Decisive · Hard Rock, Prog & Early Metal
AC/DC
Australian hard-rock band formed in 1973. Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar, Angus Young’s lead, and direct song structures define the sound across the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras.
Landmark
Highway to Hell · 1979
Major Bon Scott–era album and a step into the US Top 20.
Opened
Open-chord riffs and a stable guitar method across two lead singers.
01 / 09
Core sound
AC/DC’s guitar roles are simple to describe: Malcolm Young plays steady, dense rhythm guitar; Angus Young plays lead and solos; bass and drums keep a clear pulse. Open chords, repeating riffs, short progressions, and a strong beat are the easiest elements to recognize. That writing approach runs from the early records into later albums.
02 / 09
From early lineup to the classic five
Early AC/DC changed members often. Dave Evans was among the first singers; Bon Scott replaced him in 1974. Bass and drums also rotated. Around 1977, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd settled as the best-known Bon Scott–era lineup. The Australian rock scene around them mattered. Older brother George Young had been in The Easybeats and worked on early AC/DC production.
03 / 09
International market
In 1976 AC/DC signed with Atlantic Records and pushed further into the UK and US markets. The international High Voltage compiled early Australian releases for overseas listeners. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, and Powerage then built recognition abroad. In the late 1970s the band also toured alongside Black Sabbath, Kiss, Blue Öyster Cult, and Aerosmith, entering the hard-rock touring circuit of that period.
04 / 09
After Bon Scott
Bon Scott died in London on 19 February 1980. The cause of death was recorded as acute alcohol poisoning. The band considered stopping, then chose to continue. Brian Johnson joined on vocals and they began recording soon after. Back in Black (1980) kept the existing guitar and rhythm approach and added Johnson’s higher, rasping delivery. It became one of the band’s central albums.
05 / 09
Highway to Hell
Highway to Hell (1979) is among the strongest Bon Scott–era albums and a major step into the US mainstream. The songs keep the band’s usual writing: simple chords, repeating riffs, clear verse/chorus shapes, and choruses that work live. The album reached the Top 20 of the Billboard 200.
06 / 09
Malcolm Young and Angus Young
Much of AC/DC’s guitar sound comes from how the brothers split the work. Malcolm focused on rhythm guitar: steady time and riffs rather than complex chord changes. Angus handled lead and solos, often with pentatonic lines, bends, and short phrases against Malcolm’s rhythm part. That division runs through early and later recordings.
07 / 09
After 1980
After Back in Black, AC/DC stayed centered on guitar riffs and live performance. For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981) was their first Billboard 200 #1 album. The Razors Edge (1990) brought another mainstream return; Thunderstruck became one of the best-known later songs. Black Ice (2008) again reached #1 in multiple countries.
08 / 09
Malcolm Young leaves
In 2014 Malcolm Young left the band for health reasons. Stevie Young took over rhythm guitar. Other seats changed around later tours. Angus Young remained the constant core member. Phil Rudd also left and later returned amid personal and legal issues.
09 / 09
Influence on later hard rock
AC/DC’s influence rests on a clear writing and playing method: simple chords, riff-led songs, steady rhythm guitar, and arrangements that work in large venues. Many later hard-rock and metal bands used that approach. Guns N’ Roses and other 1980s–90s acts have cited AC/DC directly. Their importance is less one single album than keeping that direct hard-rock writing in use for decades.
01 / 09
Core sound
Australian hard-rock band formed in 1973. Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar, Angus Young’s lead, and direct song structures define the sound across the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras.
Listen
Lineup versions
Early pub years
1973–1974
Frequent early changes. Dave Evans sang before Bon Scott joined in 1974.
- Angus YoungGuitar
- Malcolm YoungGuitar
- Dave EvansVocals
- Larry Van KriedtBass
- Colin BurgessDrums
Bon Scott era
1977–1980
Best-known early lineup. Includes Let There Be Rock and Highway to Hell.
- Angus YoungGuitar
- Malcolm YoungGuitar
- Bon ScottVocals
- Cliff WilliamsBass
- Phil RuddDrums
Brian Johnson era
Peak1980–1983
Back in Black and For Those About to Rock We Salute You were recorded with this lineup.
- Angus YoungGuitar
- Malcolm YoungGuitar
- Brian JohnsonVocals
- Cliff WilliamsBass
- Phil RuddDrums
Later lineup
2014–present
After Malcolm left, Stevie Young took rhythm guitar. Drums and other seats have varied by tour.
- Angus YoungGuitar
- Stevie YoungGuitar
- Brian JohnsonVocals
- Cliff WilliamsBass
- Phil RuddDrums
Quotes
“I'm a special effects man.”
— Angus Young, 1980 · Interview
“It was a case of either stop or keep going.”
— Malcolm Young, 1980 · On continuing after Bon Scott
Scenes
| Year | Track | On stage | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)Bon Scott–era track; bagpipes and guitar riffs are the main identifiers. | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott, Mark Evans, Phil Rudd | |
| 1979 | Highway to HellKey album for entering the US mainstream; produced with Robert “Mutt” Lange. | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd | |
| 1980 | Back in BlackFirst studio album with Brian Johnson; UK and Australia #1; long Billboard chart run. | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd | |
| 1990 | ThunderstruckFrom The Razors Edge; one of the best-known later-period songs. Chris Slade on drums. | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, Chris Slade |