Special edition on AC/DC
Posted by CDANDLP on 05/09/2023 - 08:00:00 - No comment
Thank you PierrotSixties for your special edition on this famous Australian-British hard rock band, known worldwide as AC/DC, originally from Sydney. Combo created in 1973 by the Scottish brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. This article will be exclusively devoted to the beginnings of AC/DC in the 70s and a special tribute to their brilliant first singer, Bon Scott, who died too soon.
Back to the musical premises of this ultra-mythical group from the great history of Hard-Rock! For those who don't know the meaning of the group's name, AC/DC: Alternative Current Direct Current. It came from the back of their sister's sewing machine, which had the abbreviation AC/DC on it. The brothers thought the name was appropriate for their high-energy, electrifying style of music.
The great story of AC/DC, this mythical Hard Rock group, started in 1973, when Malcolm Young gathered around him, Colin Burgess on drums, Larry Van Kriedt on bass guitar and Dave Evans on vocals. Soon after, Malcolm convinced his younger brother Angus Young to join them to become the band's lead guitarist. The third brother George Young, already famous before with his group the Easybeats, never really joined the group however he played an important role for AC/DC as a producer and took part in numerous recordings replacing the regular bassist. Here is one of the very first AC/DC recording sessions in 1973 with the Young Brothers at the controls of the Combo!
AC/DC performed in public for the very first time in a Sydney club called Checkers on the evening of December 31, 1973. The combo, who had just started in the business, would later sign with the Albert Productions label, in a way the distributor of EMI for Australia and New Zealand. At that time, the band was still unstable when it came to drums and bass. Indeed three bass players and five drummers succeeded each other during the Dave Evans era, which lasted less than a year. Finally, note that it was during this period that the very young but already charismatic Angus Young adopted his characteristic school uniform as a stage costume, an idea of his sister Margaret. Captured with Dave Evans, AC/DC's very first historical singer before Bon Scott, here is an excerpt from the group's very first historical concert in 1974 with the title «Soul Stripper»!
It was in April 1974 that AC/DC finally released their first single «Can I Sit Next to You Girl». Meanwhile, the Young brothers judged their singer Dave Evans as unsuited to the musical style of their group, considering him better suited to glam rock, like Gary Glitter. On stage, Dave was even sometimes replaced by the band's first manager, Dennis Laughlin, the band's former singer Sherbet. Finally to top it off, Dave didn't get along with Laughlin at all, which actually contributed to the band's resentments towards Dave. This was the last hit the band recorded with Dave Evans, the excellent «Can I Sit Next to You Girl»!
Special article dedicated to the very beginnings of AC/DC, in other words the Bon Scott period! We are still in 1974 and at that time Bon Scott, former member of the group Valentines then Fraternity was still working as a driver in Adelaide when he met Angus and Malcolm Young. As we have just seen at the time, the title singer of AC/DC was still Dave Evans, but the Young brothers had decided not to keep him because he did not really correspond to the kind of musical orientation wanted by the two young brothers. At first, Bon Scott was hired as a bus driver and then let the two brothers know that he would like to be their drummer, but the members of the group explained to him that they were looking for a singer, not a drummer. Finally, Bon Scott replaced Dave Evans on vocals some time later. From the very first concert that Bon Scott did as the official singer of AC/DC on December 31, 1974 in Melbourne, here is the awesome «Show Business»!
At the very end of 1974, AC/DC finally recorded their first album High Voltage with Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Angus Young (lead guitar), Bon Scott (vocals), George Young (bass), and finally Tony Currenti (drums). This first opus was of course produced at the time by George Young and Harry Vanda, former member of Easybeats. The recording of this very promising opus took only 10 days, and was based on instrumental pieces by the Young brothers to which Bon Scott added lyrics afterwards. Released in February 1975, only in Australia, this record led the group to make a first major tour throughout the country and following the recording several changes took place until the group recruited Phil Rudd on drums and Mark Evans on bass. From this superb first album of legend, here is now «She's Got Balls»!
In 1976, the group signed a contract with the label Atlantic Records and took part in a long European tour. This first major tour was an opportunity for the very young members to gain concert experience by opening for ultra-recognized groups on the music scene such as Rainbow band (Ritchie Blackmore ex-Deep Purple member), Black Sabbath , Aerosmith, Kiss, Styx, Blue Oyster Cult, and as a co-headliner Cheap Trick. The same year the young brothers' combo released their second album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. This new opus existed at that time in two versions: one for Oceania and the other for Europe. Between the two versions, the cover and the list of titles were different. Extracted from the recording sessions of this superb album here is the song «Love at First Feel» dating from 1976!
