Let's Crap... Let's Rock!!!: October 2006

About AD/DC

AC/DC are a hard rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. The band have sold over 150 million albums worldwide and over 68 million albums in the United States, making them one of the most successful hard rock acts ever. Their 1980 album, Back in Black, has sold 42 million units worldwide (21 million in the US alone), and is the second highest selling album of all time and the biggest selling album by any band.

In its recording career, the band has had two distinctive lead singers; Bon Scott and then later, Brian Johnson. Thus, fans tend to divide its history into the "Bon Scott era" (1974 80), and the "Brian Johnson era" (1980 present).

Although the group is generally considered to be a pioneer of hard rock and Heavy metal music along with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, the members have always referred to their music as "rock 'n' roll".

The band also accept the description "hard rock" (they are ranked number 4 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock"), but they find the "metal" description offensive. At one point they were known as a punk band, which AC/DC also disagreed with.


History (sources from wikipedia)

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, brothers Angus, Malcolm and George Young moved, along with most of their family, to Sydney, Australia, in 1963, when they were all still young children.

George began playing guitar first and became a member of Australia's most successful band during the 1960s - The Easybeats, who were the first local rock act to score an international hit ("Friday On My Mind" in 1966). Malcolm and Angus soon followed in his footsteps. Malcolm first played with a Newcastle, New South Wales band called The Velvet Underground (not to be confused with the New York based Velvet Underground, which featured Lou Reed).

In 1974, George Young was playing on an album by the Marcus Hook Roll Band, called Tales Of Old Granddaddy, when he introduced Angus and Malcolm to a recording studio for the first time, and invited them to contribute to the album

Bon Scott Era (1974-1980)

In September 1974, Dave Evans was replaced by Bon Scott, former lead vocalist with The Spektors (1964-66), The Valentines (1966-70) and Fraternity (1970-73). This signified the beginning of the band's international success. With Evans, they had recorded one single, "Can I Sit Next To You"/"Rockin' In The Parlour".

"Can I Sit Next To You" was eventually re-recorded with Bon Scott under the title "Can I Sit Next To You Girl".

By January 1975, the Australian-only album entitled High Voltage was recorded, based on instrumental songs written by the Young brothers and lyrics written by Scott. Within a few months the line-up had stabilised around Scott, the Young brothers, Mark Evans (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums).

Later that year, the band released the single, "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", which became their perennial rock anthem. It was included on their second album, T.N.

T., again only released in Australia and New Zealand. The album also featured another classic, "High Voltage".

Between 1974 and 1978, aided by regular appearances on the nationally-broadcast TV pop music show, Molly Meldrum's Countdown, AC/DC became one of the most popular and successful acts in Australia.

Bon Scott

Bon Scott's death (1980)

Bon Scott died on 19 February, 1980 (see 1980 in music). He had passed out after a night of routine partying in London, and was left in a car owned by an acquaintance of his named Alistair Kinnear.

The next day, Bon was found unconscious by Kinnear and immediately rushed to the King's College hospital in Camberwell, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Although common folklore cites pulmonary aspiration of vomit as the cause of his death, the official cause was listed as "Acute alcohol poisoning" and "Death by Misadventure".

There are many inconsistencies in the official story, which in recent years have led to many conspiracy theories, many involving heroin overdoses.

Some think it was murder, and that Bon Scott was killed by fumes from the exhaust being redistributed into the car, and some think Kinnear didn't even exist. It should be noted, however, that Bon was asthmatic and the temperature was below freezing that morning.

Scott's family buried him in Fremantle, Western Australia, the area to which they emigrated when he was a child.

Brian Johnson era (1980-present)

With Johnson, the band completed the songwriting that was started while Bon Scott was still alive and began recording Back in Black at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas a few months after Scott's death. Back in Black, also produced by Lange, and became their biggest-selling album and a hard-rock landmark, featuring hits like; "Hell's Bells", "You Shook Me All Night Long" and the title track. Back in Black was certified platinum a year after its release and by 1997 it had sold 16 million copies in the U.

S. alone.

Brian Johnson

The follow-up album, "For Those About to Rock We Salute You", released in 1981, also sold very well and was well received by critics.

Two of the band's biggest hit singles to date were featured in this album, "Let's Get It Up", reaching #13 in the U.K., and the title track, "For Those About to Rock", reaching #15 on the U.

K. charts. The band split with Lange for their self-produced 1983 album, Flick of the Switch in an effort to find the rawness and simplicity of their early albums.

Departure of Rudd (1983)

Amid rumours of alcoholism and drug-induced paranoia, drummer Phil Rudd's friendship with Malcolm Young was deteriorating. After a long period of unfriendliness, the two's dislike for each other grew so strong that, at one point, they got into a fight. Two hours later, Rudd was fired from the band.

Phil Rudd

Rudd was replaced by Simon Wright, after the band held an anonymous audition. With the new line-up, the band recorded and produced the less successful album, Flick of the Switch, which was was considered underdeveloped (AC/DC was voted as the eighth biggest disappointment of the year in the 1984 Kerrang!'s readers' poll).

