AC/DC at 50

by Martin Popoff

Overview

A beautifully produced, photo-packed celebration of the ultimate rock band, AC/DC at 50 examines the extraordinary history of the Australian rockers through the lens of 50 milestone events and an illustrated gatefold timeline.

Formed in Australia in 1973, AC/DC became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history with their loud, heavy, sweat-drenched, blues-based rock. This richly illustrated book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band on the occasion of their 50th anniversary by curating and examining the 50 most significant milestones.

Popoff covers everything down through the decades:

• The role played by the Angus and Malcolm Young’s older brother, George
• The songwriting, legendary antics, and tragic death of vocalist Bon Scott
• The mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs
• The debut of singer Brian Johnson on the band’s mega breakthrough, Back in Black
• The band’s fallow 1980s and 1990s resurgence
• Later difficulties, such as Malcolm’s onset of dementia and passing and the legal problems of drummer Phil Rudd
• And, of course, each of the landmark studio LPs

In examining 50 touchstones, Popoff provides a unique presentation of AC/DC’s career arc from Sydney pub band to international mega-platinum stadium fillers. Every page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, ticket stubs, and more.

The result is an epic tribute to one of the most influential and admired bands in rock history—in a milestone year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760377420
Publisher:	Motorbooks
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Series:	At 50
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	126 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Working out of Toronto, Canada, Martin Popoff (martinpopoff.com) has penned more than 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and record collecting, including Rush: The Illustrated History, Led Zeppelin: Song by Song, Pink Floyd: Album by Album, Bowie at 75, AC/DC at 50, Kiss at 50, and In the Groove. In addition, he has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, RecordCollector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com, and hardradio.com. Martin also worked on the award-winning documentaries Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas for Banger Films.

Working out of Toronto, Canada, Martin Popoff (martinpopoff.com) has penned more than 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and record collecting, including Rush: The Illustrated History, Led Zeppelin: Song by Song, Pink Floyd: Album by Album, Bowie at 75, AC/DC at 50, Kiss at 50, and In the Groove. In addition, he has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, RecordCollector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com, and hardradio.com. Martin also worked on the award-winning documentaries Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas for Banger Films.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
PART 1 BONFIRE
01 PROBLEM CHILD - AC/DC forms in Sydney
02 LOVE AT FIRST FEEL - Debut single, “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl”
03 ROCK ’N’ ROLL SINGER - Bon Scott joins
04 SHOW BUSINESS - Debut album, High Voltage
05 WAITING ROUND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE - The second album, T.N.T.
06 LONG WAY TO THE TOP  - The international compilation version of High Voltage
07 LIVE WIRE - First dates outside Australia
08 GONNA BE SOME ROCKIN’ - The third Australian album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
09 BAD BOY BOOGIE - The fourth album, Let There Be Rock
10 GIMME A BULLET - Cliff Williams replaces Mark Evans on bass
11 FIRST BLOOD - The first U.S. shows
12 SAFE IN NEW YORK CITY - AC/DC play CBGB
13 DECIBEL - AC/DC issue Powerage
14 LET THERE BE ROCK - First live album, If You Want Blood You’ve Got It
15 RISING POWER - The Mutt Lange–produced Highway to Hell
16 HAVE A DRINK ON ME - First RIAA certification
PART 2 GEORDIE
17 MISS ADVENTURE - Bon Scott dies
18 SEND FOR THE MAN - Malcolm offers Brian Johnson a job
19 BACK IN BUSINESS - AC/DC issue Back in Black
20 ALL SCREWED UP - Atlantic issues Dirty Deeds in North America
21 STAND UP - Headlining the second annual Monsters of Rock
22 FIRE YOUR GUNS - The eighth album, For Those About to Rock
23 BREAKING THE RULES - The self-produced Flick of the Switch
24 THIS HOUSE IS ON FIRE - First band to headline Monsters of Rock twice
25 GO DOWN - Headlining Rock in Rio
26 SHAKE YOUR FOUNDATIONS - AC/DC issue Fly on the Wall
27 WAR MACHINE - The soundtrack/hits release, Who Made Who
28 SYSTEMS DOWN - AC/DC issue Blow Up Your Video
29 TOUCH TOO MUCH - Malcolm enters rehab
30 THUNDERSTRUCK - The comeback album, The Razors Edge
PART 3 LEGACY
31 MONEY MADE - Back in Black certified 10x platinum
32 GO ZONE - Headlining Russia’s first-ever open-air rock festival
33 KICKED IN THE TEETH - A second live album, simply called Live
34 RUFF STUFF - AC/DC issue Ballbreaker
35 UP TO MY NECK IN YOU - The Bonfire box set
36 ROCK THE BLUES AWAY - Fourteenth album, Stiff Upper Lip
37 SHOOT TO THRILL - AC/DC perform on SNL
38 SCHOOL DAYS - AC/DC play club shows and support The Rolling Stones
39 ROCK THE HOUSE - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
40 SKIES ON FIRE - Performing at the Toronto Rocks benefit
41 ROCK ’N’ ROLL AIN’T NOISE POLLUTION - Fifteenth studio album, Black Ice
42 BOOGIE MAN - Columbia issues Backtracks box set
43 JAILBREAK - A third live album, Live at River Plate
PART 4 MALCOLM
44 REALIZE - Ill health forces Malcolm aside; Phil Rudd gets fired
45 PLAY BALL - AC/DC issue Rock or Bust, their first album without Malcolm
46 NICK OF TIME - Performing at the Grammys
47 HELLS BELLS - Brian plays his last AC/DC show... to date
48 GUNS FOR HIRE - Twenty-three dates with Axl Rose as front man
49 THROUGH THE MISTS OF TIME - Rest in Peace, George and Malcolm Young
50 FLICK OF THE SWITCH - Seventeenth album, Power Up
DISCOGRAPHY
INDEX
IMAGE CREDITS
 

Editorial Reviews

"Aesthetically stunning and expertly written, this book will spend years in your library only to be opened again and again.  The best books are those we revisit: for reference, for nostalgia, for uncomplicated beauty.  Martin Popoff and Motorbooks have laid plain the colossal musical history of AC/DC—and all under 200 pages.  Now, that is a colossal accomplishment."—Screamer Magazine

"Through his compelling narrative, along with a vast collection of images, AC/DC At 50 is an enjoyable reading experience for super and casual fans alike. Popoff allows for AC/DC’s achievements and downfalls tell their story to great effect...has created a strong companion for truly understanding the legacy and cultural importance of AC/DC."—Spill Magazine

"...this book examines 50 career milestones...the best parts are lesser-known markers like an impromptu '77 set at NYC punk mecca CBGB's or discussing 1978's Powerage - Keith Richards' favorite AC/DC album!"—Vintage Guitar

"For those about to rock, er, read, here's a must-have book for AC/DC fans. Each of the 50 chapters is accompanied by photos and pictures of ephemera (posters, ticket stubs, backstage passes) from the era and a short essay from Popoff, whose eloquent commentary is not only informative but also often amusing."—antimusic.com

From the Publisher