About The Band Members
Angus McKinnon Young
Lead Guitar
 
Born: March 31, 1955 (Although Atlantic Records changed his birth year to 1959 to make him appear younger) in Glasgow, Scotland. His family moved to Australia in the 1960s.
Attire: Schoolboy Suit and Horns
Angus is, of course, the younger brother of his band mate Malcolm Young. The two brothers started AC/DC in 1973 and recorded the band's first song " Can I Sit Next to You Girl" with the band's first frontman, Dave Evans, in 1974.
Angus is pretty much a self-taught guitarist (altough he never took guitar lessons as a boy, he is considered one of the best in the world). He started playing when he was nine and learned guitar solos by plucking aroun with his Gibson SG before he knew any chords! Angus likes the Gibson SG because of its horns. He thought it looked kind of devilish. Angus still plays his 1968 Gibson SG, it is as much his trademark as his schoolsuit.
Angus began wearing his school suit because many of the gigs he played before joining AC/DC would be right after school. If he went home to change, he would have missed the start of the show and his parents would have kept him home. By the suggestion of his older sister, Margaret, Angus wore it to an AC/DC gig as a joke about his appearance. People became so accustomed to seeing him in his school suit, so he left it in the act.
For those of you who haven't seen Angus perform live in concert, I suggest you watch one of AC/DC's many concert videos to see Angus on stage. His stage prescence is by far one of the best in the world.
Angus loves to draw. He paints landscapes in his free time. The cartoon devil he draws is his logo. In fact, as a child, the only thing in school he took pleasure in was art, which allowed him some freedom of expression.
Angus Young lives up to his name by being as energetic and fun- loving as always. He even said that after Bon Scott's death in 1980 he felt "Horribly grown-up."
Malcolm Young
Rhythm Guitar
Born: January 6, 1953 in Glasgow, Scotland
Attire: Old jeans and beat up guitar!
Malcolm is the heart of AC/DC. He was the first member of the band and soon recruited his younger brother, Angus, to be the lead guitarist in his strictly rock 'n' roll band.
He, like all members of AC/DC, comes from a working class family and, in 1973, set out to make a band that would appeal to the working class by playing straight-ahead rock 'n' roll. He definitely succeeded by making his band a hit in Australia in the early 70s, England in the late 70s, America in the early 80s, and by today, the world!
Malcolm is one of the heaviest rhythm guitarists today and also composes most of AC/DC's material along with Angus, Brian, and once, Bon Scott.
Ronald (Bon) Belford Scott
Lead vocals (1974-1980)
Born: July 9, 1946 in Kirriemuir, Scotland
Attire: Tatoos and booze
It is a common misconception that Bon Scott was AC/DC's first lead singer when in fact the band's first frontman was a glittery singer by the name of Dave Evans. Evans did little with the band and Bon took over after Evans recorded only one song ,"Can I Sit Next to You Girl."
It is also a popular story that Bon joined the band after being the band's limo driver, however, the story may be closer to Bon knew George Young and George knew AC/DC needed a singer. George was the band's original manager and inspiration (because he was the older brother of Angus and Malcolm and had several years of rock experience with the Easybeats, who had some success). I can't tell you how Bon joined the band for sure, but I know his prescence was felt once he was a member of AC/DC.
Bon was with the band for five years before his death on February 19, 1980. He had spent the night before drinking with a friend. When they got to his apartment Bon's friend could not seem to wake him up, so he left him to sleep there for the night. After being unconcious for 15 hours, his friend (Alistair Kinnear) found him around 7:45, dead in the back of his car. Bon had begun to vomit but his neck was in an awkward position and he could not seem to get himself out of it. As a result, Bon choked to death. He had gone over the edge one to many times.
I hope you will always remember him as a major part of AC/DC. Bon once told Angus that he would not die until he was famous and after the release of "Highway to Hell," the singer was very well known and just about to peak. One more shot at an album could have easily been his best.
Brian Johnson
Lead vocals (1980-present)
Born: October 5, 1947 in Newcastle England
Attire: Ripped jeans and patented cap!
Before becoming a member of AC/DC, Brian was the lead singer for a British rock groupby the name of Geordie. Geordie was similar to AC/DC in that it played to the working class crowd. In the early 70s, Geordie actually played a gig with Bon Scott's "Fraternity" (the band Bon was in before AC/DC). Bon later commented to his AC/DC band mates that the singer of Geordie was one of the best he had ever heard.
This raspy-voiced power house added a completely new dimension to the AC/DC sound when he joined in early 1980 following Bon's death. From his premiere album Back in Black to his latest released Stiff Upper Lip the voice of Johnson has proven to be one of the only things heavier than Malcolm's guitar!
Brian realized the AC/DC fans were with him. His stage prescence and energy are outstanding and you've got to love it when he rides the giant Ballbreaker!!
Phillip Rudd
Drums
Born: May 19, 1949 in Melbourne, Australia
Attire: Glasses and drumstick to pick nose! LOL
After the original AC/DC drummer, Pete Clack, was cut from the band for lack of ability, Phil stepped in. Phil had been playing in a Melbourne band by the name of " Buster Brown" and would stay with AC/DC for several years after joining in the beginning of 1975.
After the release of "Flick of the Switch," Rudd left the band, doubting whether he wished to continue playing at all. The long hours took toll on him and he needed a break. The band continued first with Englishman Simon Wright on drums, until he left to join his favorite band, "Dio." Wright was replaced with another English drummer, Chris Slade.
For the recording of Ballbreaker, Rudd rejoined the band. After being gone for 12 years, Phil was rested and ready to resume his life as AC/DC's drummer.
Cliff Williams
Bass Guitar
Born: December 14, 1949 in Romford, England
Attire: Long hair, empty whiskey bottles! lol
Shortly after the release of "Let there be Rock," bassist Mark Evans left the band and Cliff joined. It is reported that Mark Evans grew weary of the road work and felt that the band wasn't as popular as he would like. When he left, the Young brothers gave him 2000 dollars so he would lose his royalties for his work with the band.
Ever since, Cliff has been a corner stone for the band's music. He provides the solid foundation for the music and sings outstanding back-up with Malcolm. Cliff does not mind being at the back of the stage for most of the show,hell, he is next to the speakers where the music is loudest.
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