AC/DC is one of the most popular bands to ever come out of Australia. No one had a sound like them in their hay day making them so popular. Angus and Malcolm Young’s guitar work is so simple yet so intricate along with Bon Scott’s scratchy screaming vocals made AC/DC such a memorable band. Sadly though, Bon Scott died from alcohol poisoning in 1980 ending the band’s career for good… or so they thought until April of that year when Brian Johnson joined the band as the new lead singer.
In July the band produced the album Back in Black dedicated to the late Bon Scott, it was their biggest hit in America, ever. Opening up with Hells Bells with the bell tolling and Angus’ guitar riffs this album helped showcase the band’s mastery of simplicity. Then the title song Back in Black on track 6 opens up with the famous riff and mini-guitar solo that it is unmistakable. My favorite song hands down is You Shook Me All Night Long and not just because of the suggestive title. The guitar rhythms and the ever so simple drum beat with Johnson’s vocals just makes the song so fun to listen to. Then you get to the chorus and the vocal harmonies between Johnson, Malcolm Young, and bassist Cliff Williams is a rarity in this sub-genre of rock.
While I have said before that AC/DC songs are simple, it is so original that it can’t be matched. Many8 bands during this time period were focusing on 20 minute guitar solos and AC/DC was still cranking out under 5 minute songs, and selling more records. This band goes to show, simple works.
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