46 Fun Facts About AC/DC

In which city was AC/DC formed in 1973?

Their first official gig was at Chequers nightclub on New Year's Eve 1973.

Where did the Young brothers find the band's name?

On the adapter of their sister's sewing machine. Margaret Young spotted the 'AC/DC' alternating/direct current marking on her sewing machine, and she also suggested Angus's schoolboy uniform.

Which costumes did Angus try before settling on the schoolboy uniform?

Zorro, a gorilla and Superman. Angus Young tried a Zorro outfit, a gorilla suit and a 'Super-Ang' Superman parody before first wearing the schoolboy uniform in April 1974 at Victoria Park, Sydney.

In which Scottish city was the band's lead guitarist born?

Glasgow. Lead guitarist Angus Young was born in Glasgow in 1955 and grew up in its Cranhill district before the family emigrated to Sydney in 1963.

Which guitarist's duckwalk does Angus imitate on stage?

Chuck Berry. Angus Young's stage duckwalk is borrowed from Chuck Berry, whose one-legged hopping duckwalk was a trademark of his 1950s shows.

Which older brother of Angus and Malcolm co-produced the band's early albums with Harry Vanda?

He had been in the Easybeats with Harry Vanda.

Which two bands had Bon Scott sung with before joining AC/DC in 1974?

The Valentines and Fraternity. Bon Scott fronted Perth's The Valentines and then Adelaide's Fraternity before ex-Valentine Vince Lovegrove introduced him to AC/DC in 1974.

Which Australian-only album supplied most tracks for the band's first international release?

T.N.T. The 1976 international High Voltage took seven of its nine tracks from T.N.T. and only two from the Australian High Voltage debut.

Which label signed AC/DC to an international deal in 1976?

Atlantic. Phil Carson of Atlantic Records signed AC/DC to a worldwide deal after manager Michael Browning sent promo material, and Atlantic issued the international High Voltage in 1976.

Which album was the first to carry the band's lightning-bolt logo?

Let There Be Rock. The lightning-bolt AC/DC logo, designed by American typographer Gerard Huerta, first appeared on the 1977 international release of Let There Be Rock.

Which bassist was fired in May 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams?

Mark Evans. Bassist Mark Evans was dismissed in May 1977 after the Let There Be Rock sessions and replaced by Cliff Williams; Evans later wrote the memoir Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC.

Which live album was recorded at the Apollo in Scotland on the Powerage tour?

If You Want Blood You've Got It. AC/DC's first live album was recorded at the Glasgow Apollo on 30 April 1978 during the Powerage tour and released that October.

Who produced Highway to Hell in 1979?

Mutt Lange. Robert 'Mutt' Lange produced Highway to Hell, the band's first album without Vanda & Young, and returned for Back in Black and For Those About to Rock.

What was the official cause of Bon Scott's death in February 1980?

Acute alcohol poisoning. The coroner recorded acute alcohol poisoning and death by misadventure after Scott was left to sleep overnight in a car in East Dulwich, London, and found dead on 19 February 1980.

Where was Bon Scott buried?

Fremantle, Western Australia. Bon Scott's ashes were interred at Fremantle Cemetery; his family had emigrated from Scotland in 1952 and settled in Fremantle in 1956.

In which Scottish town did Bon Scott grow up?

Kirriemuir. Bon Scott was born in Forfar in 1946 and spent his early childhood in nearby Kirriemuir, which unveiled a statue of him in 2016, before the family emigrated in 1952.

Which band was Brian Johnson fronting before AC/DC hired him?

Geordie. Brian Johnson fronted the Newcastle glam-rock band Geordie, who had a 1973 UK hit with 'All Because of You'; Bon Scott had praised his singing after seeing Geordie play.

Which two songs did Johnson sing at his AC/DC audition?

'Nutbush City Limits' and 'Whole Lotta Rosie'. At his March 1980 audition Johnson sang Ike and Tina Turner's 'Nutbush City Limits' and AC/DC's own 'Whole Lotta Rosie', and was hired within days.

Where was Back in Black recorded?

Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. Back in Black was cut at Compass Point in Nassau in April and May 1980 with Mutt Lange, where tropical storms repeatedly knocked out the studio's power.

Why is the cover of Back in Black entirely black?

The label reportedly wanted a grey outline around the logo, which the band resisted.

Which drummer was fired during the Flick of the Switch sessions in 1983 after a fight with Malcolm?

Rudd. Phil Rudd was sacked in 1983 during the Flick of the Switch sessions after a fight with Malcolm Young; he returned in 1994 and in 2015 pleaded guilty to threatening to kill.

Which Stephen King film had a soundtrack album by AC/DC called Who Made Who?

Maximum Overdrive. Who Made Who (1986) was the soundtrack to Stephen King's only film as director, Maximum Overdrive, mixing old hits with the new title track and two instrumentals, 'D.T.' and 'Chase the Ace'.

Which producer, known for Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, made The Razors Edge in Vancouver?

Its lead single 'Thunderstruck' reached No. 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Which drummer played on 1990's The Razors Edge?

Chris Slade. Slade drummed on The Razors Edge (1990) and the 1992 Live album, left when Phil Rudd returned in 1994, and rejoined for the 2015–16 Rock or Bust tour.

