AC/DC: Lyrics, History, Ideology.

Nowadays AC/DC is perhaps one of the most famous and interesting bands. Having become a living legend, these guys are considered pioneers of heavy metal. AC/DC's guitar riffs and their lyrics about Satan, hell and free life of rockers still excite people's minds. However, before becoming a legend of rock music, the members of AC/DC had to overcome various obstacles and survive misfortunes...

In the 60-s, when Great Britain was under the threat of economic crisis, in search of quiet and peaceful life people began to emigrate. The family of William and Margaret Young was among these emigrants. They moved to Australia with their eight children. Thus, by leaving Great Britain this family gave Australia a chance to start its own rock'n'roll history. George, the eldest son, was the first to get interested in music. Of course, they were no thoughts of AC/DC at that time. Together with his friend, Harry Wand George formed the band "Easybeats". It was the first step; the band was a great success, but soon collapsed. George set a good example for his younger brothers as they could see how cool it was to play in your own band. So Malcolm began to learn to play guitar. Firstly, it was the acoustic guitar, but then he started playing electric guitar. Angus Young followed the example of his elder brothers and took serious interest in guitar playing. At first, he used Malcolm's guitar, but then his mother presented the new one to him.

In 1973 Malcolm, decide to form his own band after the band where he played ("Velvet Underground") collapsed. At first, Malcolm wanted to form a band consisting of two persons, but having thought it over, he decided it was not enough. He realized that AC/DC needed a second guitarist to sound thicker, so he invited his brother to join. Angus immediately agreed. Together the guys decided they would also need a bassist and a drummer. Thus, they recruited bassist Larry Van Knedt, and drummer Colin Burgess. Vocalist Dave Evans (from "Velvet Underground") was the last to join AC/DC, he responded to the advertisement in a music newspaper. Malcolm had already pictured the band image: hairy guys in crude battered shoes - it was a something new.

The name "AC/DC" appeared by pure accident. It was an acronym on a vacuum cleaner, noticed by their sister Margaret. Everybody agreed that "AC/DC" sounded hard and firm, exactly the way the guys wanted, so the name stuck. It was the beginning of AC/DC history in the music world. On December 31, 1973 AC/DC played their first gig at a club "Chequers". They played covers of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and other famous bands.

Six months passed, and the line-up of AC/DC changed. Colin Bugess, the drummer felt bad during one of the performances and soon left AC/DC because of health problems. Peter Klack was chosen from several candidates to replace him. A bit later bassist Rob Beily joined AC/DC as Larry Van Knedt had left the band. In 1974 AC/DC for the first time demonstrated their difference from other bands. AC/DC were dressed in different costumes during their concerts in Victoria Park. It was also the idea of their sister Margaret. Angus Young looked particularly original in his school uniform stage outfit.

In July 1974 the first record of AC/DC appeared. It was their single "Can I Sit Next To You Girl / Rockin' In The Parlour". The single immediately climbed various charts; AC/DC for the first time toured around the country. In August AC/DC had to find a new vocalist. Bon Scott (the former lead vocalist with "Valentines with Bon" replaced Dave Evans. He himself volunteered to join AC/DC as Dave Evans refused to perform during one of the concerts and AC/DC had to replace him urgently. Bob Scott was just in the right place in the right time. AC/DC were invited to Melbourne where they sign with Hard Rock Cafe. Soon AC/DC were noticed by Mike Browning who later on became their manager.

On February 17 1974, the first full-length album of AC/DC "High Voltage" was released. In March, the album and the single got into charts. A bit later, the line-up of AC/DC changed: bassist Mark Evans and drummer Phil Rudd replaced the previous band members. Right after that, AC/DC quickly gained popularity. In 1975 the second album of AC/DC "T.N.T" appeared. It featured some songs from the first album. The album (like the previous one) represented impetuous drive, and the lyrics - pure rock ballads, rockers- style and dreams. It sold out 100.000 copies. The lyrics of AC/DC were mostly written by Bon Scott.

"It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock'N'Roll)" - the first track of the album. AC/DC lyrics tell about a difficult way to the top of rock'n'roll. It is very hard to create real music, but they have chosen this road and would never stop.

"Rock'N'Roll Singer" - this song represent reminiscences of AC/DC's first difficulties, misunderstandings, their first guitar. Bone Scott tells about his dream to be a vocalist in a cool rock band.

"T.N.T." - the lyrics a guy who is always going against the current and is being hated for it. The police are looking for him, but he continues to live the way he wants.

"Rocker" - the lyrics dwell on the notion "rocker".

