Editing AC/DC (section)

===1977–1980: Cliff Williams joins and death of Bon Scott===
[[File:Cliffwilliams.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|alt=Williams, about 31, shown in upper body shot. He sings into microphone on a stand while strumming his guitar. He wears a singlet top and has shoulder length hair.|[[Cliff Williams]] (''pictured in 1981'') joined as bass guitarist in 1977.]]

In May 1977, Mark Evans was fired. This was due to "musical differences" and personality clashes with Angus.<ref name="Kimball" /> He was replaced on bass guitar by [[Cliff Williams]], a former member of the UK bands [[Home (UK band)|Home]] (1970–1974) and [[Bandit (band)|Bandit]] (1976).<ref name="McFarlane" /> Scott explained that Williams was more experienced, while Malcolm wanted a bass guitarist and backing vocalist.{{sfn|Walker|2006|p=200}} Evans' autobiography, ''Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC'', released in 2011, predominantly dealt with his time in AC/DC.<ref name="Evans Autobiography">{{cite web |url=http://www.mumslounge.com.au/entertainment/book-reviews/1325-review-dirty-deeds,-my-life-inside-outside-of-ac-dc,-mark-evans.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page= |title=Review: ''Dirty Deeds, My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC'', Mark Evans |first=Mandi |last=Johnston |website=Mums Lounge |date=19 November 2012 |via=[[National Library of Australia]] |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130411033037/http://www.mumslounge.com.au/entertainment/book-reviews/1325-review-dirty-deeds,-my-life-inside-outside-of-ac-dc,-mark-evans.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page= |archive-date=11 April 2013 |access-date=21 September 2023 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

AC/DC's first&nbsp;American radio exposure was through Bill Bartlett at Jacksonville station [[WJGL|WPDQ-FM/WAIV-FM]] in 1975.{{sfn|Fink|2013|pp=107–111}} Two&nbsp;years later, they played their first&nbsp;concert there, as a support act for Canadian group [[Moxy (band)|Moxy]] in Austin, Texas, on 27 July 1977.{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=67}} From booking agent Doug Thaler of American Talent International and the management of Leber-Krebs, they experienced the country's stadium circuit, supporting rock acts [[Ted Nugent]], [[Aerosmith]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Styx (band)|Styx]], [[UFO (band)|UFO]] and [[Blue Öyster Cult]]; they co-headlined with [[Cheap Trick]]. AC/DC released their fifth&nbsp;studio album, ''[[Powerage]]'', on 5 May 1978.<ref name="fuEcH">{{cite web |url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/r81 |title = AC/DC – ''Powerage'' | publisher = [[AllMusic]] |first1=Greg |last1=Prato |access-date = 2 August 2008 |archive-date = 4 September 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230904105024/https://www.allmusic.com/album/powerage-mw0000194999 |url-status = live }}</ref> The sole single from ''Powerage'' was "[[Rock 'n' Roll Damnation]]" (June 1978).<ref name="McFarlane" /> An appearance at [[The Apollo, Glasgow]], during the Powerage Tour was recorded and released as ''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]'' (1978).<ref name="Rivadavia 3">{{Cite web |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |date=13 October 2023 |orig-date=13 October 2013 |title=How AC/DC Elevated Their Career with the Live ''If You Want Blood, You've Got It'' |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-if-you-want-blood-youve-got-it/ |website=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418061221/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-if-you-want-blood-youve-got-it/ |archive-date=18 April 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

[[File:BonScottStatue3 gobeirne.jpg|thumb|alt=Scott's life-sized statue shown in upper body shot. He sings into a hand held microphone, his chest partly exposed beneath a vest.|A bronze statue of Bon Scott in [[Fremantle]], Western Australia]]
In 1979, the group recorded their sixth&nbsp;studio album, ''[[Highway to Hell]]'', with producer [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]],{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=89}} which was issued on 27 July 1979.{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=101}} It became their first&nbsp;album to reach the top&nbsp;20 the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], eventually peaking at number&nbsp;17,<ref name="billboard200">{{Cite magazine |title=AC/DC Chart History (''Billboard'' 200) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ac-dc/chart-history/tlp/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> and it propelled AC/DC into the top ranks of hard rock acts.{{sfn|Engleheart|1997}} ''Highway to Hell'' had lyrics that shifted away from flippant and comical towards more central rock themes, putting increased emphasis on backing vocals but still featuring AC/DC's signature sound: loud, simple, pounding riffs and grooving back-beats.<ref name="slL1m">{{cite web |url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/r82 |title = AC/DC – ''Highway to Hell'' | publisher = [[AllMusic]] |first1=Steve |last1=Huey |access-date = 2 August 2008 |archive-date = 22 July 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722052054/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r82 |url-status = live }}</ref>

In February 1980, the members began to work on their seventh&nbsp;studio album, ''[[Back in Black]]'', with Scott on drums instead of vocals.<ref name="Kielty 2">{{cite web |first=Martin |last=Kielty |date=21 August 2020 |title=Angus Young Still Suffers from Stage Fright / 40 Facts About AC/DC's ''Back in Black'' / Bon Scott Played Drums on Some of the Demos |website=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]] |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/angus-young-stage-fright/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926060033/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/angus-young-stage-fright/ |archive-date=26 September 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> On 18 February, Scott passed out in a car driven by his friend Alistair Kinnear after a night of drinking at [[KOKO (music venue)|The Music Machine]] in [[Camden Town]], London.{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=106}} According to police, Kinnear left Scott in the car overnight to sleep off the alcohol effects.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rock Singer, Left in Car to 'Sober Up', Found Dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-rock-singer-left/115890228/ |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=20 February 1980 |access-date=2 November 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Unable to wake Scott early on the evening of 19 February, Kinnear rushed him to [[King's College Hospital]], Camberwell, where Scott was pronounced dead on arrival.{{sfn|Elliott|2018|p=106}} The official cause of death was "[[Alcohol poisoning|acute alcohol poisoning]]".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Alcohol Blamed for Singer's Death |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-alcohol-blamed/137006294/ |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=23 February 1980 |access-date=20 August 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Scott's family buried him in [[Fremantle, Western Australia]], the area they emigrated to when he was a boy.<ref name="K4EE6">{{cite web |title=Bon's Highway Leads to the National Trust |url=http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/MCBNews/mediaRel.html |publisher=[[Karrakatta Cemetery|Metropolitan Cemeteries Board]] |date=15 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116103758/http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/MCBNews/mediaRel.html |archive-date=16 November 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 December 2007}}</ref>