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>>>> Vale Malcolm Young, one of rock's great rhythm guitarists. I'm playing now. Today, maybe play an AC/DC LP in honour of the great man and enjoy the engine room of this legendary band. Thank you Malcolm......

I thought it might be time to start this thread after doing a search of this 'music' forum and finding there was not one item relating to AC/DC, the greatest hard rockin' rock'n'roll band in history. Debate that last point all you like but the stats don't lie. Biggest selling rock band in history (don't try to claim the Beatles were a 'rock' band, as good as they were), they've sold more records than the Rolling Stones and have the second highest selling rock album in history, if you can believe 'Thriller' is a 'rock' album! I own it and think it's great, but it's an R'n'B album with one track that would qualify as rock...... I have always liked AC/DC. I didn't totally 'dig' them right from the start though......early on, I thought they were ok and I acknowledged that they certainly knew how to rock but my tastes were heading in a more 'cerebral' direction at the time, probably more due to the substances I was putting into my own 'cerebellum'......and it wasn't alcohol. My love for this band has been a slow burn and one of almost begrudging appreciation of their single minded devotion to their craft and their consistency of output and popularity. They've ridden the dizzying highs and tragic and less productive lows of their career to remain on top by just simply doing what they do best.....delivering blistering 'high voltage' rock and roll albums, incendiary 2hr plus concert performances and never wavering from their core belief, 'we are a rock'n'roll band, that's what we do!' AC/DC can go to their graves proud of just 'doing their thing' and doing it better than anyone else, of never selling out to record company influences and, to coin an oft used term these days (usually by judges on pathetic manufactured 'reality' music talent shows), of 'staying true to themselves' and more importantly, to their fans, as ongoing album sales continue to prove. They knew better than the music exec's who tried to change them and the snobbish rock journo's who belittled them as always the same and not complicated or creative enough (yes, Rolling Stone, I'm looking directly at you), an example of ignorance that lead to former Rolling Stone writer, Anthony Bozza to write the book, "Why AC/DC Matters', a great read, after being totally and continually frustrated by his former employers constant rejection of the band as relevant or good enough to adulate. So.....this is not a thread for those "Rolling Stone" types to come on here and waffle on about other forms of Rock being better or more 'relevant', it is an 'appreciation' thread, for 'real rock' fans of AC/DC to discuss the greatness of this highly relevant music force......to inform us of their favourite AC/DC albums, songs, concerts, moments and to provide links to relevant youtube stuff and doco's of their history and their music. I, sadly, cannot inform anyone of my favourite concert as I have never seen AC/DC live in concert and it will go down as one of my life's greatest regrets. I may still get the chance but it will be without Malcolm, Cliff, possibly Brian and most probably Phil as well and don't even get me started on Axel Rose! I'd be seeing Angus with a backing band.....truly 'not quite authentic'. I've had my chances over the years but either for financial or other reasons, never quite got there. In the meantime, my Blurays of Donnington, River Plate and No Bull will have to suffice. As for favourite albums.....well, at the moment I'm listening to 'Back In Black', definitely one of their best. Highway To Hell, Powerage, Let There Be Rock, For Those About To Rock, The Razor's Edge, 'Live' and Black Ice (yes, Black Ice!) probably round out my favourite AC/DC albums. I think Rock Or Bust is pretty damn good too (even without Malcolm doing his thing). In my opinion, and echoed I'm sure by many, if they are to do another album, they need to get Phil Rudd back on the skins and Brian back on the mike. Who would be on bass, I have no idea.....maybe Mark Evans? So, fire away.....if you love AC/DC, this is the thread to 'let all the love hang out' (not in a Bon Scott sort of way though) and for those about to rock, I salute you! Cheers...