"High Voltage" - AC/DC lyrics are not about electric current, the lyrics deal with high voltage in rock'n'roll.

Having achieved such great success, AC/DC signed a deal with a record label in London - "Atlantic". First of all, the guys were happy that their records would easily spread all over the world. Mike Browning helped AC/DC move to England.

At the beginning of 1976, AC/DC started recording their third album entitled "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". They also released single "T.N.T./Rocker". Another field day in AC/DC's history was when Angus Young took off his trousers on the stage and demonstrated his ass.

In May 1977, the line-up of AC/DC changed again: bassist Cliff Williams (he had played in the band Cliff Williams before) joined the band. After extensive touring in 1976, which lasted 8 months, the renewed lineup of AC/DC started recording the next studio album "Let There Be Rock". The album was recorded in Australia. The album showed extreme impudence of the band, it was something crazy and unpredictable that demonstrated one again AC/DC style. The lyrics were even more vulgar and dissolute. AC/DC lyrics are entirely devoted to the wild life of young people.

"Go Down" is the first song of the album. AC/DC lyrics tell about Mary a girl, who was very good at oral sex.

"Let There Be Rock" is one of the most crazy songs of the album. AC/DC lyrics tell about the bands that begin to play, how they play now and how they thrill the audience: "Let There Be Rock"!!!

"Bad Boy Boogie" - AC/DC lyrics are about a guy who is interested in music and sex with whores.

"Problem Child" - the title is a key to the idea of this song. The lyrics tell about a guy whose best friends are pistol, knife and alcohol.

The album turned out to be one of the most successful in the world of hard rock. Then AC/DC went on a tour around America, and then - Europe. In November 1977 AC/DC performed together with "Rush" and "Kiss" in the U.S. In February 1978 in the "Atlantic Records" studio AC/DC made a record, which 20 years later would be available to the audience. It was a u unique record.

It was spring 1978. AC/DC traditionally spent their holidays in Sidney and then returned to "Albert Studios" where AC/DC set to work on their new album "Powerage". It contained several hits from the previous albums, as well as the songs, which will be included into the following records.

AC/DC went on a world tour to promote their new album. AC/DC played 28 concerts in Britain and about 70 in the U.S., which strengthened their success. In the U.S. AC/DC performed with such veterans as "Rainbow", "Savoy Brown", "Alice Cooper", "Journey", "Aerosmith", "Scorpions" and "UFO".

Six months later the next album of AC/DC "If You Want Blood You've Got It" was released. It contains old hits of AC/DC as well as the new interesting songs.

"Riff Raff" is the first track of the album, the lyrics tell about hot Mexico and its guys from the slums.

"The Jack" - the lyrics deal with an unpleasant surprise, particularly, about gonorrhea contracted from a whore.

"Rock'N'Roll Damnation" - the lyrics tell about numerous spokes in various rock'n'roll bands' wheel, etc.

Other songs and the lyrics are taken from the previous albums. That was the end of AC/DC's collaboration with Mike Browning; Robert John Lange became their new producer. At first Eddie Kramer wanted to become AC/DC's producer, he worked with very famous hard-rock musicians: Jimmy Hendricks, "Kiss", "Led Zeppelin". AC/DC moved to "Roundhouse Studios". But if earlier AC/DC managed to record a new album in three weeks, this time it was different. AC/DC spent six weeks in "Roundhouse Studios". The record was brought to perfection. AC/DC became a standard of recording quality for many bands. The album "High Way To Hell" released at the end of June 1979 became one of the best works of AC/DC. Rhythmical hard music, gloomy lyrics about hell and criminal affairs were skillfully combined into a single whole. Starting with the very first song "Highway To Hell", AC/DC impresses the audience with real traditional hard rock. The lyrics of such songs as "Walk All Over You", "Shot Down In Flames" or "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" stick to one's memory after listening to the album for the first time.

AC/DC spent the rest of the year touring around Britain and the U.S. In August 1979 AC/DC gave their most famous performance Great Britain. It was in London on the stage of "Wembley Arena" before the performance of "The Who". Despite the problems with the sound, AC/DC were perfect. Due to this performance, the band deserved credit and later on performed several times together with "The Who".

Before their usual Christmas holidays in Australia, AC/DC toured extensively in Europe. Their last performance in Paris was filmed by French directors Erick Dionysius and Erick Mistler, it was entitled "Let There Be Rock". The film consisted of the fragments of AC/DC live performances, interviews and episodes featuring the band members. AC/DC also appeared on British TV in a program "Top of the Pops" to promote their new single "Touch Too Much".

