Original line-up: Malcolm Young, guitar; Angus Young, Gibson SG guitar; Phil Rudd, drums; Mark Evans, bass; Bon Scott, vocals.

Malcolm and Angus Young formed band in Sydney, Australia, but moved to Melbourne where original line-up evolved. Malcolm and Angus are younger brothers of George Young of 60s pop outfit Easybeats. This connection proved invaluable to AC/DC in terms of experience and production. However, there is no trace of the Easybeats' pop melodies in the sonic, frontal assaults of AC/DC. Now superstars on heavy-metal circuit, AC/DC were instrumental in breaking down prejudices against Australian rock. Strong home following was gained via release of two 1975 albums: High Voltage and TNT. Then came low-budget, hard-working tour of UK which earned enough favourable response for UK album release. (Entitled High Voltage, UK LP is actually TNT minus two tracks, with two added from the Australian release High Voltage.) Making every performance an athletic endurance contest for both band and audience, AC/DC gained notoriety in US. Clearly everyone else was back-up to Scott's rivet driving vocals and Angus' head-bobbing gyrotechnics. (Change in bass players in 1977 from Mark Evans to Cliff Williams almost went unnoticed.) Bon Scott's death from alcohol abuse in April 1980 occurred when AC/DC was on fringe of super-group status. In a fortunate twist of fate, AC/DC hired Scott-soundalike Brian Johnson (from band Geordie). Following classic Back In Black LP, band maintained set formula with little original spark. Rudd quit AC/DC in 1983, with  Simon Wright taking drum chair. Period of relative inactivity ended in 1987, when Heatseeker single earned UK Top 20 placing. Further personnel upheavals occurred when an 'in-disposed' Malcolm Young was replaced by cousin Stevie Young and former Gary Moore and Firm drummer Chris Slade stepped in for Wright.

1990 set The Razor's Edge returned group to both Top 10 UK/US album charts, and prompted major US tour that year, with Paul Gregg ousting Williams for bass spot.With notoriety never more than a whisper away, AC/DC suffered traumatic date at Salt Lake City (1991) when three fans were killed during frenetic crowd scenes at concert.