AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who have remained constant members. Commonly classified as hard rock or blues rock, they are also considered pioneers of heavy metal and are sometimes classified as such, though they have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll". To date they are one of the highest-grossing bands of all time.
Malcolm and Angus Young developed the idea for the band's name after their sister, Margaret Young, saw the initials "AC/DC" on a sewing machine. "AC/DC" is an abbreviation meaning "alternating current/direct current" electricity. The brothers felt that this name symbolized the band's raw energy, power-driven performances of their music.
As of 2010, AC/DC had sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, including 71 million albums in the United States alone. Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second-highest-selling album by any artist – behind only Michael Jackson's Thriller – and the highest-selling album by any band. The album has sold 22 million units in the U.S. alone, where it is the sixth-highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and were named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, AC/DC were ranked number 72 in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In 2010, AC/DC were ranked number 23 in the VH1 list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
Current members (Feb 2013)
Angus Young – lead guitar (1973–present)
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1973–present)
Phil Rudd – drums (1975–1983, 1994–present)
Cliff Williams – bass, backing vocals (1977–present)
Brian Johnson – lead vocals (1980–present)
Discography
High Voltage (1975) (Australia only, internationally re-issued in 1976 as a selection of tracks from the first two albums)
T.N.T. (1975) (Australia only)
High Voltage (1976) (International)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978)
Highway to Hell (1979)
Back in Black (1980)
For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981)
Flick of the Switch (1983)
'74 Jailbreak (1984)
Fly on the Wall (1985)
Who Made Who (1986)
Blow Up Your Video (1988)
The Razors Edge (1990)
AC/DC Live (1992)
Ballbreaker (1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Black Ice (2008)
Live at River Plate (2012)
-wikipedia.org