Editing AC/DC (section)

===1973–1974: Formation and name===
AC/DC were formed in the Australian pop music scene of the early to mid-1970s,<ref name="Kimball">{{cite web |last1=Kimball |first1=Duncan |title=AC/DC |url=http://www.milesago.com/Artists/acdc.htm |publisher=Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117090857/http://www.milesago.com/Artists/acdc.htm |archive-date=17 January 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2024}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> which is described as the [[Rock music in Australia#1970–1975: "Third wave"|third&nbsp;wave of rock music]].<ref name="Kimball 1">{{Cite web |last=Kimball |first=Duncan |title=An Overview |url=http://www.milesago.com/Overview.htm |publisher=Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419094612/http://www.milesago.com/Overview.htm |archive-date=19 April 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2023}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Many local 1960s artists – e.g., [[the Easybeats]] and [[the Masters Apprentices]], had attempted to gain international recognition but achieved limited commercial success overseas and disbanded after returning to Australia.{{sfn|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040420000351/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=310 the Easybeats]}}{{sfn|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040618055742/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=469 the Masters Apprentices]}} Newer artists and veterans of the 1960s [[beat music|beat boom]] developed a variety of genres, which included a harder blues rock style dubbed [[Pub rock (Australia)|pub rock]].<ref name="Kimball 1" /> Popular Australian bands – e.g., [[Sherbet (band)|Sherbet]] and [[Skyhooks (band)|Skyhooks]], played mainstream pop or adopted a [[glam rock]] approach.{{sfn|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419053920/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=365 Sherbet]}}{{sfn|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419072143/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=375 Skyhooks]}}

{{Multiple image|total_width=300
 | image1 = Angus Young - Manchester Apollo - 1982.jpg
 | alt1 = This photo is in black and white. Angus, aged 27, is shown playing guitar with both hands. He is seen shirtless, with shorts, and the socks-shoes combo. Brian Johnson, aged 34, is shown behind Angus, with his hands and knees on the ground. He is seen wearing an Irish hat, a tank top, jeans and shoes. Both are shown in right profile.
 | image2 = 1982 Malcolm Young.jpg
 | alt2 = This photo is in black and white. Malcolm, aged 29, is shown in left profile, playing guitar with both hands. He has over shoulder-length hair, and is wearing a dark T-shirt, jeans and shoes.
 | footer = AC/DC's founding members [[Angus Young]] (''left'') and [[Malcolm Young]] (''right''); both performing in [[Manchester]] in 1982
}}

In November 1973, brothers [[Malcolm Young|Malcolm]] and [[Angus Young]] formed AC/DC in [[Sydney]] with drummer [[Colin Burgess (musician)|Colin Burgess]] from the Masters Apprentices, bass guitarist [[Larry Van Kriedt]] and vocalist [[Dave Evans (singer)|Dave Evans]].<ref name="Kimball" /><ref name="McFarlane">
* 1st edition [online]: {{harvnb|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419092226/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=9 AC/DC]}}.
* 2nd edition [print]: {{harvnb|McFarlane|Jenkins|2017|loc=entry for AC/DC|pp=8–9}}.</ref> Earlier, Malcolm and Evans had been members of a band called Velvet Underground – not [[The Velvet Underground|the American group of the same name]] – based in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] for two&nbsp;years,<ref name="Kimball" /> and Angus started his own band called Tantrum – he would only jam with his friends.<ref name="Nimmervoll">{{cite web |last1=Nimmervoll |first1=Ed |author-link1=Ed Nimmervoll |title=AC/DC |url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/acdc/acdc.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726200808/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en/acdc/acdc.htm |archive-date=26 July 2012 |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} '''n.b.''' Incorrectly spells "Currenti" as "Kerrante".</ref> The Young brothers had joined [[Marcus Hook Roll Band]], a [[Session musician#Studio band|studio-only band]], in 1973,<ref name="McFarlane 2017">{{cite web |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |date=2017 |title=Marcus Hook Roll Band |url=https://www.thirdstonepress.com.au/archive-blog/2017/10/31/marcus-hook-roll-band |publisher=Third Stone Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301220358/https://www.thirdstonepress.com.au/archive-blog/2017/10/31/marcus-hook-roll-band |archive-date=1 March 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref> which provided their first&nbsp;recordings for their debut album, ''[[Tales of Old Grand-Daddy]]'' (1974),{{sfn|McFarlane|1999|loc=entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803174936/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=607 Flash and the Pan]}} although the pair left before it was issued. Before formation, Malcolm teamed with ex-Velvet Underground bass guitarist Mick Sheffzick and Burgess for his proposed group. Van Kriedt took over from Sheffzick for bass guitar,{{sfn|Engleheart|Durieux|2006|p=46}} then Evans responded to an ad in ''[[the Sydney Morning Herald]]'' and then Angus joined after passing an audition.{{sfn|Engleheart|Durieux|2006|pp=46, 50}}

