AUSTRALIA - Music

AC/DC

AC/DC is the abbreviation for alternating current / direct current or, in short "AC/DC". After seeing the acronym "AC/DC" on a vacuum (or according to some sources, on a sewing machine), Margaret, the sister of Malcolm and Angus, had the idea to adopt this symbol as the group name.The Young brothers at the origin of the group felt that this name symbolized the raw energy of the band and love for their music.

AC/DC is pronounced one letter at a time, except in Australia, where the group is called "Acca Dacca".

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, the brothers George (1947), Malcolm (born 1953) and Angus Young (born 1955) emigrated with their families in Australia in 1963 and settled in the suburbs of Sydney.

The composition of AC/DC underwent many changes before the release of the second album in Australia, TNT in 1975. It remained unchanged until the singer Mark Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams in 1977. In 1979 the group enjoyed worldwide success with its album Highway to Hell.

On February 19^th, 1980, the singer and co-lyricist Bon Scott, drowned in his own vomit after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. The group then considered the idea of a dissolution but the old Geordie singer Brian Johnson was selected as a replacement for Bon Scott. The same year, the band released the album Back in Black, their world's largest success to date.

The next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, was a great success and was the first of their albums to reach the top spot in sales in the United States. AC/DC's popularity began to decline in 1983, when Phil Rudd left the group to found his helicopter transport company in Sydney. The drummer became Simon Wright until 1989, and then Chris Slade, until the return of Phil Rudd in 1994. It was from 1996 that the band's popularity rose again.

The latest album to date, Black Ice, released on October 20^th, 2008, was their greatest success in the charts since For Those About to Rock, reaching the top in many countries.

In 2008, AC/DC sold over 200 million albums worldwide including 71 million in the United States. During its 39 years of existence it was considered as a pioneer of hard rock for all the generations from the birth of the group. Sales of Back in Black are estimated to 50 million copies worldwide, making it the second most sold album in the world behind Michael Jackson's Thriller album. The album sold 22 million copies in the United States alone, where it is the 5th best selling album.

Angus Young
( AC/DC 's guitar player)

Enzo PISTAT and Quentin BIET