AC/DC may be one of your favorite bands, but do you know what the moniker stands for? If you replied no, don’t worry; we just found out as well. The prominent Australian rock band formed in 1973 and is well known for classics such as Highway to Hell and Thunderstruck. However, while their songs are easily recognized, their complete name is not. One fan of the band wondered on Reddit, ‘What does AC/DC actually stand for?’ After receiving numerous responses, one user, @psychological_Ad8534, dispelled any rumors that it means ‘anti-christ/devil’s child’ and explained the genuine meaning: Alternating/direct current.
Founding members Angus Young, 69, and his late brother, Malcolm—who died at the age of 64 in 2017—first revealed the meaning of the name in 1999 during an interview with The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop.
The brothers said while they were developing a name for the band, their sister Margaret pointed to the AC/DC symbol on her sewing machine’s AC adapter and suggested it could be a good name.
Agreeing, the brothers felt it was a perfect symbolisation of the raw energy the band projected and their power-driven music performances, and thus, AC/DC was born.
