
AC/DC
βI'm sick to death of people saying we've made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've made 12 albums that sound exactly the same.β
AC/DC is an iconic Australian hard rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly regarded as pioneers of heavy metal and hard rock, the band's music is defined by raw, high-voltage energy, straightforward three-chord guitar riffs, and powerful, screeching vocals. Over their legendary career, the band has gone through significant line-up changes, most notably following the tragic death of lead singer Bon Scott in 1980, who was succeeded by Brian Johnson. Despite this devastating loss, the band went on to release Back in Black, which became the second best-selling album of all time worldwide, cementing their place as one of the most successful and influential groups in music history.
With a signature style centered on Angus Young's energetic schoolboy-uniform-wearing stage presence and Malcolm Young's driving rhythm guitar, AC/DC has scored a phenomenal run of chart-topping rock anthems. Hits like 'Highway to Hell,' 'Back in Black,' 'You Shook Me All Night Long,' 'Thunderstruck,' and 'T. N. T.' have become universal anthems of rebellion and high energy. Their sound is characterized by a stubborn, uncompromising commitment to pure, unadulterated rock and roll, eschewing musical trends in favor of massive, foot-stomping grooves.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, AC/DC has sold over 200 million records globally. Their legendary music has been extensively featured across countless films, TV shows, and video games to inject raw intensity and power into cinematic moments. From the Iron Man franchise (which famously used 'Shoot to Thrill' and 'Back in Black' to define Tony Stark's persona) to the hilarious tennis court showdown in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids (which utilized 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap'), AC/DC's tracks remain the ultimate soundtrack for high-octane action and rebellion.
Appearances on Soundtrack Wiki
- Bridesmaids (2011)
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- Off Campus (2026)
Genres & Styles
Band Members (People)
- Angus Young
- Malcolm Young
- Bon Scott
- Brian Johnson
- Cliff Williams
- Phil Rudd
- Chris Slade
- Stevie Young
Main Discography
- High Voltage (1975)
- T.N.T. (1975)
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
- Let There Be Rock (1977)
- Powerage (1978)
- Highway to Hell (1979)
- Back in Black (1980)
- For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981)
- Flick of the Switch (1983)
- Fly on the Wall (1985)
- Blow Up Your Video (1988)
- The Razors Edge (1990)
- Ballbreaker (1995)
- Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
- Black Ice (2008)
- Rock or Bust (2014)
- Power Up (2020)
Related Projects
- The Marcus Hook Roll Band
- Geordie
- Fraternity
Similar Artists
- Led Zeppelin
- Deep Purple
- Black Sabbath
- Aerosmith
- Guns N' Roses
- Van Halen
- Def Leppard
- Iron Maiden
- Judas Priest
- MotΓΆrhead
Awards
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2003)
- Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for 'War Machine' (2010)
- Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame (1988)
- Recipient of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Service to Australian Music
Trivia
The Schoolboy Uniform: Angus Young's iconic schoolboy stage uniform was originally suggested by his sister Margaret. Before settling on the schoolboy look, Angus tried various other costumes during their early gigs, including Spider-Man, Zorro, a gorilla, and a parody of Superman called 'Super-Ang'.
The Meaning of AC/DC: The band's name stands for 'Alternating Current/Direct Current', which denotes electricity. Malcolm and Angus's sister Margaret saw the abbreviation on the sewing machine's AC adapter and thought the name perfectly symbolized the band's raw, electric energy.
Back in Black Legacy: Released in July 1980 as a tribute to their late singer Bon Scott, the album 'Back in Black' has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide. It stands as the second best-selling album in music history, surpassed only by Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Banned in Places: In their early years, the band's aggressive sound and provocative lyrics led to them being banned from performing in several venues across Australia and even caused controversy in the United States, where some conservative groups accused them of satanic undertones (humorously speculating that AC/DC stood for 'Anti-Christ/Devil's Children').