinnear took him to rest in his car, parked in front of the number 67 Overhill Road in East Dulwich, in the south of the city. The next morning, Scott Kinnear led to King's College Hospital in Camberwell, where he was pronounced dead of alcohol poisoning. Oral tradition says he choked on his own vomit, which was denied by the same Kinear years later in a rock magazine which contained his name in AC / DC biography written by Susan Massino.

The family of Scott fired his remains in Fremantle Cemetery, (Perth), the place where they had migrated during the infancy of Bon.

AC/DC : Early Brian Johnson (1980-1983)

After the death of Bon Scott, the band was raised further, and finally English recruited Brian Johnson, who came from the popular British band Geordie and of whom it is said, was the favorite vocalist Scott. Johnson was no group and was considering whether he would continue in the music world. However, he accepted the challenge and went with the rest of the group to record what would become one of the great albums of the 1980s: Back in Black, dedicated to Bon Scott, and produced by Robert Lange. The figures achieved by this album are remarkable: in the U.S., sales topped the list for five weeks and stayed for another twenty in the Top 10 (was in total over 131 weeks in the Top 40). After one year had exceeded the 5 million sales in that country and, to date, the RIAA certified Platinum 22 albums Back in Black, which amounts to more than 22 million copies sold in the U.S.. UU. It is estimated that sold over 40 million copies of that LP, on the list of bestsellers in history, after Michael Jackson's Thriller, released a couple of years adelante.

The success of Back in Black fired the sales of all their previous albums, unleashing a "fever" by AC / DC. Building on the momentum, the album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was reissued in March 1981 in the U.S.. UU. (Which was not published in its first release in 1976). He stayed 55 weeks in the top 40 best sellers in 2001 and earned his sixth platinum.

Also, all previous albums the group exceeded one million copies in July of the same year. In November 1981, he published For Those About To Rock: We Salute You, that would bring to light the success with the same name. Like the previous two albums, was produced by Mutt Langue. He received a good reception from the fans, but not the criticism. He also obtained good sales, with one million copies sold in its first week and, in 2001, confirmed its fourth platinum album in the U.S "Back In Black" by AC / DC has been named the best guitar riff of all time, according to the brand of guitars Gibson: "The album with better riffs in history is probably the 1980 album, with the band farewell to the singer Bon Scott. Brothers Angus and Malcolm Young created some of the best riffs of his career on this magnum opus ... " November 2, 2012.

AC/DC: The arrival of Wright and commercial decline (1983-1987)
 In May 1983, drummer Phil Rudd was replaced by Simon Wright, the reason for the departure of Phil was a fist fight with Malcolm Young. After the relay, in August would light a new LP: Flick of the Switch, the first album produced by Angus and Malcolm. The album became commercial decay group status significantly, although considered very successful rock the song, Flick of the Switch. In October 1984, they released a mini-'74 Jailbreak LP with several unreleased songs and commemorating its ten years of existence. In June 1985. Published Fly on the Wall album was not well received by critics and had poor sales. In May 1986, Who Made Who published the first collection of AC / DC, made especially for the film by Stephen King The Rise of the Machines ("Maximum Overdrive"), and he got pretty good sales. This album rose songs like "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Ride On".

AC/DC : Renewed popularity (1988-1997)

In January 1988, they returned to Blow Up Your Video, produced by Harry Vanda and George Young. During the 1988 tour, for personal reasons, Malcolm Young was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young (just replace him during the American tour). In November 1989, Simon Wright temporarily left the group to join Dio, and record the respective album of the band, Lock Up The Wolves. He was replaced by Chris Slade. At that time, Johnson was not available, as was arranging the affairs of their divorce. So, the Young brothers wrote all the songs for their next album.

With The Razors Edge (1990), produced by Bruce Fairbairn, again, almost 10 years after his first great success, to the top of the charts (77 weeks in the top 40 U.S.. UU., 12 million copies sold to date), launched by the success Thunderstruck. The tour of the new album is recorded on the album "Live!", The second live double plate of Australians.

