AC/DC

AC/DC Frontman Bon Scott, Man Of Letters

Australia's The Age ( www.theage.com.au ) has issued the following report from Patrick Donovan:

For the past 30 years, Bon Scott's private letters and personal photos were hidden away in the Oakleigh flat of his ex-wife, Irene Thornton. But from this week they will be shared among all Australian AC/DC fans, with the new owner displaying them in a free exhibition.

It was one of the more unusual sale nights at South Yarra's Leonard Joel art auction house, as rock fans in black T-shirts bid in May for the holy grail of Australian rock memorabilia. After being outbid for Scott's black leather-encased shaving mirror (which went for $12,540), rock aficionado James Young bought the collection of photos and letters for an undisclosed sum.

"As a devotee of Australian rock'n'roll, I would've been spitting chips if they went overseas to a rich German fan," Mr Young said. "It would be like selling Ned Kelly's helmet to the Yanks! I mean, what would you pay for Shakespeare's private letters?"

The collection includes 70 rare photos, including wedding shots, letters, cards and the couple's marriage and divorce certificates. The intimate letters, written mainly from abroad while on tour, reveal the loneliness of a man on the verge of worldwide stardom, who seemed prepared to give up the high life to settle down in Australia to start a family.

"I just wanna get a lot of money soon so I can at least change a few little things about myself," one letter reads. "More booze and dope. Not really. I just wanna be famous, I guess. Just so when people talk about ya, it's good things they say. That's all I want."

Ms Thornton's decision to sell the collection sparked outrage among some fans. One chatroom entry claimed: "Nothing is sacred any more … eBay started all this trash."

Mr Young has mounted the collection in 43 frames, which in October he will move from his Port Melbourne office to what he calls "the spiritual home of AC/DC", Cherry bar in AC/DC Lane in the city.

Scott's family migrated to Melbourne when he was five and he spent his early childhood in Sunshine. AC/DC's band members spent their formative years living together in East St Kilda where they wrote the band's first two albums. They recorded the iconic video clip for It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock 'n' Roll) on a flat-bed truck in Swanston Street.

Scott died from alcohol poisoning in 1980. After his death, AC/DC replaced him with English singer Brian Johnson, and the band has gone on to sell 130 million albums.

Mr Young urges music fans to peruse the holy grail of Australian rock and feel a sense of tribal belonging to the band.

But what if, as with the AC/DC street sign, feral fans decide to commandeer them?

"I know how much these will mean to other true fans," Mr Young said. "So bugger the risk, they're going on the wall for all to see and marvel at."

Bye Bye Bon Scott will be on public display at SEE, 25 Nott Street, Port Melbourne, from 7.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Friday.

AC/DC - Back In Black Dissected In New Classic Album Under Review DVD

The new DVD, AC/DC: A Classic Album Under Review: Back In Black is being released on October 31 through MVD Entertainment Group. This DVD documentary is the ultimate review and critical analysis of AC/DC's most influential and successful album. With the entire album dissected track by track, and with rare footage, band interviews and live performances all under the gaze of our panel of esteemed experts, this could be the most thorough exploration of this band yet. Includes: rare musical performances; comment, criticism and insight from; engineer for Back In Black and Highway To Hell sessions, Tony Platt; rock journalist, Total Rock FM DJ and AC/DC expert, Malcolm Dome; AC/DC biographer Paul Stenning, Classic Rock magazine’s Jerry Ewing; BBC 6 Music DJ Jane Gazzo, AC/DC author Clinton Walker and more. Bonus Features: ‘Tony Platt In The Studio With AC/DC’; ‘The Hardest AC/DC Back In Black Quiz In The World Ever’, full contributor biographies and ‘Beyond DVD’ section.

AC/DC Biography Due Out In October



A new AC/DC biography called Let There Be Rock by Susan Masino is due for release on October 10th. In other news, AC/DC's album sales in the news again. "AC/DC Beat BEATLES" reads one headline. Although not particularly "new" news, after an apparent recent RIAA update to their "top sellling artists" and "top selling albums" lists, AC/DC are now at 68 million albums sold in the USA alone, making them the 10th best selling musical act of all time in the USA, and Back In Black remains at 21 million copies making it the 5th best selling album in the USA of all time, higher than any release by THE BEATLES. It is estimated that AC/DC have now sold well over 150 million albums on a worldwide basis.
(Thanks AC/DC News)

Former AC/DC Drummer To Guest With THUNDHERSTRUCK Tonight

BW&BK has received the following press release:

Former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade – who performed on 1990’s quintuple platinum The Razor’s Edge, as well as the group’s landmark live album recorded during the corresponding tour – will make a guest appearance at the Girls Got Rhythm record release party tonight, when he takes the stage to join the all-female AC/DC tribute band THUNDHERSTRUCK. It won’t be the first time the group has been joined by Slade, whose resume also includes stints with Uriah Heep, Asia and The Firm; he recently teamed with the band during an overseas USO performance for American troops.