After the superb success of their second album, AC/DC set about their third album Let There Be Rock, which was released in March 1977 in Australia, and a little later in Europe. Although released at the height of the rise of the punk musical movement which was then all the rage in England, this new opus of the group was also very well received in Europe and immediately became another great classic in the great history of Rock. Following the ensuing European tour and the recording of this new album, bassist Mark Evans left the band and was replaced by Cliff Williams. Recorded during the sessions of this third album let's now listen to «Dog Eat Dog»!
The year 1978 was marked by the release of the excellent Powerage, already the 4th opus of the combo. This new album completely followed the pattern set by Let There Be Rock, and thus marked the band's debut with bassist Cliff Williams and his hard riffs. For the record, it is also the favorite album of Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of theRolling Stones who did not miss a single opportunity at that time to promote it on many occasions, thus allowing the AC/DC group to become even more popular among Rock and Roll fans. By the way, speaking of Rock, let's now listen to the Rock and Roll title «Damnation» which opens this other cult album!
The year 1978 was a great musical year for the very young members of the AC/DC group. Indeed this was the period when the band of Bon Scott and the Young Brothers recorded their very first official live well known as «If You Want Blood You've Got It»! This excellent opus recorded during the band's concert on April 30, 1978 at the Apollo Theater in Glasgow during the Powerage Tour and is also the last AC/DC album from the Bon Scott period to be produced by Harry Vanda and George Young. This is now the title «Rocker» by AC/DC in 1978!
AC/DC released their 5th album Highway to Hell on July 27, 1979 on the Albert label in Australia, and August 3, 1979 on Atlantic Records in the rest of the world. This new album with strongly rock and roll sounds was then produced by Robert Mutt Lange and, musically speaking, it was one of the most heterogeneous that the combo has produced since its very beginning in 1974. It was unfortunately the last opus that the combo produced with Bon Scott before his tragic demise. Extract from this album which has since become legendary in the world of Rock, I offer you «Highway to Hell» of course!
In 1980, the members of AC/DC were at the height of their very first part of their career. Unfortunately, this ascent will be stopped dead momentarily. Indeed, on February 19, 1980, Bon Scott, the singer passed away in London (England) following a night of extreme drinking. It was then a disaster for the world of music but also for all the members of the combo. After the death of Bon Scott, AC / DC will still decide to continue its career by enlisting in its ranks the equally excellent Brian Johnson but that is a whole other story!
We will end this special article with a great classic from the album Highway to Hell! «Get It Hot»!
Thanks PierrotSixties, our legendary friend, collector of singles, albums, vinyl records of all kinds from the sixties and seventies!
Back to the musical premises of this ultra-mythical group from the great history of Hard-Rock! For those who don't know the meaning of the group's name, AC/DC: Alternative Current Direct Current. It came from the back of their sister's sewing machine, which had the abbreviation AC/DC on it. The brothers thought the name was appropriate for their high-energy, electrifying style of music.
The great story of AC/DC, this mythical Hard Rock group, started in 1973, when Malcolm Young gathered around him, Colin Burgess on drums, Larry Van Kriedt on bass guitar and Dave Evans on vocals. Soon after, Malcolm convinced his younger brother Angus Young to join them to become the band's lead guitarist. The third brother George Young, already famous before with his group the Easybeats, never really joined the group however he played an important role for AC/DC as a producer and took part in numerous recordings replacing the regular bassist. Here is one of the very first AC/DC recording sessions in 1973 with the Young Brothers at the controls of the Combo!
AC/DC performed in public for the very first time in a Sydney club called Checkers on the evening of December 31, 1973. The combo, who had just started in the business, would later sign with the Albert Productions label, in a way the distributor of EMI for Australia and New Zealand. At that time, the band was still unstable when it came to drums and bass. Indeed three bass players and five drummers succeeded each other during the Dave Evans era, which lasted less than a year. Finally, note that it was during this period that the very young but already charismatic Angus Young adopted his characteristic school uniform as a stage costume, an idea of his sister Margaret. Captured with Dave Evans, AC/DC's very first historical singer before Bon Scott, here is an excerpt from the group's very first historical concert in 1974 with the title «Soul Stripper»!
It was in April 1974 that AC/DC finally released their first single «Can I Sit Next to You Girl». Meanwhile, the Young brothers judged their singer Dave Evans as unsuited to the musical style of their group, considering him better suited to glam rock, like Gary Glitter. On stage, Dave was even sometimes replaced by the band's first manager, Dennis Laughlin, the band's former singer Sherbet. Finally to top it off, Dave didn't get along with Laughlin at all, which actually contributed to the band's resentments towards Dave. This was the last hit the band recorded with Dave Evans, the excellent «Can I Sit Next to You Girl»!
