This month Martin Cooper checks out the rhythm and lead sounds of Australian classic rock legends, Malcolm and Angus Young.
AC/DC needs very little in the way of introduction, but for those (about to rock) who need it, they were formed in 1973 in Sydney, Australia by Scottish born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The Young brothers have been the bedrock of the AC/DC sound since they began and the classic line-ups of the group consisted of drummer Phil Rudd, bassist Cliff Williams and singer Bon Scott, who was replaced after his death by Brian Johnson. Johnson’s first album with the band was the classic Mutt Lange-produced Back In Black. The most notable recent name to have a stint with the band was Axl Rose, who temporarily took over lead vocal duties when Brian Johnson needed to get medical help for hearing loss issues.
The band’s sound has always been a blend of rock, blues and heavy metal, but perhaps more so than almost every other band they are virtually a genre in their own right, and have been the blueprint for many other artists over the past five decades.
One of Angus Young’s main influences is his own brother Malcolm, as well as Muddy Waters, Freddie King and Chuck Berry. Malcolm was influenced by many of the same players, but it’s his rhythm guitar sound that has always been the foundation of AC/DC. The band has been described by producer Rick Rubin as the greatest rock and roll band of all time, and they’ve won numerous awards as well as being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The band has enjoyed countless sold-out tours and shifted millions of albums -Back In Black alone selling more than 50 million units to become the highest-selling album ever by a band. After the death of Malcolm Young AC/DC continued
