by Steven (Oct 22, 2005)

     Highway to Hell

In the evening of the turn of the year 1973 on 1974 a band stood on the stage, which should write music history. AC/DC, their name, performed at that time in the Chequers club their program from Rock'n'roll songs from the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and the Beatles. Nobody would probably have got the idea that this heap of boors should belong once in the future to the most influencial band in the hard skirt range.

AC/DC (English abbreviation for Alternative Current/Direct Current) were founded in Sydney by Malcolm Young. He earned his rolls in a company, which manufactured sewing machines. His band at that time (The Underground velvet) did not fit any longer and accepted his small brother Angus to the new formation. Angus had to earn his living costs at that time still with jobs as doormen and type-setter, before for him the music was promoted to the point of food. The "classical" AC/CDc LINE UP found together only late.

They replaced Evans with Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott. This prototype of a Rock'n'Roller helped that band. His life-style and above all his clearly ambiguous texts made the legend, which he is still today. Together with him - however not yet with firm occupation - they went off into the studio, under the direction of the Duos George Young and Harry Vanda they made the innovative "High Voltage" album. George (again one of the Young brothers) and Harry were in the Australian music scene already no more unknown quantities, played nevertheless both with the Easybeats ("Friday on My Mind") . Which was pressed there on plate, was pure Rock'n'roll. With texts about women, drink and party they did not only make themselves friends. They were already from the outset a thorn in the eye of the conservative Australian establishment and had to fight them with appearance prohibitions

The future this band spent nearly permanently on the road. Each pup - and it was still so small - was distaffed and the name AC/DC became more well-known. Support for Lou Reed and Deep Purple followed.

In 1975 came Mark Evans at the bass and Phil Rudd (drums) into the band. With them they played "TNT", which was released on 20 February 1976 and immediately became place two in the Charts . The attention of the large labels arouse and still in the same year signs AC/DC a world-wide contract with Atlantic. In Germany the first available work "High Voltage" is a crossing of the two first Australian disks. After the release the band made their first tour through Europe, but the press didn`t understand them and said that AC/DC was a punk band. But this does not prevent the AC/CDc virus spreding over Europe. Already with the following album "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" belonged AC/DC to a more well-known band in the business. In 1977 they replaced Evans by Cliff Williams.

In the Londoner Roundhouse of studios they began with the photographs to "Highway To Hell", which should help them world-wide to the break-through and is probably the classical author in the AC/DC discography. From now on it rained gold on AC/DC. On 19 February 1980 Scott died in London of his own vomit and the fan crowd was shocked. The question, whether this band continues or dissolves, is fast solved because already on 8 April 1980 the ex-Geordie-Frontmann Brian Johnson is presented and only a few days after AC/DC go again in the studio, in order to record "Back In Black" as a tribute to the deceased singer. The despising comments of the press were long but did not that the disk turning out to the big success. Brian Johnson had to fight for a long time with the extra large shade of its deceased of predecessor, until the fans accepted him.

After "Back In Black" AC/DC could also afford to get over a period with less good albums. With "Flick Off The Switch" AC/DC had to accept for the first time a decrease of the sales. This weakness period took until 1990. In that year the turbo "The Razor's Edge" was now ignited and in the course of the single "Thunderstruck" AC/DC was again as successful as at the beginning.

After "Stiff Upper Lip" (2000) it got quieter about the band of the brothers Young.

If you wish to react to this article, write to the editor.

March 5, 2005

AC/DC forever! After hearing them the first time, I never stopped listening to them. I think you've written your article very well. Keep on!

Alexander (Ihmert, Germany)