However, Flick of the Switch eventually reached No. 4 in the UK charts. Fly on the Wall, produced by the Young brothers in 1985, was also regarded as underdeveloped and directionless.

A music concept video was also released, it featured the band at a bar, playing five of the album's ten songs and supplemented by a variety of goings-on, including an animated fly.

Simon Wright

In 1986, the group returned to the charts with the title track from Who Made Who, the soundtrack to Stephen King's film Maximum Overdrive. This album also included two new instrumentals along with previous hits such as "Hell's Bells" and "Ride On".

In February 1988, AC/DC were inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame.


Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

During their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003, AC/DC performed "Highway To Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" with guest vocals by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who inducted the band into the hall. Tyler also called the band's power chords, "the thunder from down under that gives you the second most powerful surge that can flow through your body.

"

Brian Johnson with Steven Tyler

ACDC Lane

On 1 October 2004 a central Melbourne thoroughfare, Corporation Lane, was officially renamed ACDC Lane in honour of the band (street names in the City of Melbourne cannot contain the "/" character). The lane is near Swanston Street, the location where, on the back of a truck, the band recorded their video for the 1975 hit "It's a Long Way to the Top". There is another street, in Leganés, Spain, which was named after the band in 2 March 2000, called 'Calle de AC/DC'.

It is close to other streets named after Iron Maiden and Spanish hard rock star, Rosendo.

Band Members

Current line-up

* Angus Young lead guitar
* Malcolm Young rhythm guitar / backing vocals
* Brian Johnson lead vocals
* Cliff Williams bass / backing vocals
* Phil Rudd drums

Original line-up

* Angus Young lead guitar
* Malcolm Young rhythm guitar / backing vocals
* Dave Evans lead vocals
* Larry Van Kriedt bass
* Colin Burgess drums

From left: Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd, Angus Young, Cliff Williams and Brian Johnson

AC/DC..

. Another legendary classic rock band!!

!

Happy Weekend Have a Safe Journey Home..

.

Dire Straits

History (source from wikipedia)

Dire Straits recorded and released their first, self-titled album in 1978 for 12,500, initially within the UK to little fanfare, but to number one platinum success in the rest of Europe and, soon after, the U.S. Later, re-released as a single, Sultans of Swing became an unlikely UK chart hit, making the top 10.

The group's second album, Communiqué, followed in 1979, resulting in a typical situation of the time, Communiqué showing as number one in the German album charts with Dire Straits simultaneously at number 3. Both albums are characterised by a stripped-down sound. However, this would change with the following albums.

The band's line-up would also change over the years, but Mark Knopfler and John Illsley still play together, the two last founding members.


The Brothers In Arms era

Brothers in Arms was released in 1985 and went on to become the biggest selling album in the UK of that year and a huge hit internationally. It spawned several chart singles, including the U.

S. number one hit "Money for Nothing", which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. There were further personnel changes, with the addition of a second keyboardist, Guy Fletcher.

Brothers in Arms also saw the departure of Hal Lindes from the band during the recording sessions. His place was taken by Jack Sonni, though Lindes was still credited as an official band member for the album's release, while Sonni was not. Terry Williams was also joined on drums by Omar Hakim: both are credited as band members for this release.

The 1985 86 world tour was phenomenally successful. While playing a thirteen-night residency at Wembley Arena, the band moved down the road to Wembley Stadium on the afternoon of 13th July 1985 to appear in Live Aid. Their set included "Money For Nothing" with Sting as guest vocalist.

The tour ended at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, where Dire Straits still holds the record for consecutive appearances (21 nights). The last show of this extended stay in Sydney was recorded and broadcast on Australian and New Zealand television, and is well known for the one-off calypso rendition of "So Far Away" and the band's impromptu attempt at the famous Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda".

After Brothers in Arms

After the Brothers in Arms tour ended in 1986, Dire Straits went on a lengthy hiatus and Mark Knopfler concentrated on solo projects and film soundtracks.

Dire Straits regrouped for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988, where they were joined for their set by Eric Clapton (who performed his hit "Wonderful Tonight" with the group). Also in 1988, drummer Terry Williams left the band.

After Mark Knopfler worked and toured with the Notting Hillbillies, Dire Straits regrouped in 1989.

By this time the band comprised four key members: Knopfler, John Illsley, and keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher. Accompanied by other part-time members or session musicians, including the highly respected American drummerorca Jeff Porcaro from Toto, the group began recording tracks for a new album. The result was the band's final original studio album, On Every Street, released in 1991, six years after the release of Brothers in Arms.

A widely anticipated release, On Every Street met with mixed reviews and moderate success. It was regarded by some reviewers as an underwhelming follow up and didn't sell as well as its predecessor. The song "The Bug", taken from that album, contains backing vocals by Vince Gill who turned down an invitation to join the band full time.

The 1991 1993 world tour that followed On Every Street was not as successful as the previous one of 1985 86. A live album, On the Night, released in 1993, documented that tour, in which Chris Whitten played drums.

Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler have sold in excess of 118 million albums to date.