Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography
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[edit] Selected biographies
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/1
Brian Johnson (born October 5, 1947 in Dunston, Gateshead, England) is a singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. He currently lives in Sarasota, Florida. From 1972, Johnson was the lead singer of a glam rock band called Geordie. After a few hit singles, the band split up in 1978. In 1980, Johnson reformed the band, however, just after a record deal had been signed, he was asked to audition for AC/DC. A few days after the audition, Johnson was told he would be the new lead vocalist for AC/DC, replacing Bon Scott. Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black, is the band's biggest selling album. Johnson's sartorial trademark is his cap. Originally, he wore a flat cap, once regarded as a symbol of Tyneside, but in recent years, he has occasionally worn a baseball cap instead. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/2
Angus McKinnon Young, born March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland, is a guitarist and songwriter who has been the lead guitarist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC since the group was formed in 1973. Young is known for his hard-edge style lead (and signature vibrato), wild stage energy, and schoolboy clothing. Young was brought up in Glasgow's east end in the area of Cranhill along with older brothers Malcolm Young and George Young. He started playing guitar when he was about five years old, a local kid had one and Angus would play it during visits. He got his own guitar by taking a banjo his family had lying around the house and re-stringing it like a guitar. Young got his first Gibson SG after seeing it in a friend's catalogue. Prior to joining AC/DC, Young played in a local group called, 'Kentuckee' and also worked a part time job for an Australian soft-core pornographic magazine titled Ribald. Angus and his brother, Malcolm, formed AC/DC in 1973. The first line-up included Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Colin Burgess on drums, Larry Van Kriedt on bass guitar and Dave Evans singing. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/3
Malcolm Mitchell Young, born January 6, 1953 in Glasgow, Scotland, is a founding member of, rhythm guitarist and co-songwriter for the Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. Though his younger brother Angus is the more visible of the brothers, Malcolm has been described as the business brains behind AC/DC. As the second guitarist, he is responsible for the broad sweep of AC/DC's sound, and co-writer of the material. Behind the scenes, his word is said to be 'law' on matters such as organising when and where the band go on tour, when to make an album or film soundtrack, and when to meet the media. Young emigrated with his family to Sydney, Australia in 1963. Malcolm first played with a Newcastle, New South Wales band called The Velvet Underground (not to be confused with the New York-based Velvet Underground). Malcolm Young and his brother Angus Young founded AC/DC in November 1973. They began national touring in 1974 with singer Dave Evans. AC/DC relocated to the UK in 1976 and began a heavy schedule of international touring and recording. After the death of singer Bon Scott in 1980 from alcohol poisoning, they recorded their biggest selling album Back in Black with singer Brian Johnson. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/4
Cliff Williams is the bassist for the Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. He was born on December 14, 1949 in Romford, England. He moved with his family to Liverpool when he was nine. In 1970, Williams began with his first band, Home, with singer Mick Stubbs, guitarist Laurie Wisefield, keyboardist Clive John and drummer Mick Cook. Later that year, the group signed a deal with Epic Records and a debut LP was released the following year under the title Pause For A Hoarse Horse. In November 1971 Home supported Led Zeppelin at the Wembley Empire Pool on the second of Led Zeppelin's Electric Magic concerts. Al Stewart suggested that Home back him on his first American tour in March 1974, Mick Stubbs left the group. The others became the Al Stewart Band. The Al Stewart band did not last long, and Cliff Williams quickly left and formed Bandit in 1974. However, Bandit never gained much success, therefore Cliff had no hesitation when he was asked to replace Mark Evans as the bassist of AC/DC in 1977. Williams' has since performed on every AC/DC album. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/5
Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd (born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis) was born on May 19, 1954 in Melbourne, Australia. He was the drummer of AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bassist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band. He uses SONOR drums and Paiste cymbals. Rudd played in several bands in Melbourne before joining The Coloured Balls with Angry Anderson (future Rose Tattoo vocalist). They soon changed their name to Buster Brown and released one album, Something To Say, before Rudd left in late 1974 to join AC/DC. He fitted in with the band very quickly and contributed his solid drumming style to great effect on the string of albums recorded from 1975 to 1983. The band relocated to the UK in 1976 and followed a heavy schedule of international touring and recording. (more...) In 1980 vocalist Bon Scott died. The band regrouped with vocalist Brian Johnson and recorded, Back in Black. Rudd took Scott's death badly, but continued with AC/DC until he was fired from the band during the recording of Flick of the Switch in 1983. Simon Wright, replaced Rudd, and helped the band record videos for two of the album's ten songs, "Flick of the Switch", and "Nervous Shakedown". Rudd's sacking from the band was partly a result of his own problems with alcohol, and also growing conflict between him and band leader Malcolm Young, which eventually became physical. After leaving AC/DC, Rudd retired to Tauranga, New Zealand where he purchased a helicopter charter company. When AC/DC went touring in New Zealand in 1994, they called Rudd to see if he would like to "jam" with them. Rudd decided to accept their offer and was eventually rehired. Since his return to the band, Rudd has contributed to AC/DC's Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip albums. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/6