[[File:Logo ACDC pwrup.svg|thumb|left|alt=AC/DC's logo is shown in orange lettering with the AC separated from DC by a stylised lightning bolt.|The band's logo was designed in 1977 by [[Gerard Huerta]]. It first appeared on the international version of ''[[Let There Be Rock]]''.]]
Upon formation, Malcolm and Angus developed the band's name after their sister Margaret pointed out the symbol "AC/DC" on the [[AC adapter]] of her sewing machine.<ref name="McFarlane" /> [[Electric current#Alternating and direct current|A.C./D.C.]] is an abbreviation for [[alternating current]]/[[direct current]] electricity. The brothers felt that this name symbolised the band's raw energy and the power-driven performances of their music.{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=20}} It is pronounced one letter at a time, though the band are colloquially known as Acca Dacca in Australia.<ref name="Kimball" /><ref name="AwrS5">{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Donovan |date=17 May 2004 |title=''Tracker'' to Acca Dacca |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/16/1084646066908.html |work=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne, Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218143853/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/16/1084646066908.html |archive-date=18 December 2008 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 October 2008}}</ref> The AC/DC band name is stylised with a lightning bolt separating the AC from DC and has been used on all studio albums, except the international version of ''[[Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap]]''. Their logo was designed by American typographer [[Gerard Huerta]] in 1977 and first&nbsp;appeared on ''[[Let There Be Rock]]''. Adam Behr of ''The Bulletin<!-- not at dab page -->'' explained, "[its] type font conveyed the sense of electricity implicit in their name."<ref name="Behr">{{cite news |last1=Behr |first1=Adam |date=31 July 2020 |title=AC/DC's ''Back in Black'' at 40 – Establishing Rock Bands as Brands |website=The Bulletin |url=https://thebulletin.net.au/news/entertainment/5012-ac-dc-s-back-in-black-at-40-establishing-rock-bands-as-brands |url-status=live |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20221029124801/https://thebulletin.net.au/news/entertainment/5012-ac-dc-s-back-in-black-at-40-establishing-rock-bands-as-brands |archive-date=29 October 2022 |via=[[National Library of Australia]]}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

AC/DC's first&nbsp;official gig was at Chequers nightclub in Sydney on 31 December 1973.<ref name="McFarlane" /> For about 18&nbsp;months, most members of the band dressed in some form of glam or satin outfit. Angus tried various costumes: [[Zorro]], a gorilla, and [[Superman]].<ref name="AutoJ4-1">{{Cite web |last=staff writers |date=3 June 2016 |title=A Short History of Angus Young's School Uniforms |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/a-history-of-angus-young-s-school-uniforms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711183831/https://www.loudersound.com/features/a-history-of-angus-young-s-school-uniforms |archive-date=11 July 2019 |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|LouderSound]]}}</ref><ref name="Countdown Zorro">{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Angus Young of AC/DC |url=http://www.countdown.com.au/gallery/photo/angus-young-of-acdc |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120324202908/http://www.countdown.com.au/gallery/photo/angus-young-of-acdc |archive-date=24 March 2012 |access-date=27 December 2023 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) |via=[[National Library of Australia]]}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} '''n.b.''' Click "6" to see Angus in the Superman costume and click "10" to see him in the Zorro costume.</ref> Their performances involved [[cover version]]s of [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[the Beatles]] and "smattering of old blues standards" while trialling some original songs.<ref name="McFarlane" /> Angus first&nbsp;wore his characteristic [[School uniforms by country#Australia|school-uniform]] stage outfit in April 1974 at [[Victoria Park, Sydney]]; the idea was Margaret's.<ref name="Kimball" /><ref name="AutoJ4-1" /> He portrayed a boy "straight from school to play his guitar."<ref name="Nimmervoll" /> On stage, Evans was occasionally replaced on lead vocals by their first&nbsp;[[Talent manager|manager]], Denis Loughlin from Sherbet.<ref name="Kimball" /> In [[Paul Stenning]]'s book ''AC/DC: Two Sides to Every Glory'', he states that Evans and Loughlin were clashing and as a consequence, other members developed bitter feelings towards Evans.{{sfn|Stenning|Johnstone|2005|pp=32–34}}

