AC/DC – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Photo credit: “ACDC COLLAGE” by Harry (Howard) Potts, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
AC/DC Biography
AC/DC, the rock group, was founded by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young in Sydney in 1973. Some people call their sound hard rock, blues rock, or heavy metal, but the band just calls it “rock and roll.”
AC/DC had some lineup changes before their first album, High Voltage in 1975. The core of the band became the Young brothers, Bon Scott, Phil Rudd, and Mark Evans. In 1977, Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams. Scott died in 1980 from alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking. The band considered breaking up but decided to continue with Brian Johnson as the new vocalist. They released Back in Black later that year as a tribute to Scott. The album became one of the best-selling albums of all time and brought AC/DC immense fame.
In 1981, AC/DC released their eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, which topped the American charts. Rudd left the group before their next album, Flick of the Switch, could be released. He was replaced by Simon Wright in 1983 and then by Chris Slade in 1989. The band’s commercial comeback in the early 1990s came with the release of their twelfth studio album, The Razors Edge, which was the only record with Slade before Rudd returned in 1994. Since then, Rudd has worked with the band on five more albums, starting with Ballbreaker in 1995. Their fifteenth studio album, Black Ice, reached No. 1 worldwide and was their most successful chart-wise since For Those About to Rock.
Malcolm Young left the band due to dementia and passed away in 2017. Rudd had legal issues. The band’s lineup stayed the same for twenty years. Stevie Young, Malcolm’s nephew, replaced him on AC/2014 DC’s album Rock or Bust. Chris Slade, a previous drummer, filled in for Rudd on the accompanying tour. Johnson was advised to stop touring in 2016 due to worsening hearing loss. Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses filled in as vocalist for the remaining concerts that year. After the Rock or Bust tour in 2016, bassist Cliff Williams left the band. AC/DC went on a four-year hiatus. They announced a Rock or Bust lineup reunion in September 2020 and released their seventeenth studio album, Power Up, two months later.
AC/DC is a popular band, ranked ninth in the country and sixteenth globally. They have sold over 200 million records worldwide, including 75 million albums in the US. Their album, Back in Black, is the second best-selling album of all time, with approximately 50 million units sold globally. It is also the best-selling album of all time. In the US, it is the sixth-highest-selling album with 22 million units sold. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2003.
AC/DC is ranked number four on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” and the seventh-greatest heavy metal band ever according to MTV. In 2004, AC/DC was ranked No. 72 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” Rick Rubin, the producer of the Rolling Stone list, referred to AC/DC as “the greatest rock and roll band of all time” in an essay he wrote about them. AC/DC is also listed at number 23 on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” from 2010.
Key Takeaways
- Band origins (1973): AC/DC formed in Sydney in 1973, founded by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young, with a pure “rock and roll” identity.
- Early breakthrough (1975): The band’s rise began with High Voltage (1975), helping establish their sound and reputation.
- Bon Scott era: Bon Scott became the face of AC/DC’s early success before his death in 1980.
- Major turning point (1980): AC/DC continued with Brian Johnson and released Back in Black (1980) as a tribute to Scott.
- Historic album success: Back in Black became one of the best-selling albums ever and pushed AC/DC to global superstardom.
- Chart dominance (1981): For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981) reached No. 1 in the US.
- 1990s comeback: The Razors Edge (1990) helped power a strong commercial resurgence.
- Modern-era peak (2008): Black Ice (2008) hit No. 1 worldwide, their biggest chart success in decades.
- Malcolm Young legacy: Malcolm stepped away due to dementia and died in 2017, remaining central to the band’s identity and sound.
- Return milestone (2020): After a hiatus, AC/DC returned with Power Up (2020), proving their lasting popularity.
AC/DC Discography
| Power Up |     |
| Rock or Bust | |
| Black Ice | |
| Ballbreaker | |
| The Razors Edge | |
| Blow Up Your Video | |
| For Those About to Rock We Salute You | |
| Back in Black | |
| Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap | |
| High Voltage | |
Top Videos
1. Thunderstruck
2. Back In Black
3. Highway to Hell
4. You Shook Me All Night Long
5. Hells Bells
6. T.N.T.
7. Shoot to Thrill
8. Rock’n’Roll Train
9. Whole Lotta Rosie
10. Who Made Who
Frequently Asked Questions
What's AC/DC's most famous song?
What's AC/DC's biggest banger?
Who's the lead singer of AC/DC?
How many members are in ACDC?
Most Searched For AC/DC Songs
| You Shook Me All Night Long | |
| Thunderstruck | |
| Highway to hell | |
| Back In Black | |
| T.N.T. | |
| It’s A long Way to the Top | |
| Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap | |
| Hells Bells | |
| Shoot to Thrill | |
| Jailbreak | |