In 1993, released the single Big Gun, for the soundtrack to the movie Last Action Hero (Last Action Hero), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would also in the video. In the summer of 1994, Phil Rudd returned to the battery, after his reunion with the group after a concert. Malcolm forgave him and asked him to return. In autumn 1995, published Ballbreaker, produced by Rick Rubin, which entered the charts at number 4 and sold a million copies in the first six months with her single Hard As a Rock. This album also extracted songs like "Cover You In Oil", "Hail Caesar" and "Boogie Man".

AC / DC and the New Millennium (2000-2008)
Stiff Upper Lip followed in early 2000. With that album, again sounds more influenced them in their youth. From the March 22, 2000, AC / DC has a street in Leganes (Madrid) called "Calle de AC / DC", whose inauguration was attended by Malcolm and Angus with great expectation of public and fans. On the day of the inauguration, the plate was stolen and replaced within two hours.

Three days later, it was stolen again. And later, was count the number of times it has been stolen. In response, the City Council decided to remove the plates Leganés for sale to satisfy the cravings of fans. This story was exposed in the Spanish movie Isi / Disi: Love at Beast directed by Chema de la Peña and starring Santiago Segura and Florentino Fernandez.

His success as the single "You Shook Me All Night Long", interpreted by great personalities of the world of music, as Céline Dion & Anastacia in special "Divas Live Las Vegas." Interestingly version of "You Shook Me All Night Long" by Céline Dion was chosen by the British magazine Total Guitar in 2008 as the worst version of Mundo.

In 2003, AC / DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In October 2004, the City of Melbourne also honored with a street, ACDC Lane, the City Council approve the replacement of the old name, Corporation Lane. Inscribed "ACDC" because the rules of the city does not allow use of certain symbols like the slash "/" in the names of its streets.

In 2005, he launched the Back in Black DualDisc and DVD Family Jewels, a collection of his videos from 1973-1990. In 2006, he published a book with the history of the band, called "Let There Be Rock: The Story of AC / DC", written by journalist Susan Masino.

In October 2007 was released the new DVD Box-Set entitled "Plug Me In", in simple version (two DVDs) and "collector" (three DVDs), with lots of unreleased material and unknown, even by collectors.

On May 10, 2011, goes on sale "AC / DC Live at River Plate", which includes concerts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 2, 4, 6 December 2009.

AC/DC : influences
The band AC / DC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2003. During the ceremony the band performed "Highway to Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" (with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler).
In May 2003, Malcolm Young received the award Ted Albert Award for outstanding service to Australian music.

On October 1, 2004, a street in Melbourne, Corporation Lane, was renamed ACDC Lane in honor of the band. However, the City of Melbourne forbade the use of the slash character in street names, so the four letters were combined. The street is near Swanston Street where, in the back of a truck, the band recorded one of their biggest hits It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll).

AC / DC sold over 1.3 million albums in the U.S.. UU. in 2007 despite not having released any new music since 2000.

In 2009, the Recording Industry Association of America update the record sales of the group changing its sales amount of 69 million to 71 million, making AC ϟ DC became the fifth band to sell more albums in the U.S. selling more albums than Madonna, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. The RIAA also certify the album Back in Black (album) with double diamond (20 million) in sales in the U.S. and in 2007 the album had sold 22 million copies.

Members of AC/DC Band

Brian Johnson - Vocals (1980-present). Angus Young - Lead Guitar (1973-present). Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1973-present). Cliff Williams - Bass guitar, backing vocals (1977-present). Phil Rudd - drums, percussion (1975-1983, 1994-present).

Previous members of AC/DC

Dave Evans - Vocals (1973-1974). Bon Scott - Vocals (1974-1980). Mark Evans - Bass guitar (1975-1977). Simon Wright - drums, percussion (1983-1989). Chris Slade - drums, percussion (1989-1994). George Young - Bass guitar, (1974-1975) Colin Burgess - drums, percussion (1973-1974) Peter Clack - drums, percussion (1974) Tony Currenti - drums, percussion (1974-1975) Larry Van Kriedt - Bass guitar, (1973-1974) Rob Bailey - Bass Guitar, (1974)