I never thought my decision to take a summer class would end up being such an enjoyable experience. It was a four-week course at San Diego State University-IV Campus, where we wrote essay after essay on whatever we wanted. For our last assignment, we had to do a research paper. Sounds dreadful right? However, just when I thought I had run out of ideas, I sat back listening to one of my favorite rock bands AC/DC, when it hit me!
THIS IS MY TRIBUTE:
It all started with two brothers that simply wanted to write songs and play guitar, Angus and Malcolm Young, one of the most iconic siblings in Rock-n-Roll history.
But what is it that makes them so memorable?
Some may say it’s the pair’s ability to transform the same 5 chords into numerous hits, or Angus’s talent for creating attention-grabbing performances such as his schoolboy guitar solo. At the same time, lead singers, Bon Scott and Brian Johnson’s vocals can’t be dismissed either, since any rock enthusiast could recognize their piercing voices in a heartbeat. Although AC/DC overtook the world by storm in the early ’70s, their path to success hasn’t always been the easiest. If there’s one band that can demonstrate the difficulties with living up to the popular phrase “the show must go on”, it’s without a doubt, AC/DC. The group has experienced the death and retirements of former band members while managing to always make a strong comeback. This band went through times that felt hopeless and dreamlike, however, AC/DC has proved that nothing can bring down a legendary rock band, but rather steer them toward a remarkable path.
When a person is motivated by a passion for artistry such as music, rather than money or fame, then something great is bound to be manifested. For Malcolm Young, it became his vision to have the ability to play guitar for a living without a need for a day job (Graff). In the past, musical success didn’t depend on marketing skills or career plans, rather, it was about having fun and showing people a good time. Bon Scott knew exactly how to please an audience, yet he didn’t become a member until the previous vocalist Dave Evans refused to go on stage.
Thanks to Bon Scott, AC/DC acquired a reputation as troublemakers with a mischievous sense of excitement (Erlewine). With Scott as their vocalist, they released numerous killer albums such as T.N.T., High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, If You Want Blood You’ve Got It and Highway to Hell. It was as if no one could stop them, until one bizarre night in 1980 when AC/DC’s frontman drank a little too much and chocked on his own vomit at the young age of 33 (Ultimate Classic Rock). For the rest of the band members, his sudden death not only came as a shock but a tragedy since Scott was more than just a singer, he was like family. Luckily for AC/DC, Bon Scott had already taken notice of another singer by the name of Brian Johnson—from the band Geordie—who Scott had discovered and raved about prior to his death.
Although it’s rare for musicians to bounce back after such a tragedy, Australian powerhouse AC/DC proved everyone wrong with the release of their worldwide breakthrough album Back in Black in 1980 (Wiederhorn). Records were broken, fans were dazed and music reviewers were stunned by the powerful and electrifying lyrics within the rock infested album.
The next member to drop off was none other than Phil Rudd, AC/DC’s original drummer, who became a part of the band after he auditioned and was hired on the spot back in the mid-’70s. Rudd became an unforgettable drummer as he powered the band to superstardom with his talent for unmistakable beats in songs like “It’s A Long Way To The Top”, “TNT”, and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” (Blabbermouth). His drumming skills opened up a whole new simplistic, yet harmonious music style that gained him immense praise by fans as well as other musicians.
Rudd’s success and admiration all came spiraling down when he was arrested for threatening to kill a man that he previously employed (Eisenpress, Hallie, et al.) Once again, AC/DC was confronted with a tough choice, one that caused them tremendous grief and desperation. However, following Phil’s arrest, the band made an announcement that placed the public on their toes. The band stated, “Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year” (Hann). Although Rudd was never officially kicked out of the band, Chris Slade replaced him due to the circumstances. At this point, the public understood that this wasn’t an act of selfishness; Rudd sadly had no immediate future with the band. The group wasn’t anywhere near to being done. They were just getting started.
Rock or Bust was released on November 28th, 2014, making its biggest impact by having the highest record sales of any hard rock album during that year (Divita). AC/DC is one of the few bands that have continued to reinvent and carry out the true meaning of Rock-n-Roll, even when faced with conflict. Real rock stars simply do not quit.
There was never truly a darker period for the band than the day Malcolm Young passed. At the time, he no longer played shows due to a battle with dementia, but without him, AC/DC would have never even seen the light. Along with his younger brother Angus, Malcolm was a songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer, and visionary that lead the band toward undeniable success. Angus confessed of his brothers’ determination when stating, “he would look at me in times of crisis and go, ‘We’ll just go in and do some work. We’ll sit and write some songs” (Brocchetto and Andone). He was looked up to by many and will continue to live in the hearts and minds of fans all over the globe.
Misfortune for AC/DC didn’t stop there. Lead singer Brian Johnson began to deal with major hearing loss and his inability to perform. Just when fans thought this would be the end of the history-making rock band, AC/DC recruited Guns and Roses lead singer Axl Rose to finish the Rock or Bust tour. Out of loving frustration, fans criticized this decision since it meant Johnson was officially being removed, but the lead singer stated that he wasn’t forced to leave but threatened with the possibility of total deafness (Kreps). Those days may have been the gloomiest moments in the singer’s life, but he knew that it still wasn’t the band’s destiny to stop.
In all truthfulness, AC/DC has turned into a brand that is much bigger than its members, but Angus is the exception. His persona is a part of the brand. Performances wouldn’t be the same without schoolboy busting out dance moves on a stage filled with sweat and tears of men that were born to rock. In fact, the schoolboy outfit will always serve as a reminder that the young brothers started off as a couple of young boys with a dream to play music even if people hated their sound.
There was nothing that could have gotten in the way of a band that was meant to impact the music world. Angus slowly became AC/DC. As long as he is alive, he will continue to spread the legacy that he and his brother created back in Australia when all that mattered was that they booked a gig and played louder than ever. Today, Angus Young and Axl Rose are allegedly putting together a new album that is bound to not only make music history but also revolutionize the significance of Rock-n-Roll. It’s about bringing the stage to life with guitar riffs that will rip the audience’s heart out and vocals that will make everyone’s skin crawl with euphoria. Rock’s essence is belting out lyrics that make people want to sing their lungs out.
That is exactly what AC/DC has done over the band’s 45-year career, and will continue to do by leaving crowds thunderstruck wherever they go.
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