Everything was perfect: AC/DC imbued the audience with their positive energy, rhythmical music, inspiring lyrics and special atmosphere of live performances. But February 20 1980 became a tragic day. The BBC radio reported that Bon Scott, 33, was found dead in the car in Dulwich, South London. Medical certificate verified death from acute alcohol poisoning and by misadventure. To be more exact, the cause of Scott's death was pulmonary aspiration of vomit after a night of heavy drinking. Bon Scott was buried on March 1 in "Fremantle Cemetery's Memorial Garden". No need to say how depressed AC/DC's fans and members felt. They faced a question: to stop or to continue playing? Malcolm and Angus concluded that Scott would have wanted AC/DC to continue. So, having plucked up their spirits, AC/DC began to search for a new vocalist. After having considered various candidates for his replacement, AC/DC members finally decided on ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson. At the audition, he brilliantly sang together with the band "Nutbush City Limits" and "Whole Lotta Rosie", and that decided his fate.

AC/DC had lost too much time, so they were rehearsing for 7 hours everyday till the middle of April and then started recording their new album. Recording took place in the studio "Compass Point Studios" in the Bahamas. The album "Back In Black" was recorded in April-May and released at the end of July 1980. AC/DC had done there best; the lyrics represented a detonating mixture of pictures of hell and crazy nights. Brian Johnson, new vocalist followed Bon Scott's way.

"Hell's Bells" is the intro of the album, it became a real hymn for rockers; the lyrics tell how Hell's Bells are calling dark forces to join the Satan, and the hero of AC/DC's lyrics comes over to the Satan's side.

"Shoot To Thrill" - the lyrics of this song deal with a person who is playing a killer with women. He is playing, but the murders are real.

"Back In Black" - the lyrics deal with a dad person who is to return. The lyrics are certainly about Bon Scott.

"You Shook Me All Night Long" - the lyrics of this song continues the line of Bon Scott. Sex all night through.

"Rock And Roll Ain-t Noise Pollution" - the brutal lyrics are devoted to rock'n'roll like in the first AC/DC's songs.

In autumn 1980 AC/DC went on the next world tour. Till the end of the year they performed in the U.S., Great Britain and Australia, at the beginning of 1981 in Japan. For the time AC/DC's performances contained the elements of show, particularly the huge bell with a logo AC/DC hanging over the stage. Every time at the beginning of the performance Brian Johnson rang struck it with a hammer. Though it was against the rules of AC/DC to use any show elements, the guys decided to keep the "live" bell. It was especially actual for the song "Hell Bells".

In 1981 AC/DC released a single "For Those About To Rock", which spent three weeks in the top of many charts in Europe and the U.S. In France in two weeks after the release, the single sold over 400 000 copies. In April 1983 AC/DC set in the studio to record their new full-length album "Flick Of The Switch". 13 tracks were recorded for this album, 3 of them have not seen the light yet. Not long before that AC/DC's drummer, Phil Rudd was fired. The drug addiction influenced his ability to play, so he had to leave. He was replaced by Simon Wright. His live debut took place in Vancouver, Canada. The album is considered the heaviest in the history of AC/DC. Its lyrics and atmospheric guitar riffs arouse a unique feeling of wildness.

In winter 1983 AC/DC toured in the U.S. and Canada. Then AC/DC played several concerts in Europe. However, their grand performance took place in Brazil in January 1985 ("Rock in Rio"). AC/DC performed two days running before 400 000 audience. "Queen", "Scorpions", "Yes", "Iron Maiden" and "Whitesnake" also took part in the festival. The next full-length album of AC/DC "74 Jailbreak" consisted of 5 tracks. The material for the album was taken from AC/DC's archive; the lyrics were written by Bon Scott. The atmosphere of early AC/DC prevails in the record.

"Jailbreak" - the lyrics tell about a guy is imprisoned for a murder. Having killed his girlfriend's lover, he was put into prison, and he broke out of it. He was shot by the police.

"Show Business" - AC/DC's lyrics deal with the unfair situation in show business. The musicians are being used for making profit out of their work.

"Soul Stripper" - special lyrics and music. The lyrics tell about a girl playing love with a man under an apple-tree. Then the plot suddenly changes - the girl gets her "beloved" undressed and kills him.

In spring 1985 AC/DC set to record their new album in "Mountain Studios", Switzerland. Malcolm and Angus decided to produce it themselves. The album "Fly On The Wall" was released in June 1985. A 28- minute video of the same name featured AC/DC at a club in New York, playing five of the album's songs.

