50 Fun Facts About AC/DC

In which city was AC/DC formed in 1973?

Their first official gig was at Chequers nightclub on New Year's Eve 1973.

Where did the Young brothers find the band's name?

Sister Margaret spotted the 'AC/DC' symbol; she also came up with Angus's school-uniform costume.

Which costumes did Angus try before settling on the schoolboy uniform?

He first wore the uniform in April 1974 at Victoria Park, Sydney.

In which Scottish city was the band's lead guitarist born?

The family lived in the Cranhill district before emigrating to Australia; Bon Scott was also Scottish-born.

Which guitarist's duckwalk does Angus imitate on stage?

His guitar of choice since about 1970 has been the Gibson SG.

Which older brother of Angus and Malcolm co-produced the band's early albums with Harry Vanda?

He had been in the Easybeats with Harry Vanda.

Which two bands had Bon Scott sung with before joining AC/DC in 1974?

Former bandmate Vince Lovegrove introduced him to George Young in Adelaide.

Which 1975 Australian album was heavily mined for the band's first international release?

The 1976 international High Voltage took most of its tracks from it, including only two from the true debut.

Which label signed AC/DC to an international deal in 1976?

Phil Carson at the label had noticed promo material sent by manager Michael Browning.

Which album, released in 1977, was the first to carry the band's lightning-bolt logo?

American typographer Gerard Huerta designed it.

Which bassist was fired in May 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams?

He later wrote a memoir called Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC.

Which live album was recorded at the Apollo in Scotland on the Powerage tour?

Powerage's only single was 'Rock 'n' Roll Damnation'.

Who produced Highway to Hell in 1979?

He returned for Back in Black; the album marked a shift from comic lyrics to central rock themes.

What was the official cause of Bon Scott's death in February 1980?

He was left in a car overnight in London to sleep it off after a night out.

Where was Bon Scott buried?

His family had settled there after emigrating from Scotland when he was six.

In which Scottish town did Bon Scott grow up?

He was born in nearby Forfar in 1946.

Which band was Brian Johnson fronting before AC/DC hired him?

He was born in Dunston near Newcastle in 1947 and Bon Scott had once praised his singing.

Which two songs did Johnson sing at his AC/DC audition?

Malcolm offered him the job on 29 March 1980, to Johnson's surprise.

Where was Back in Black recorded?

Tropical storms kept knocking out the studio's electricity during the seven-week session.

Why is the cover of Back in Black entirely black?

The label reportedly wanted a grey outline around the logo, which the band resisted.

Where does Back in Black rank among the best-selling albums in history?

Roughly 50 million copies, behind only Thriller.

Which drummer was fired during the Flick of the Switch sessions in 1983 after a fight with Malcolm?

He returned in 1994 and later faced charges including threatening to kill.

Which Stephen King film had a soundtrack album by AC/DC called Who Made Who?

It mixed old hits with the new title track and two instrumentals.

Which producer, known for Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, made The Razors Edge in Vancouver?

Its lead single 'Thunderstruck' reached No. 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Which drummer played only on The Razors Edge before the original drummer returned in 1994?

He briefly rejoined again in 2015 when the returning drummer's legal troubles kept him off the road.

For which Arnold Schwarzenegger film did AC/DC record 'Big Gun' in 1993?

Schwarzenegger appears in the video wearing a schoolboy outfit.

In which year was AC/DC inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Bon Scott was inducted alongside the then-current line-up.

In how many countries did Black Ice reach No. 1 in 2008?

Including Australia, the UK and the US.

Which Marvel film's soundtrack was an AC/DC compilation released in 2010?

It compiled earlier studio tracks rather than new material.

Why did Malcolm Young retire from the band in 2014?

He died three years later; nephew Stevie Young took his place.

Which singer replaced Brian Johnson for the rest of the 2016 tour when Johnson risked hearing loss?

Johnson returned for the 2020 reunion and Power Up.

What is the title of the band's seventeenth studio album, released in 2020?

It reunited the Rock or Bust line-up.

Roughly how many records has AC/DC sold worldwide?

They hold two Guinness World Records and have won two Grammys.

Which member of the band is its only continuous member since 1973?

He was born in 1955 and dropped out of Ashfield Boys High at 15.

Which Australian TV pop show helped High Voltage-era AC/DC reach a teenybop audience?

Critic Ian McFarlane noted they took pub-rock energy to a Countdown crowd while still packing the pubs.

Which Black Sabbath bassist allegedly pulled a switchblade on Malcolm during a 1977 show in Sweden?

AC/DC were the support act on that tour.

Which album was not released in North America until April 1981, when the band was at its peak?

Track listings differed between the Australian and international versions.

Who produced Blow Up Your Video in France in 1988?

It reached No. 2 in the UK and Australia, their best showing since Back in Black.

Where did Rolling Stone rank Back in Black on its 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums?

Highway to Hell came in at No. 199.

What was the drummer's name in the original 1973 line-up?

He came from the Masters Apprentices; the first singer was Dave Evans.

Who took over on drums after the 1983 firing?

Wright left in 1989 to join Dio.

What was the RIAA certification of Back in Black in August 2024?

That makes it the best-selling album never to top the US chart.

Who was AC/DC's original lead singer when the band formed in Sydney in November 1973?

Larry Van Kriedt played bass and Colin Burgess of the Masters Apprentices drummed in that first line-up.

Roughly how many people saw AC/DC play the 1991 Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow?

It was the first open-air rock concert ever held in the former Soviet Union.

Which nephew of Angus and Malcolm replaced Malcolm on rhythm guitar for Rock or Bust?

He had already filled in temporarily on tour in 1988; Malcolm retired in 2014 with early-onset dementia.

Which producer, later famous for Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, made The Razors Edge in Vancouver?

'Thunderstruck' reached No. 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and 'Moneytalks' hit No. 23 on the Hot 100.

Which US retailer had exclusive store rights to Black Ice (2008)?

Brendan O'Brien produced the 15-track album, the band's first studio recordings in eight years.

Where was AC/DC's 1996 concert film No Bull shot during the Ballbreaker World Tour?

The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas show was filmed on 10 July 1996; Ballbreaker had topped the charts in Australia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Which producer's Rolling Stone essay called AC/DC 'the greatest rock & roll band of all time'?

The magazine placed the band at number 72 on its 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.

Which AC/DC album, recorded in Vancouver and produced by George Young, came out in February 2000?

Critics preferred it to Ballbreaker but found it short on new ideas; the Munich show that June became Stiff Upper Lip Live.