ACDC, a Rock and Roll Legend!

Back in the '70s, before the Crocodile Dundee franchise and Outback Steakhouse were capitalizing on the idea of Aussies as fun-loving partiers, AC/DC was rocking the house with its blues-based, balls-to-the-wall hard rock. Formed by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young back in 1973, the band gained popularity and released two albums in their native Australia before being picked up by Atlantic Records and unleashing their sonic assault on the world. Famously fronted by the hard-drinking Bon Scott, AC/DC embraced the wackier side of rock n' roll with gusto. Guitarist Angus Young became known for his on-stage getup of a schoolboy's uniform, and for mooning the audience. AC/DC racked up hits TKTK After original singer Bon Scott died from alcohol poisoning in 1980, fans generally assumed the gravel-voiced vocals that defined the band had been buried with him. But AC/DC rallied with new singer Brian Johnson and went on to release their best-selling album to date, Back In Black, later that year. A brief separation from long-time drummer Phil Rudd led to a creative trough; however, upon reuniting in 1994, the band got its collective groove back and released the album Ballbreaker to critical and commercial success. Although less active in recent years, AC/DC's label has released numerous compilations and remastered editions, and the band is said to be working on material for a new - possibly double - album.
With a guitarist that moons the audience and a knack for writing lyrics that become part of the cultural lexicon, these down and dirty blokes from Sydney under have been cranky out out ditties about dirty deeds and American thighs since decades before the dudes from Wolfmother were a glimmer in anybody's eye. AC/DC's distinctive sound and embrace of a working-class aesthetic were a major influence on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that emerged in the late 70s and spawned such acts as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon. Their songs hit a sweet spot between heavy and pop, and manage to nail down a trademark sound without being repetitious. If your familiarity with AC/DC is limited to what the DJs stuck working over the holidays play during their inevitable "top rock songs of all time" roundups, check out Who Made Who. This 1986 record is a sort of hybrid between greatest hits album and new release. It contains most of the band's top singles up until that point along some new eardrum-rattlers like the title track and "Sink the Pink." Want more? 1990's hit The Razor's Edge is a terrific example of how the band sounds at their mind-blowing best!