Special article dedicated to the very beginnings of AC/DC, in other words the Bon Scott period! We are still in 1974 and at that time Bon Scott, former member of the group Valentines then Fraternity was still working as a driver in Adelaide when he met Angus and Malcolm Young. As we have just seen at the time, the title singer of AC/DC was still Dave Evans, but the Young brothers had decided not to keep him because he did not really correspond to the kind of musical orientation wanted by the two young brothers. At first, Bon Scott was hired as a bus driver and then let the two brothers know that he would like to be their drummer, but the members of the group explained to him that they were looking for a singer, not a drummer. Finally, Bon Scott replaced Dave Evans on vocals some time later. From the very first concert that Bon Scott did as the official singer of AC/DC on December 31, 1974 in Melbourne, here is the awesome «Show Business»!
At the very end of 1974, AC/DC finally recorded their first album High Voltage with Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Angus Young (lead guitar), Bon Scott (vocals), George Young (bass), and finally Tony Currenti (drums). This first opus was of course produced at the time by George Young and Harry Vanda, former member of Easybeats. The recording of this very promising opus took only 10 days, and was based on instrumental pieces by the Young brothers to which Bon Scott added lyrics afterwards. Released in February 1975, only in Australia, this record led the group to make a first major tour throughout the country and following the recording several changes took place until the group recruited Phil Rudd on drums and Mark Evans on bass. From this superb first album of legend, here is now «She's Got Balls»!
In 1976, the group signed a contract with the label Atlantic Records and took part in a long European tour. This first major tour was an opportunity for the very young members to gain concert experience by opening for ultra-recognized groups on the music scene such as Rainbow band (Ritchie Blackmore ex-Deep Purple member), Black Sabbath , Aerosmith, Kiss, Styx, Blue Oyster Cult, and as a co-headliner Cheap Trick. The same year the young brothers' combo released their second album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. This new opus existed at that time in two versions: one for Oceania and the other for Europe. Between the two versions, the cover and the list of titles were different. Extracted from the recording sessions of this superb album here is the song «Love at First Feel» dating from 1976!
After the superb success of their second album, AC/DC set about their third album Let There Be Rock, which was released in March 1977 in Australia, and a little later in Europe. Although released at the height of the rise of the punk musical movement which was then all the rage in England, this new opus of the group was also very well received in Europe and immediately became another great classic in the great history of Rock. Following the ensuing European tour and the recording of this new album, bassist Mark Evans left the band and was replaced by Cliff Williams. Recorded during the sessions of this third album let's now listen to «Dog Eat Dog»!
The year 1978 was marked by the release of the excellent Powerage, already the 4th opus of the combo. This new album completely followed the pattern set by Let There Be Rock, and thus marked the band's debut with bassist Cliff Williams and his hard riffs. For the record, it is also the favorite album of Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of theRolling Stones who did not miss a single opportunity at that time to promote it on many occasions, thus allowing the AC/DC group to become even more popular among Rock and Roll fans. By the way, speaking of Rock, let's now listen to the Rock and Roll title «Damnation» which opens this other cult album!
The year 1978 was a great musical year for the very young members of the AC/DC group. Indeed this was the period when the band of Bon Scott and the Young Brothers recorded their very first official live well known as «If You Want Blood You've Got It»! This excellent opus recorded during the band's concert on April 30, 1978 at the Apollo Theater in Glasgow during the Powerage Tour and is also the last AC/DC album from the Bon Scott period to be produced by Harry Vanda and George Young. This is now the title «Rocker» by AC/DC in 1978!
AC/DC released their 5th album Highway to Hell on July 27, 1979 on the Albert label in Australia, and August 3, 1979 on Atlantic Records in the rest of the world. This new album with strongly rock and roll sounds was then produced by Robert Mutt Lange and, musically speaking, it was one of the most heterogeneous that the combo has produced since its very beginning in 1974. It was unfortunately the last opus that the combo produced with Bon Scott before his tragic demise. Extract from this album which has since become legendary in the world of Rock, I offer you «Highway to Hell» of course!
In 1980, the members of AC/DC were at the height of their very first part of their career. Unfortunately, this ascent will be stopped dead momentarily. Indeed, on February 19, 1980, Bon Scott, the singer passed away in London (England) following a night of extreme drinking. It was then a disaster for the world of music but also for all the members of the combo. After the death of Bon Scott, AC / DC will still decide to continue its career by enlisting in its ranks the equally excellent Brian Johnson but that is a whole other story!
We will end this special article with a great classic from the album Highway to Hell! «Get It Hot»!
Thanks PierrotSixties, our legendary friend, collector of singles, albums, vinyl records of all kinds from the sixties and seventies!
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