03 Atlantic Records Bio's of band members (AC/DC)
Description
This article is from the AC/DC FAQ, by Phil Rose acdcfaq@yahoo.com with numerous contributions by others.
03 Atlantic Records Bio's of band members (AC/DC)
Here's biographies of the band members that Atlantic printed in music
books published in the 1979/1980 timeframe. These are from the record
company, so take them with a grain of salt:
Angus Young - Born March 31, 1959 [note: see item 4, "Angus' Age"]
(Aries the Ram) in Glasgow, Scotland. Angus and his brother Malcolm
co-founded AC/DC almost ten years ago. On stage Angus still wears his
schoolboy uniform (shorts and striped socks included), while playing a
superb electric guitar. He's especially well known for his vivid
onstage mannerisms - he won't miss a note while roaming, falling,
kicking, running, writhing, and sweating...a complete showman! Angus
co-authors all of AC/DC's music with Malcolm and Bon.
Bon Scott - Born July 9, 1946 (Cancer the Crab) in Kirnmuir, Scotland.
Ronald Belford Scott, the prolific writer of AC/DC's lyrics, had been
with various rock and R&B groups as singer/drummer before joining
AC/DC. In addition to playing, Bon worked as a chauffeur for other
groups. It was in this later capacity that he first met the other
members of AC/DC, who felt he sang better than he drove! Bon is
responsible for touching our hearts with such tributes as "The Jack"
and "Whole Lotta Rosie" while developing into one of the best frontmen
in rock.
Malcolm Young - Born January 9, 1953 (Capricorn the Goat) in Glasgow.
Often called the innovator and "brains" behind AC/DC, Malcolm plays
airtight powerchord rhythm guitar. The other band members have
nicknamed him "Riffmaker", since his writing talent has been largely
credited with supplying AC/DC with its inimitable, intense
sound. Malcolm played with several bands in Sydney (the family having
emigrated to Australia) while waiting quite literally - for Angus to
finish school so they could form their band.
Phil Rudd - Born May 19, 1954 (Taurus the Bull) in Melbourne,
Australia. Phil releases his tensions by drumming. He received his
early musical training in local Melbourne bands before taking up with
AC/DC. Phil is also car-crazy, and he holds various certificates from
England's Brand Hatch race track. His obsessions with automobiles
extends to driving the band around when on tour, and he even carries a
portable electric road- racing set with him (which has been set up in
Holiday Inns across the globe). "Driving" also describes Phil's
drumming, and his expert stickwork provides the rhythmic backbone for
AC/DC.
Cliff Williams - Born December 14, 1949 (Sagitarius the Archer) in
Romford, England. Cliff is the newest member of AC/DC. He was chosen
over 50 other bass players at auditions held in London last year. In
the past he has performed with such British groups as Home and
Bandit. Angus says he was selected not for his musical ability, but
because his good looks would be sure to bring in women - a pastime the
entire band shares enthusiastically.
Brian Johnson - Born October 5, 1947 (Libra the Balance) in Newcastle,
England. Brian, formerly of the English 70's rock band Geordie, fits
comfortably into the group as its lead vocalist and newest member. His
Northeastern England accent, wild humor and cap are already
trademarks, along with his heavy, raw edged vocals to which the crowds
have given rousing approval.
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