ThundHerStruck – one of 13 groups featured on Girls Got Rhythm, a female tribute band collection also featuring such well known acts as The Iron Maidens, Cheap Chick and Mistress of Reality – will “headline” the record release party, which takes place at the Key Club in Hollywood, Calif. Also on the bill are Zepparella and Ms. Fits, both of whom are also featured on the compilation. The groups will be opening for the club’s long-running Monday night ‘80s metal tribute, Metal Skool. Additionally, one lucky attendee will win a Champagne Sparkle Rock Candy guitar courtesy of Daisy Rock Guitars. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Featuring cover art by Alan Forbes (Ozzy Osbourne, AFI, Queens of the Stone Age), Girls Got Rhythm – advertised by its label, Liquor and Poker Music, as a “female tribute celebration featuring covers of classic hard rock and metal bands by the women who love them” – will be available for purchase at the show, one day before it’s in stores. Its release commemorates the third anniversary of Liquor and Poker, the rock imprint of Century Media Records that has released two dozen acclaimed albums by the likes of Fireball Ministry, The Hellacopters, Nebula and Backyard Babies since its 2003 inception.

AC/DC Guitarist Crowned Kerrang! Legend


AC/DC guitarist Angus Young was crowned Kerrang! Legend last night (August 24th) at the Kerrang! Awards in London, England. His band graced the first ever cover of the magazine back in 1981. Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan called them "one of the most important and influential rock bands in history." For photos of the event head http://www.crabsodyinblue.com/acdclatestnews.htm
(Thanks CrabsodyInBlue)

AC/DC - Thunder Rock Interviews DVD Due Out In October


According to AC/DC Highway To Hell, the AC/DC - Thunder Rock Interviews DVD is due out on October 31st. According to a press release, "Get up close and personal with one of rocks loudest bands, AC/DC. Get the full story from the men who lived it, in this totally unauthorized video bio. Contains interviews with the band and footage never before seen. Contains no music of performances by the band

et en attendant ... le nouvel album, regardez cette video d' Angus Young présenté au "Legend" award de Kerrang! c'etait le 24 08 2006et c'est ici :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NOKPpZVp8Y

AC/DC - Extracts Of New Let There Be Rock Book Available


Susan Masino, the author of Let There Be Rock: The Story Of AC/DC, has recently launched a website to promote her book. Extracts of the book can be read at www.storyofacdc.com here http://www.storyofacdc.com/about_book.asp . An introduction about the book is posted at her website and reads as follows:

"Greetings and welcome to the website for my new book, Let There Be Rock: The Story of AC/DC. I have been a rock journalist for the last twenty-nine years, and was lucky enough to meet AC/DC on their first American tour in 1977. Over the years I have had the honor and the privilege of staying in touch with the band, following their incredible climb to superstardom. As I researched their legacy for this book, I literally studied their history a week at a time for the course of a thirty-two year career. Needless to say, I learned a lot about the band! Knowing AC/DC made writing this book even harder because they have always valued their privacy. To report the true story of their rise to fame, I had to confront long-held beliefs about the band while keeping in mind the diehard fans that already know a lot about them, the new fan that wants to learn everything, and the band members themselves. Personally I am very proud of the final result. I think you will enjoy Let There Be Rock: The Story of AC/DC. And hopefully it sheds some light on all they have been through and what has made them one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands in the world. Enjoy!"

A couple of related AC/DC news bits:

A video of Angus Young at the Kerrang! Awards held on August 24th iscurrently online at this location https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NOKPpZVp8Y . Young was crowned Kerrang! Legend. AC/DC graced the first ever cover of the magazine back in 1981. Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan called them 'one of the most important and influential rock bands in history'.

Finally, there is a new THE EASYBEATS documentary online featuring Angus and Malcolm Young's older brother George called The Easybeats - Rare Beat 1966. It can be viewed here http://www.thevideobeat.com/ . George Young, along with partner Harry Vanda, co-produced AC/DC's early albums such as High Voltage and Powerage. The Easybeats hit #1 in Australia, #6 in the UK and #16 in the US with the massive '60s hit, 'Friday On My Mind'.

(Thanks CrabsodyInBlue)

Brian Johnson fête son anniversaire (October 5, 1947), plus qu'un an avant les 60 ans

AC/DC Legend Bon Scott To Featured In Aussie TV Tribute Tonight

The following report is courtesy of Australia's Thewest.com.au:

Channel Nine Perth has produced a documentary about AC/DC’s legendary front man Bon Scott, which will be screened Sunday tonight. The documentary will celebrate Bon Scott’s life and uncover the man behind the myth. With exclusive interviews with former band members, a former girlfriend, and personal friends, the documentary will uncover the real Bon Scott by talking to people that were closest to him. Plus interviews with music expert Glenn A Baker, Perth DJ John Young and other rock’n’rollers from that era. This is a local production about a local Fremantle boy who made it all the way to the dizzying heights of rock n roll stardom. Bon Scott, the man, the myth, the legend all will be revealed in this premiere documentary only on Channel Nine Perth tonight.