For which Arnold Schwarzenegger film did AC/DC record 'Big Gun'?

Last Action Hero. 'Big Gun' was written for the 1993 Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero; Schwarzenegger appears in its video dressed in Angus Young's schoolboy uniform.

In which year was AC/DC inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

2003. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003, with the late Bon Scott honoured alongside Brian Johnson, Angus and Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd.

In how many countries did Black Ice reach No. 1 in 2008?

29. Black Ice debuted at No. 1 in 29 countries in October 2008, including Australia, the UK and the US, and was the second-best-selling album of 2008 worldwide.

Which Marvel film's soundtrack was an AC/DC compilation released in 2010?

Iron Man 2. The 2010 soundtrack AC/DC: Iron Man 2 compiled earlier studio tracks such as 'Shoot to Thrill' and 'Highway to Hell' rather than new material; 'Shoot to Thrill' plays over Tony Stark's Stark Expo entrance.

Why did Malcolm Young retire from the band in 2014?

Early-onset dementia. Malcolm Young left AC/DC in 2014 after being diagnosed with dementia and died in November 2017, aged 64.

Which singer replaced Brian Johnson for the rest of the 2016 tour when Johnson risked hearing loss?

Axl Rose. Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose fronted AC/DC for the remaining 2016 Rock or Bust dates after doctors warned Brian Johnson he risked total hearing loss.

Which Back in Black track opens with a tolling bell?

'Hells Bells'. The opening track of Back in Black begins with a one-ton bronze bell, cast for the band by John Taylor Bellfounders in Loughborough, tolling before the guitars enter.

Which member of the band is its only continuous member since 1973?

He was born in 1955 and dropped out of Ashfield Boys High at 15.

Which Australian TV pop show helped High Voltage-era AC/DC reach a teenybop audience?

Critic Ian McFarlane noted they took pub-rock energy to a Countdown crowd while still packing the pubs.

Which Black Sabbath member allegedly pulled a switchblade on Malcolm during a 1977 show in Sweden?

Geezer Butler. During Black Sabbath's 1977 European tour, which AC/DC supported, bassist Geezer Butler reportedly pulled a switchblade on Malcolm Young in Sweden, and AC/DC were dropped from the tour.

Who produced Blow Up Your Video in France in 1988?

Vanda & Young. Harry Vanda and George Young returned to produce Blow Up Your Video at Studio Miraval in France; it reached No. 2 in the UK and Australia, the band's best showing since Back in Black.

Where did Rolling Stone rank Back in Black on its 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums?

No. 73. Rolling Stone's 2003 '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' placed Back in Black at No. 73 and Highway to Hell at No. 199; the 2020 revision moved Back in Black to No. 84.

What was the drummer's name in the original 1973 line-up?

Colin Burgess. Former Masters Apprentices drummer Colin Burgess was in the November 1973 line-up but was sacked in February 1974 after collapsing on stage, which he blamed on a spiked drink.

Who took over on drums after the 1983 firing?

Simon Wright. English drummer Simon Wright joined in 1983 after the firing, playing on Fly on the Wall and Blow Up Your Video before leaving in 1989 to join Dio.

Who was AC/DC's original lead singer when the band formed in Sydney in November 1973?

Dave Evans. Dave Evans sang on the band's first single, 'Can I Sit Next to You, Girl', in 1974 before Bon Scott replaced him that September.

Roughly how many people saw AC/DC play the 1991 Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow?

1.6 million. The free Monsters of Rock show at Moscow's Tushino airfield on 28 September 1991 drew an estimated 1.6 million people, weeks after the failed August coup.

Which nephew of Angus and Malcolm replaced Malcolm on rhythm guitar for Rock or Bust?

Stevie Young. Stevie Young, son of the Youngs' eldest brother Stephen, had stood in for Malcolm on the 1988 Blow Up Your Video tour and became the permanent rhythm guitarist for Rock or Bust in 2014.

Which album was AC/DC's first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200?

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). Released in November 1981, it was AC/DC's first album to top the Billboard 200; Back in Black had peaked at No. 4.

Which US retailer had exclusive store rights to Black Ice (2008)?

Walmart. In the US Black Ice was sold only through Walmart and Sam's Club stores and the band's website; Brendan O'Brien produced the 15-track album, the band's first studio recordings in eight years.

In which venue was AC/DC's 1996 Ballbreaker World Tour concert film shot?

A Madrid bullring. The film No Bull was shot at Madrid's Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas on 10 July 1996 during the Ballbreaker World Tour; the title puns on the venue.

Which producer's Rolling Stone essay called AC/DC 'the greatest rock & roll band of all time'?

Rick Rubin. Rubin, who produced Ballbreaker, wrote the Rolling Stone essay placing AC/DC at No. 72 on its 100 Greatest Artists list and calling them 'the greatest rock & roll band of all time'.

Which AC/DC album did George Young produce at Vancouver's Warehouse Studio?

Stiff Upper Lip. Produced by George Young alone at Vancouver's Warehouse Studio and released in February 2000, Stiff Upper Lip was followed by the Munich show that became Stiff Upper Lip Live.