by Abby O. 

            The pioneers of Heavy Metal music are AC/DC. They are one of the longest running bands and most successful too. I mean how else could you have a guitar shaped pool? Keep reading and find out which band member has a pool like that. I will be telling you about the Background of AC/DC, the members plus Bon Scott, and the Present.

Past/Background

How They Started        

The band idea was formed when Angus and Malcolm Young decided to become famous Musicians when they saw all their older bothers were famous Musicians. Their Brother George believed they could do it. He belonged to The Eastbeats. Their brother George got them their first gig on December 31, 1973 as a New Year’s Eve gig in Sydney Australia at the Cheqquers Club.

The name

          They got their name from the side of their Sister Margaret’s sewing machine. AC/DC stood for on the side of the machine was Alternating current/ Direct Current. Angus and Malcolm thought it meant their bands raw energy. The band was thinking it wasn’t a good name but then they thought about it more after that New Year’s Eve and thought it was the perfect fit.

Early Years 1973 – 1974

            The original band members where: Angus and Malcolm Young, Larry Van Krieat (bassist), Dave Evans (vocalist), Colin Burgess (drums). After the bands New Year’s Eve set Albert Productions signed them. Colin Burgess was the first member in the band to be fired. Then through the next six months they went through many drummers and bassists. The early band uniforms were either glam rock or satin, but they soon noticed that Melbourne and Skyhooks was already doing that. So they wore more tight pants or jeans and most wore any shirt with AC/DC on it and they took their shirts off during performances. But Angus young wore a different outfit. His power outfit so they call it. Dave Evans, their lead singer, was more a glam rocker, he also caused lots of friction with their manger, so the band decided to fire him. Angus and Malcolm’s older brother George had a friend called Bon Scott who was a great experienced vocalist who would be honored to be the lead singer. Later in 1980 Bon Scott died tragically.

Albums From 1976-2000

          There where 22 albums in this time period. Somewhere rerecord from Dave Evans voice to Bon Scott and the other replaced band members. They had nine big hits out of those 22 albums, they were: High Voltage which was their first album, Let There Be Rock, Highway to Hell, Back in Black the first album after Bon Scott died a huge hit, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Live, Stiff Upper Lip, Razor Edge, Thunderstruck.

Members

Brian Johnson

          Brain Johnson was born on October 5, 1947 in Dunston Gateshead, England. He is the vocalist that replaced Bon Scott’s death. AC/DC picked him because he looked like Bon Scott a little and sounded like him. The hat he wears is so people that didn’t look close enough to the papers at that time think that it is not Bon Scott. Brian is 61 years old and is the oldest in the band. Brain went through a divorced many years ago around the time Razor Blade came out. Brain now lives in Bird Key area of Sarasota, Florida with his second wife. His back patio has the lighting bolt that goes in between AC and DC painted on the back part of it. He also has a Guitar shaped pool in his backyard.

Angus Young

          Angus McKinnon Young, was born March 31, 1955 and now is 53 years old. Born in Glasgow Scotland, just like all of his other brothers and sisters, Angus is the youngest of eight kids. Angus started playing the Guitar at five one of the neighborhood kids had one and let him play it when he came over. His first Guitar was a gift from his brother George. At the beginning of AC/DC Angus had trouble with the crowd so he would be one in a costume. He tried being Spiderman, Zorro, a Gorilla, and Superman but would be called Super-Aug. His sister Margret came up with the idea of his secondary school the Ashfield Boys High School. The outfit was his “power outfit” he has no trouble in crowds while wearing it. On the song Thunderstruck on the 1990 album Razor Edge Angus made history with his right hand in the air his left hand plays the whole song at the bridge or top of the Guitar, which is the hardest thing you could ever do on the Guitar. 

Malcolm Young

          Malcolm Mitchell Young is his full name. He was born on January 6, 1953. He is now 56 years old and has been part of AC/DC for all 35 years. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland but later moved to Sydney, Australia. In the band he plays the Guitar and does some back up vocals.

Cliff Williams

          Full name is Clifford Williams. But goes by Cliff he was born in Romford, England on December 14, 1949. He currently 59 years old and has zero gray hairs still very blonde. He has been playing since 1974 but started playing in several other bands before he found AC/DC. He plays the Bass and also does back up vocals.

Phil Rudd

          Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis but goes by Phil Rudd. He was born in Melbourne, Australia. He plays the Drums and does very little vocals maybe five words a song or less. He has been playing the drums from 1970-1983 than stopped than started again from 1994- present day. He played for fun from 1970-1983 than he’s been with  AC/DC since 1994 to present day.

Bon Scott

            Ronald Belford Scott other wise know as Bon Scott. Born in Kirriemuir, Scotland on July 9, 1946, died on February 19, 1980 at the age of 33. He played the Drums, was a Vocalist, and played the bagpipes. After a heavy night of drinking Bon Scott got a ride home from his friend Alistair Kinnear and past out on the ride home so was left in the car on 67^th Overhill Road. Over night Bon vomited and then choked on his own vomit. That morning his friend went to get him and noticed he wasn’t breathing and rushed him to King’s College Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The band was going to stop but knew Bon won’t want them to so they found a new singer and came out with the major hit Back in Black. In the music video Let There Be Rock the band sings in a church and Bon is the Father or Priest and jumps off the podium and falls to the ground because as he landed he broke he ankle. 

Present

What’s Happened Lately

          On August 18, 2008 Columbia Records released a new AC/DC album called Black Ice. The Band has been traveling all over the world lately. Right now they are in Europe doing many concerts and visiting family and old roots. In March of 2003 they where put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Band made a touching speech honoring Bon Scott.

Albums From 2002- Present Year (2008)

          There has been sixteen albums since 2000 plus some remixes. The biggest hits where: T.N.T, Black Ice. Other wise it has been a small break for AC/DC to get their lives in order but might still “make a couple more albums” the band says.

That is the history on AC/DC from begin to end now. The ups the downs the twists and turns the good and the bad. The two original members still going strong and their band on the MTV’s Top 100 songs of the 90’s.

Bibliography

                   “Biography”

·          http://acdc.com/history/bio.php

·          Encyclopedia of Rock By: Mike Clifford

“All AC/DC Albums”

·          http://music.yahoo.com/ar-285401-discography--ACDC

“AC/DC”

·          http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/ac-dc

·          The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll By: Jon Pareles and Patricia Romanowski

“Biography”

·          http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/acdc/biography

“AC/DC”

·          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC#The_Bon_Scott_era:_1974-1980