In September 1985 AC/DC caused a public scandal. Richard Ramirez, serial killer, committed 16 murders under the influence of AC/DC lyrics. The song "Night Prowler" had a special impact on him. In his apartment, a fan cap with AC/DC logo was found. AC/DC were accused of Satanism. As a result, the authorities of Springfield and Dallas banned AC/DC performance. Anyway, the tour continued.

At the same time AC/DC got acquainted with Stephen King, American writer, "king of horrors", who turned out to be their fan. King asked if he could use their old material for the soundtrack to his film "Maximum overdrive" and asked them to record several new tracks. Recording took place in "Compass Point Studios" after AC/DC had returned from their American tour. All the recorded tracks can be heard in "Maximum Overdrive", thus, it became another present for AC/DC fans.

In May 1986, the album "Who Made Who" was released. In July AC/DC again went on a tour around the U.S. Originally AC/DC had planned to finish their tour in September, but it was prolonged till November. Then AC/DC took a 2-month break before recording the new album.

After active and thorough search for the new studio AC/DC decided on "Miraval"(France). Recording began in August 1987. Harry Wanda and George Young, who had not worked with the group almost 10 years, produced the album. The group recorded nineteen songs, but after having mixed them in New York, AC/DC chose ten for the final release. "Blow Up Your Video" was released at the end of January 1988. The lyrics did not change. The lyrics have always been AC/DC's brand...

While touring AC/DC had to temporarily replace Malcolm by Stevie Young. Malcolm began recovery from his alcoholism. To promote the new album AC/DC again went on a tour around the U.S, which showed they were extremely popular. AC/DC toured till the end of the year. Following the tour, two Young brothers, Malcolm and Angus composed new riffs in their country-house. At that time Brian Johnson was in the U.S. as his divorce suit began, so he was not able to take part in lyrics writing. Malcolm and Angus wrote all the songs for the next album. The line-up changed again. Simon Wright unexpectedly left the band to join "Dio". AC/DC had to start rehearsing in Briton without drummer. In November 1989, Chris Slade was temporarily hired by AC/DC. The band members finally decided to keep Chris, and having finished their work on the new album in Briton, AC/DC set for "Windmill Road Studios", Ireland to record it.

The album "The Razors Edge" was recorded in six weeks. It showed that AC/DC would not stop. The album was done in the classical AC/DC style. The lyrics again present rockers' interests and energy.

"The Razors Edge" is the main track of the album. The lyrics state, that the whole life is razors edge.

"Thunderstruck" is a crazy and stormy thing. The lyrics deal with the wild life of young people in Texas.

"Mistress For Christmas" - the lyrics are again devoted to a woman. Brian Johnson believes the best present for Christmas is a girl in red. Preferably in a bed.

"Rock Your Heart Out" - the lyrics are again devoted to rock'n'roll.

"Got You By The Balls" - the lyrics deal with rich perverts, who pay to introduce some variety into their dull monotonous life.

In January-August 1992 AC/DC worked at their new album entitled simply "Live" in the studio in Vancouver. The album contained only live tracks, recorded during the world tour of AC/DC. Firstly the album was released on one CD, and then a double CD appeared (Live, Special Collector's Edition), which also included the video "Live At Donington" and some other bonuses.

At the end of their tour, promoting "The Razors Edge" AC/DC met Phil Rudd. Later on in May, Malcolm phoned him and asked to rejoin the band. Phil did not think long. AC/DC began to work on their new album in New York, but they were not satisfied by the quality and moved to "Ocean Way Studios"(Los Angeles). They felt perfect there and set to work.

At the beginning of September 1995 the first single of the new album - "Hard As A Rock" was released. The album entitled "Ballbreaker" was released in September 1995. In January 1996, AC/DC's tour began the U.S. together with "The Poor".

In spring 1997 AC/DC began to work on the box set Bonfire. Soon the singles "Dirty Eyes" and "Bonfire" were released. At the same time, "Back In Black" became 16 times multi-platinum in the U.S., it sold over 16 000 000 copies and became the second most sold hard rock album in America. There appeared more followers of AC/DC.

After the release of "Ballbreaker" AC/DC returned home. They started working at the new album in 1998, but the release was delayed. The album saw the light only in 2000. Recording took place in Brian Adam's studio "Warehouse Studios" in Vancouver. The new album entitled "Stiff Upper Lip" contained 12 out of 17 tracks, the rest were left unfinished. The album was produced by George Young. After the release AC/DC often appeared on TV. In particular, the band performed live on "MTV" where they sang "Stiff Upper Lip" and "Back In Black". The latest news of AC/DC: They are working at the next studio album. Anyway, the band has already become a live legend, which inspired many contemporary musicians.