AC/DC Biography (Part II)

In 35 years, AC/DC has been to hell and back. Armed with a new album, AC/DC has fans boarding their rock’n’roll train.

AC/DC: Back in Black

After the untimely passing of AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott, AC/DC would go on and spread their hard-rock gospel in honor of their fallen band mate. Brian Johnson would be handed the vocal reins after his audition where he performed the AC/DC classic “Whole Lotta Rosie” and the Ike and Tina Turner classic “Nutbush City Limits.” AC/DC released its comeback album Back in Black with new singer Brian Johnson in late 1980.

Back in Black contained the instant rock anthems “Hells Bells,” “Let Me Put My Love Into You,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and the title track. Back in Black is the second best-selling album of all time, having sold over 22 million copies in the US and over 40 million internationally. Fans of the hard rock band flocked to buy AC/DC tickets for their high-selling Back in Black Concert Tour in 1980. The year-long trip took AC/DC on its first tour of US arenas as well as AC/DC’s first stop in Japan.

AC/DC: We Salute You
The unstoppable AC/DC wasted no time with new singer Brian Johnson. The group released its eighth album For Those About to Rock We Salute You in 1981. The album quickly topped the Billboard Pop Albums chart and Billboard 200 chart, the first hard-rock album to receive that honor. For Those About to Rock We Salute You produced the hit singles "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" and “Let’s Get It Up.” AC/DC tickets were once again a hot commodity for AC/DC’s successful “For Those About to Rock” World Tour, which included AC/DC tour dates in North America, Japan and Europe.

AC/DC: Switching it Up
In 1983, AC/DC released its ninth album Flick of the Switch. The album contained the hard rocking songs “Nervous Shakedown,” “Guns for Hire” and the title track. AC/DC parted ways with drummer Phil Rudd after the recording of Flick of the Switch. Phil Rudd was replaced by Dio drummer Simon Wright. AC/DC released Fly on the Wall in 1984, featuring the songs “Sink the Pink” and “Shake Your Foundations.” AC/DC released Who Made Who as a soundtrack for the 1986 Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive. Who Made Who featured several older AC/DC songs including “Ride On,” “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

AC/DC: Blowing Up
In 1987, AC/DC released Blow Up Your Video, which was a huge success in the UK and the US reaching No. 2 and No. 12 on Top Albums charts, respectively. Blow Up Your Video produced the notable songs "Heatseeker,” "That's the Way I Wanna Rock'n'Roll,” "Nick of Time,” and "Go Zone.” After the Blow Up Your Video World Tour, drummer Simon Wright left AC/DC to work on Dio’s 1990 album Lock Up The Wolves.

AC/DC: Razors Edge
In 1990, AC/DC released The Razors Edge with new drummer Chris Slade. AC/DC’s resurgence in popularity sent The Razors Edge to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200. Eventually the album sold over 5 million copies in the US alone and produced the instant AC/DC classic songs “Thunderstruck,” “Moneytalks,” “Are You Ready” and “Got You By The Balls.” AC/DC tickets were once again in high demand for AC/DC’s top-selling Razors Edge World Tour.

AC/DC: Ballbreakers
After the Razors Edge World Tour, AC/DC released the single “Big Gun” from the soundtrack to the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero in 1993. The song was AC/DC’s first No. 1 on the Modern Rock Chart. In 1994, Malcolm and Angus Young invited former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd to participate in a handful of jam sessions. Eventually Phil Rudd rejoined AC/DC, restoring the band’s 1983 lineup. In 1995, the old AC/DC lineup released its 13th international album Ballbreaker. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and produced the singles “Hard as a Rock,” “Cover You in Oil” and “Hail Caesar.”

AC/DC: Setting Bonfires
In 1997, AC/DC released the 5-disc box set Bonfire as a tribute to former vocalist Bon Scott. The box set included rarities, two live albums and a re-mastered version of Back in Black. AC/DC returned in 2000 with its 14th studio album Stiff Upper Lip. The album sold over 1 million copies in the US and produced the notable AC/DC songs “Satellite Blues,” “Safe in New York City” and the title track. AC/DC embarked on a massive world tour for Stiff Upper Lip, taking the band to 17 countries. AC/DC tickets were hard to come by on AC/DC’s largest world tour to date, playing over 130 shows.

AC/DC: Back in Black Ice
After an eight-year absence from the Rock scene, AC/DC is back and better than ever with its 15th studio album Black Ice. The album features the notable AC/DC songs “Rock’n’Roll Train,” “War Machine” and “Stormy May Day.” Still proving that they are as heavy and as ready to rock as ever, AC/DC is taking its rock’n’roll train on another massive world tour. The 18-month jaunt across the globe will take AC/DC to Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. AC/DC tickets have been selling out in record time. Don’t miss out on your chance to witness these rock’n’roll legends with their latest album Black Ice in tow!

AC/DC: Hits with Brian Johnson

• “Hells Bells” from the Back in Black album
• “Let Me Put My Love into You” from the Back in Black album
• “Back in Black” from the Back in Black album
• “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” from the For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) album.
• “Let’s Get It Up” from the For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) album.
• “Nervous Shakedown” from the Flick of the Switch album
• “Shake Your Foundations” from the Fly on the Wall album
• “Heatseeker” from the Blow Up Your Video album
• “Thunderstruck” from the The Razors Edge album
• “Hard as a Rock” from the Ballbreaker album
• “Stiff Upper Lip” from the Stiff Upper Lip album
• “Rock’n’Roll Train” from the Black Ice album