AC/DC set out to revitalize rock ‘n’ roll, and they succeeded. No Australian bands had punctured the Western cultural fabric before them, and after honing their rowdy brand in their home country’s beer-soaked bars, it was only natural that the rest of the globe would come knocking, and they continue to spread their gospel to new lands. Although the group rose to prominence for its upbeat sound, they have been chastised on occasion, and it is not just Angus Young who has taken aim at older artists like Led Zeppelin. Sometimes the target of their ire was considerably closer to home.
AC/DC’s story is essentially divided into two sections. The first was when they were led by one of the defining rock frontmen, the late Bon Scott, a beer-drinking Scot who sadly died of acute alcohol poisoning at the age of 33 in 1980. Despite his story acting as a cautionary tale and a sobering reminder of the devastation that alcohol can create, he left a huge legacy. His collaboration with lead guitarist Young was a powerful one.
As a testament of the band’s commitment, they chose Geordie frontman Brian Johnson to fill Scott’s shoes, and he did so flawlessly, proving the skeptics wrong and playing a critical role in AC/DC’s music reaching even larger audiences. It says it all that their first album together, 1980’s Back in Black, featured their definitive hit, the title tune, as well as several other album favorites.
