AC/DC

AC/DC is a rock band formed in 1973 in Sydney, Australia by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who have remained the sole constant members until 2014, when Malcolm left due to medical issues and has since died. Although described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, the band has defined themselves as “a rock and roll band, nothing more, nothing less.” As of 2014, AC/DC had sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, including 84 million albums in the U.S.. The band’s seventh album and first album with singer Brian Johnson, Back in Black, has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second highest-selling album, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The band name came up after Malcolm and Angus' sister, Margaret Young, saw the initials on her sewing machine.

During their early years with vocalist Dave Evans, they recorded several songs for their debut single, “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl”. Ever since then, they hired a new singer Bon Scott and recorded six albums with Scott (High Voltage, T.N.T., Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage and Highway to Hell). But disaster struck on February 19, 1980, when it was announced that Scott died after a night out drinking in London. The band members considered quitting as a result of this, but they didn’t, after Scott’s parents convinced them to keep going. After a month and a half with no singer, they hired Brian Johnson in April 1980 to replace Scott and started recording Back in Black in the Bahamas. Back in Black has peaked #4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, where it has spent 644 weeks on the chart as of October 11, 2025. They also released their eighth studio album For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), which reached #1 for the first time on the Billboard 200.

In mid-1983, their drummer Phil Rudd was fired due to him having drug and alcohol addictions midway through recording sessions of Flick of the Switch. He was replaced by drummer Simon Wright, who also left in 1989 to work with heavy metal band Dio and was replaced by drummer Chris Slade. After Slade was hired, the band recorded their twelfth studio album The Razors Edge, which became a major success, reaching #2 in the U.S. They have also recorded 1993 single “Big Gun”, from the Last Action Hero soundtrack. In 1994, Rudd was invided to several jam sessions, but was eventually rehired due to Slade resigning. After Rudd was hired, the band started recording Ballbreaker in New York City, but relocated to Los Angeles due to the band being unsatisfied with the sound recorded in New York. Ballbreaker was released on September 26, 1995.

In 1999, the band started recording Stiff Upper Lip with George Young as the producer. The album was released in February 2000. In December 2002, the band signed a long-term deal with Sony Music Entertainment, and they re-released their entire catalogue the following year. The band (including Bon Scott) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2008, after multiple delays, the band recorded and released their fifteenth studio album Black Ice, which reached #1 in 29 countries and was their second best-selling album worldwide in 2008. A year later, the band released their box set Backtracks, which includes the remainder of songs from the Australian version of High Voltage and T.N.T., extra songs and live recordings. They also released Iron Man 2, the soundtrack composed of greatest hits and earlier tracks for the action movie of the same name in 2010. During the Black Ice World Tour in 2009, 3 shows were recorded in River Plate Stadium in Argentina for their DVD and live album Live at River Plate, which was released on May 10, 2011 and November 19, 2012, respectively.

Before the band started recording Rock or Bust in April 2014, Malcolm became severely sick and was unable to continue performing. As a result, Malcolm officially retired from performing in September. Stevie Young, Angus' and Malcolm’s nephew, replaced Malcolm in the studio, AC/DC confirmed in July. Rudd had another issue before the release Rock or Bust, with him being charged with death threats and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. As a result, Chris Slade rejoined the band for their performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards and the Rock or Bust World Tour. Rock or Bust was released on November 28, 2014, with all tracks credited to Angus and Malcolm. In March 2016, the tour’s US arena dates were postponed due to Brian Johnson’s doctors advising him to stop touring because of the risk of complete deafness. Johnson was replaced with Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose for the remainder of the tour. At the end of the tour, Cliff Williams announced his retirement from touring and recording, and AC/DC went on hiatus.

In August 2018, Johnson and Rudd were spotted in the Warehouse Studio, speculating that the band will release an album in the future. It was then confirmed that Johnson, Rudd and Williams have returned to AC/DC in September 2020. The band dropped a teaser video in September 2020, hinting a new album. After the release of “Shot in the Dark”, they then confirmed the release on November 13, 2020, of their seventeenth studio album POWER UP. POWER UP reached #1 in 21 countries. In February 2024, the band announced the Power Up Tour with bass guitarist Chris Chaney replacing Williams and drummer Matt Laug replacing Rudd.