PRESENTATION OUTLINE
AC/DC has sold nearly 71 million albums in the U.S. alone, making AC/DC one of the five top-selling bands in American music history. They have sold more than 200 million worldwide.
One of the group's best-loved works, Back In Black, has achieved RIAA 'Double Diamond' status, for sales in excess of 22 million copies in the United States, and is America's fifth largest-selling album ever.
Brothers Angus and Malcolm Young of Australia formed the group in 1973. Their older sister Margaret saw the initials AC/DC (which stands for "alternating current/direct current") on a sewing machine. The brothers thought this name summed up their energy.The band is popularly known as 'Acca Dacca' in Australia.
A 1976 review of AC/DC's first albumn in Rolling Stone declared, "Hard Rock has unquestionably hit its all-time low." They finally appeared on the cover in 2008.
In 1989, the US military blared AC/DC music at General Manuel Noriega's compound in Panama for two continuous days. The dictator surrendered.
Lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died on 19 February1980, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption.
AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2003.
The current members of the band are: Angus Young (1973-present), Malcolm Young (1973-present), Phil Rudd (1975-1983, 1994-present), Cliff Williams (1977-present), Brian Johnson (1980-present). There have been 18 other former and temporary members.
On November 19, 2012, AC/DC released Live at River Plate, their first live album in 20 years. The band have also released 18 studio albums.
In April 2014, the band was planning to write and record new material and go on an 40th anniversary tour and dismissed rumours they were planning to quit.
