Check out a list of some of the most interesting facts about AC/DC
THE AC/DC is one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Over the decades of their career, the Australian band has accumulated a series of stories and curiosities that not all fans know.
Check out a list of some of the most interesting facts about AC/DC below.
1. Origin of the name: a sewing machine
The brothers Malcolm and Angus Young found the acronym on a sewing machine adapter belonging to her sister, Margaret Young.
AC/DC is an abbreviation for “Alternating Current/Direct Current” (Alternating Current/Direct Current), a metaphor for the energy and electricity present in the band’s performances.
2. ‘Acca Dacca’: Australian pronunciation
While the whole world pronounces the band’s name as ACDCin her native Australia, fans prefer to call her ‘Acca Dacca’.
3. The first vocalist was not Bon Scott
Although Bon Scott has become one of the most recognizable faces in the AC/DChe was not the band’s first vocalist. Before him, the singer Dave Evans He was responsible for vocals at the beginning of the group’s career. Bon Scott He joined the band in 1974 and helped consolidate AC/DC’s signature sound.
4. Scottish Brothers, Australian Fame
Although the AC/DC be a symbol of Australian rock, the brothers, Malcolm and Angus Youngin fact, were born in Scotland, in the city of Glasgow. They moved to Australia with their family in the early 1960s, where they would later form the band.
5. Success of ‘Back in Black’
Launched in 1980, Back in Black is the most successful album in AC/DC and one of the best sellers in rock history, with more than 51 million copies. The album was the first after the death of Bon Scott and marked the debut of the new vocalist, Brian Johnson. Tracks like Hells Bellsand You Shook Me All Night Long are considered rock classics.
In the United States, Back in Black it received 25 platinum records. This means that the album sold at least 25 million copies in that country alone.
6. Recording in the Bahamas
Despite being Australian, the AC/DC recorded the album Back in Black in the Bahamas. The choice, initially motivated by financial reasons, was hampered by storms and power outages during the process. Still, the result was one of the most iconic albums in rock history.
Due to power problems in the Bahamas, the band disbanded Back in Black in New York, in Electric Lady Studiosfounded by legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. The studio, opened in 1970, was also used by other major music stars, such as Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.
7. AC/DC and the sharks
Interestingly, sharks have been reported to respond to the song of the AC/DC. A tour operator in Australia discovered that playing songs like Back in Black underwater attracted great white sharks, which swam towards the sound and rubbed their faces against the source of the music.
8. ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ Lawsuit
The song Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap almost caused legal problems for the AC/DC. Some fans interpreted the numbers in the lyrics as an actual phone number, which prompted a couple of Illinois receiving hundreds of calls a day. They sued the band, but the court ruled that accidental use of the number was protected by First Amendment of the United States.
9. Visual and uniform identity
The famous school uniform that Angus Youngguitarist of AC/DCwears on stage has become one of the most iconic looks in rock history, but its origins are quite interesting.
Before finding a visual identity, in the band’s early years, AngusYoungguitarist, tried on several different costumes, such as a gorilla suit, a Zorro mask and even a superhero costume called Super Ang. The idea was to create a striking identity, but these fantasies were not consolidated.
The suggestion to wear the school uniform came from his sister, Margaret Youngwho thought it would be funny and represent the youth of Angus, who had just left school when the band formed. For the first show with the look, in 1974Angus borrowed the uniform blazer of his nephew, Margaret’s son.
10. Show on ‘Highway to Hell’
In 2020, a special event was held in Perthin Australia, to pay homage to the former singer of AC/DC, Bon Scottwho died in 1980.
THE Canning Highwaya famous road in the city, was closed and symbolically renamed as Highway to Hell for a day. The event transformed the road into an open-air stage, with bands performing on top of trucks that traveled along the route.
The choice of Canning Highway It was no accident — Bon Scott used to drive down this road to a bar, which inspired the song’s title.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
