AC/DC formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 around brothers Malcolm and Angus Young and have barely swerved from hard-driving rock and roll since. Highway to Hell (1979) closed the Bon Scott era; Back in Black (1980), cut with Brian Johnson that same year, remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. Shop AC/DC vinyl, CDs, reissues, and box sets at Wax Trax Records.
AC/DC formed in Sydney, Australia in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar) and Angus Young (lead guitar). The early lineup stabilized with vocalist Bon Scott in 1974, with whom the band recorded their breakthrough albums of the late 1970s. After Scott's death in February 1980, the band continued with Brian Johnson on vocals, recording Back in Black (1980) within the same year. Malcolm Young retired in 2014 due to dementia and was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young. Malcolm died in 2017.
AC/DC's sound is built on hard-driving 4/4 rhythm guitar, blues-based lead guitar from Angus Young, and powerful vocals. Their style has remained remarkably consistent across five decades, characterized by direct rock and roll songwriting without extended progressions or genre detours.
Original Albert Productions Australian pressings of the Bon Scott-era catalog are particularly sought after. Numerous reissues, box sets, and remastered vinyl editions exist across multiple labels (Atlantic, Atco, Epic, Columbia) and pressing eras.
Listeners new to AC/DC typically start with Back in Black (1980) or Highway to Hell (1979).
