Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Promotional Photos - 6 Bands

AC/DC was formed in Sydney, Australia in November 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who had emigrated to Australia with their family in 1963 when they were children. The band's name came from their sister Margaret, who pointed out the "AC/DC" symbol on her sewing machine's AC adapter, with the abbreviation standing for alternating current/direct current electricity. The brothers felt this name symbolized their band's raw energy and power-driven performances. The original lineup included vocalist Dave Evans, bassist Larry Van Kriedt, and drummer Colin Burgess, though the band underwent numerous personnel changes in their early years before finding stability.

The band's breakthrough period began in 1974 with the addition of charismatic vocalist Bon Scott, followed by bassist Mark Evans and drummer Phil Rudd. This lineup recorded their debut album "High Voltage" in 1975, initially released only in Australia, followed by "T.N.T." later that year. AC/DC relocated to London in 1976 and achieved international success with "Let There Be Rock" in 1977. Bassist Cliff Williams joined in 1977, replacing Mark Evans, creating the classic lineup that would define AC/DC's golden era. The band's popularity peaked with 1979's "Highway to Hell," which brought them worldwide fame and established them as one of the premier hard rock acts of their generation.

Tragedy struck in February 1980 when Bon Scott died from acute alcohol poisoning at age 33. The band briefly considered disbanding but decided to continue after Scott's parents encouraged them to carry on, believing it's what Bon would have wanted. They recruited Brian Johnson, former vocalist of the band Geordie, whose powerful voice proved to be an ideal fit for their sound. The resulting album, "Back in Black" (1980), became one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 50 million copies worldwide and reaching 22x multi-platinum status in the United States alone. This album, recorded as a tribute to Scott, featured classics like "Hells Bells" and the title track, cementing AC/DC's status as rock legends.

AC/DC continued their success throughout the 1980s and beyond, maintaining their straightforward, blues-based hard rock approach while other bands experimented with different styles. Albums like "For Those About to Rock We Salute You" (1981) and "The Razors Edge" (1990), which featured hits "Thunderstruck" and "Moneytalks," kept them at the forefront of rock music. The band's theatrical live performances, anchored by Angus Young's energetic stage presence in his iconic schoolboy uniform and his version of Chuck Berry's duck walk, made them one of the most popular stadium acts of the era. Their 2008 album "Black Ice" became their first number-one album on the Billboard chart and won them their first Grammy Award for "War Machine."

The band faced significant challenges in their later years as age and health issues affected key members. Malcolm Young retired in 2014 due to early-onset dementia, with his nephew Stevie Young taking his place, and Malcolm passed away in 2017. Phil Rudd faced legal troubles and was temporarily replaced, while Brian Johnson was forced to step away from touring in 2016 due to hearing problems, with Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose filling in. Despite these setbacks, the classic lineup reunited for 2020's "Power Up" album, featuring Johnson, Williams, and Rudd alongside Angus and Stevie Young. Having sold over 200 million records worldwide and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, AC/DC remains one of the most influential and enduring hard rock bands in music history, with their no-frills approach to rock and roll continuing to inspire new generations of musicians.