AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young. Built around blunt guitar riffs, a powerful backbeat and an uncompromising rock and roll attitude, the group became one of the most successful and recognizable bands in popular music. Their name, taken from the electrical abbreviation for alternating current and direct current, matched their high-energy sound and stage presentation.
The early AC/DC lineup changed frequently. The Young brothers initially worked with vocalist Dave Evans, bassist Larry Van Kriedt and drummer Colin Burgess, but the band soon moved toward the lineup that established its identity. Scottish-born singer Bon Scott joined in 1974, bringing a rough, expressive voice and a mischievous lyrical style that became central to the band's character. AC/DC's first albums, including the Australian releases High Voltage and T.N.T., introduced a stripped-down form of hard rock influenced by blues, 1950s rock and roll, and the aggressive live traditions of Australian pub rock.
The band's international breakthrough developed through Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), Let There Be Rock (1977) and Powerage (1978). These records established the core AC/DC formula: Malcolm Young's tightly controlled rhythm guitar, Angus Young's sharp lead playing, and songs that favored direct impact over studio ornamentation. Highway to Hell (1979) became their first major worldwide success and elevated the group from a popular touring act to a leading international rock band.
Scott died in February 1980, but AC/DC continued with English vocalist Brian Johnson. His first album with the band, Back in Black, was released later that year as a tribute to Scott. Its combination of anthemic songs, disciplined production and memorable guitar work made it one of the best-selling albums in recording history. Tracks such as "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Hells Bells" and the title song became permanent fixtures of classic rock radio and AC/DC's concert repertoire.
The group maintained its position through the 1980s, although albums such as For Those About to Rock We Salute You, Flick of the Switch and Fly on the Wall received mixed responses compared with the band's earlier work. Drummer Phil Rudd left during the Flick of the Switch sessions and was replaced first by Simon Wright and later by Chris Slade. Rudd returned in the mid-1990s, contributing to Ballbreaker and subsequent albums.
AC/DC regained major commercial momentum with The Razors Edge (1990), which included "Thunderstruck." Later releases such as Ballbreaker, Stiff Upper Lip, Black Ice and Rock or Bust showed that the band could remain commercially relevant without abandoning its established sound. Malcolm Young retired in 2014 because of illness and died in 2017. His nephew Stevie Young took over rhythm guitar, preserving the band's longstanding musical architecture.
Johnson temporarily left touring in 2016 because of hearing problems, and Axl Rose performed with AC/DC for the remaining dates of that tour. Johnson later returned, as did Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams, for the 2020 studio album Power Up, which drew extensively on the Young brothers' songwriting legacy. AC/DC continued performing under the Power Up banner, with official tour dates extending into 2026. Their durability rests on a rare consistency: across decades of lineup changes and changing musical fashions, the band's essential combination of riff, rhythm and spectacle has remained immediately identifiable.