The group recorded a session in January 1974 at [[Studios 301|EMI Studios]] in Sydney, with [[Vanda & Young]] – [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]] and [[Harry Vanda]] – as the producers; both were former members of the Easybeats and Marcus Hook Roll Band.<ref name="McFarlane" /><ref name="Holmgren">{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206234245/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/a/acdc.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/a/acdc.html |title=AC/DC |publisher=[[Australian Rock Database]] |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |archive-date=6 December 2003 |url-status=usurped |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref> George is Angus and Malcolm's older brother. Several songs were recorded, including "[[Can I Sit Next to You, Girl]]", "Rockin' in the Parlour" and an early version of "Rock 'n' Roll Singer".{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=21}} A week after the session, Burgess was fired due to intoxication; he was unconscious during a performance.<ref name="Kimball" /><ref name="Baker Obit for Burgess">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Glenn A. |author-link=Glenn A. Baker |date=18 December 2023 |title=Original Drummer with AC/DC Lived Rock'n'roll Lifestyle |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/original-drummer-with-ac-dc-lived-rock-n-roll-lifestyle-20231218-p5es89.html |access-date=26 December 2023 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218053504/https://www.smh.com.au/national/original-drummer-with-ac-dc-lived-rock-n-roll-lifestyle-20231218-p5es89.html |archive-date=18 December 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Subsequently, Van Kriedt was replaced;<ref name="Kimball" /><ref name="Paul Matters death">{{Cite web |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/vale-paul-matters/ |title=Australian Bassist Paul Matters, an Early Member of AC/DC, Has Died |author=staff writer |website=The Music Network |date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019231727/https://themusicnetwork.com/vale-paul-matters/ |archive-date=19 October 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=31 December 2023}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> his recorded bass lines for the January session were re-recorded by George.<ref name="Kimball" /> Their replacements, Neil Smith on bass guitar and Noel Taylor on drums, lasted six&nbsp;weeks, replaced in turn by [[Rob Bailey (musician)|Rob Bailey]] and [[Peter Clack]], respectively.<ref name="McFarlane" /><ref name="AutoJ4-2">{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-lineup-changes/ |title=AC/DC Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide |work=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]] |date=18 April 2016 |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904104009/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-lineup-changes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The band signed with [[Albert Productions]] in June 1974.<ref name="Kimball" /> "Can I Sit Next to You, Girl", backed with "Rockin' in the Parlour", taken from the January session, was released on 22 July 1974 as the band's first&nbsp;single.{{sfn|Engleheart|Durieux|2006|p=60}} The song reached the top 50 on Australia's [[Kent Music Report]] singles chart.{{sfn|Kent|1993|p=11}}

The group had developed a strong live reputation by mid-1974, which resulted in a supporting slot on [[Lou Reed]]'s national tour in August.<ref name="McFarlane" /> During that tour, Malcolm switched to rhythm guitar, leaving Angus on lead guitar – the roles the two guitarists played from then on.{{sfn|Engleheart|Durieux|2006|p=62}} During 1974, on the recommendation of [[Michael Chugg]], veteran Melbourne promoter Michael Browning booked them to play at his club, the Hard Rock Cafe.{{sfn|Browning|2014|p=108}} He was not pleased with their glam rock image and felt that Evans was the wrong singer, but he was impressed by the Young brothers' guitar playing.{{sfn|Browning|2014|p=110}} Browning then received a call weeks after the Hard Rock gig from Malcolm: Loughlin had quit and they were stuck in [[Adelaide]] with no money.{{sfn|Browning|2014|pp=114–115}} They hired Browning as their manager in November 1974, with the cooperation of George and Harry Vanda.<ref name="Kimball" />{{sfn|Browning|2014|pp=115–120}} The Young brothers decided to abandon their glam rock image; instead, they pursued a pub rock sound.{{sfn|Cockington|2001|pp=198–201}} To this end, they agreed that Evans was no longer a suitable frontman.{{sfn|Stenning|Johnstone|2005|pp=32–34}}