1953 January 6. Malcolm Young is born in Glasgow, Scotland. 1959 March 31. Angus Young is born in Glasgow. The Young family emigrates to Australia in 1963. 1973 December. AC/DC make their debut with singer Dave Evans at the Chequers club in Sydney, Australia. After the original line-up disbands, the Young brothers reassemble the group with new singer (and former roadie) Bon Scott, drummer Phillip Rudd, and bassist Mark Evans. 1975 February. AC/DC release their first album, High Voltage. Second album TNT follows before the end of the year. 1976 January. The band relocate from Australia to London, where they become a reliable live attraction. Later this year they also tour the United States for the first time. 1977 June. Mark Evans leaves the group and is replaced by Cliff Williams, who responds to an advertisement placed in a London music paper. 1979 November. Highway to Hell, the band’s fifth album and first with producer Mutt Lange, reaches No. 17 in the U.S. and becomes their first million-seller. The band criss-cross America supporting Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, and UFO. 1980 February 19: Bon Scott dies in London. He is 33. A coroner’s report says the singer "drank himself to death." Brian Johnson, a former member of Geordie, replaces Scott and AC/DC go to the Bahamas with Lange and record their Top 5 album, Back in Black. November. "You Shook Me All Night Long" becomes the band's first Top 40 U.S. hit, peaking at No. 35. 1981 December. The band now boasts some of the steeliest guitar riffs in rock and an explosive live attack. Their songs become catchier and catchier. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) tops the American album charts. 1983 August. Drummer Phillip Rudd leaves the band, citing exhaustion; he becomes a helicopter pilot. He’s replaced by Simon Wright. Later that year the band’s Flick of the Switch album goes to No. 15 in the U.S. 1985 January. The band play before 342,000 people at the Rock in Rio festival, headlining over Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions, and Whitesnake. That same year, their Fly on the Wall album goes to No. 32 in the U.S. 1988 February. After a lengthy hiatus – during which classic rock radio elevates their hits to a higher level - the band’s 11th album Blow Up Your Video reaches No. 12 in the U.S. On the subsequent tour, Malcolm Young is replaced by cousin Steve Young on guitar amid rumors of drug addiction. 1990 October. The Razor’s Edge goes to No. 2 in the U.S. 1991 January. Three teenagers are killed during a crush at an AC/DC concert in Salt Lake City. The band members are later cleared of any involvement in the tragedy. AC/DC play 70 concerts and gross nearly $17 million from touring in 1991. 1995 October. Produced by Rick Rubin and Mike Fraser, AC/DC’s Ballbreaker debuts on the American album chart at No. 4. 1996 November. The band’s yearlong Ballbreaker tour ends in Christchurch, New Zealand. With their powerhouse songs and infectious sense of humor (Angus’s schoolboy outfit is one of pop’s most recognizable fashion statements), they’re considered a veteran yet vital act. During the tour the band also played their first Australian shows in five years. 1997 December. AC/DC appear in the Howard Stern film Private Parts playing "You Shook Me All Night Long." 2000 February. Seemingly unstoppable, the group release their 15th studio album, Stiff Upper Lip. 2003 March. A new deal with the Epic label finds the band’s entire back catalog being released with remastered sound and extra tracks. |