Simon Wright (born June 19, 1963 in Manchester, England) is a professional drummer best known for working with hard rock artists AC/DC and Ronnie James Dio. He first started playing drums in his early teens and cites Cozy Powell, Tommy Aldridge and John Bonham as his greatest influences. Wright began his career in A II Z, a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band founded in 1979 in Manchester, England by guitarist Gary Owens. The full lineup consisted of David Owens (vocals), Gary Owens (guitar), Gam Campbell (bass), Karl Reti (drums). They rapidly acquired a local following in Manchester, and soon gained a record contract from Polydor Records. Reti was subsequently replaced by Wright. The band then promptly disbanded. Wright joined AC/DC after Phil Rudd left the band in 1983. AC/DC recorded three albums with Wright in the mid-late 80s; Fly on the Wall, Who Made Who and Blow Up Your Video. Wright left the group in 1989 and was replaced by Chris Slade. (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/7
Dave Evans was born on July 20, 1952) in Carmarthen, Wales. His family emigrated to Australia when he was young. Evans is known for being the first lead singer of AC/DC. He was recruited in 1973 by Angus and Malcolm Young, along with drummer Colin Burgess and bass player Larry Van Kriedt. He stayed with the band for a few months before being replaced by Bon Scott in September 1974. During his time with AC/DC, Evans recorded one single, "Can I Sit Next To You Girl" / "Rocking In The Parlour", which was released only in Australia and New Zealand. A promotional video for "Can I Sit Next To You" was also produced. He was also present on their first National Tour supporting Lou Reed while the first single raced up the Australian charts to Number 10. After AC/DC, Evans formed a band called Rabbit, which released a few singles and two albums. Rabbit were particularly influenced by the UK band, Sweet. However, the group only achieved mild success in Australia. Evans' other bands included Thunder Down Under and Hot Cockerel. Evans has also released two solo albums; A Hell of a Night, a live AC/DC tribute album which was released in 2000 and Sinner (2006). (more...)
Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/8
Mark Whitmore Evans (born March 2, 1956 in Melbourne, Australia) was the bassist for AC/DC from March 1975-1977. He worked on the albums T.N.T, High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Let There Be Rock. After being recruited as a full-time member, Evans did not actually meet singer Bon Scott until the next gig. Evans first TV appearance with the band was on the Australian "Countdown" programme, in which they played "Baby, Please Don't Go". He also appeared in several promotional videos, including the "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" and "Jailbreak" film clips. After the recording of Let There Be Rock, Evans experienced personal differences with lead guitarist Angus Young and was sacked, being replaced by Cliff Williams. Neither of the Young brothers have ever gone into any great detail of Evans' departure, but they still bear considerable animosity towards Evans, with Malcolm Young once declaring, "The day we fuckin' got rid of him, that's the day the band started." Conversely, the CEO of Epic Records, Richard Griffiths, who used to work as a booking agent for AC/DC in the mid-1970s, has stated, "You knew Mark wasn't going to last, he was just too much of a nice guy." After his departure from AC/DC, Evans played in a number of bands including 'Finch', 'Contraband' and 'Heaven'. In recent years he has been performing with Dave Tice (ex-Buffalo). (more...)
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Chris Slade (born Christopher Rees, October 30, 1946, in Pontypridd, Wales) is a rock drummer who has worked with many different musicians, including Gary Numan, Tom Jones, Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. In the early 1980s, Slade played with Paul Rodgers in The Firm and also with David Gilmour on many other projects. Slade arguably received his highest exposure in 1989 when he was asked to join the Australian hard rock band AC/DC after Simon Wright had departed. Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC's founding members, initially hired Slade temporarily, but later he was asked to become a full-time member. Slade played drums on The Razor's Edge and also on the tour. The Young brothers, however, asked Slade to leave after four years with the group and reinstated former drummer Phil Rudd, claiming that Rudd had demonstrated a "groove" more fitting their style of rock. Slade's departure, however, was amicable; Angus Young stated, "Chris was probably the best musician in the band. We hate to lose him, but getting Phil back is worth asking him to leave." (more...)
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Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980) was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician. He is best known as the lead singer, co-lyricist and frontman of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. In 1964, Scott formed The Spektors and became the band's drummer and occasional lead vocalist. In 1966, the Spektors merged with another local band, The Winstons, and formed The Valentines, in which Scott was the co-lead vocalist with Vince Lovegrove. When the Valentines broke up in 1970 Scott joined the band Fraternity, who had moderate success releasing two albums and some singles before going into hiatus in 1973. Later that year, Scott began singing in Mount Lofty Rangers, but left after a motorcycle accident following a rehearsal. In 1974, Scott replaced Dave Evans as the lead singer of AC/DC. By the release of the international version of High Voltage (1976), AC/DC had established their international success. Scott released four other albums with AC/DC before his death in 1980. (more...)
