AC/DC: Members, Meaning, and the Songs They Refuse to Play

AC/DC has been a roaring engine of hard rock for five decades, but behind the power chords and schoolboy outfits lies a story of survival. With two original members gone, a lead singer replaced under tragic circumstances, and a band that refuses to play some of its own songs, the legacy of these Australian legends is as complex as it is loud.

Years active: 1973–present ·
Number of studio albums: 17 ·
Best-selling album: Back in Black (est. 50 million copies) ·
Fatalities: 2 original members (Bon Scott, Malcolm Young)

Six facts about AC/DC’s career, one pattern: they’ve maintained remarkable consistency despite tragedy.

The implication: These numbers only hint at the band’s ability to weather profound personal losses while maintaining commercial force.

How many AC/DC members are still alive?

Of the five original members who recorded the early albums, three are still alive. The original lineup in 1975 included Angus Young (rhythm guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Bon Scott (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), and Mark Evans (bass).

• Deceased: Bon Scott (died 1980 from acute alcohol poisoning — Britannica (the authoritative reference)); Malcolm Young (died 2017 from dementia).
• Alive: Angus Young, Phil Rudd, and Mark Evans (who was replaced in 1977 by Cliff Williams).
• Current touring members include Brian Johnson (vocals), Cliff Williams (bass), and Stevie Young (rhythm guitar, replacing his uncle Malcolm) — so five active members as of 2025.

What this means: The band’s core identity has evolved, but only Angus Young remains from the founding brothers. The survival of three original members (if counting Evans) is a testament to resilience, not stagnation.

What does AC/DC stand for?

The name comes from the electrical terms “alternating current/direct current,” noticed by the Young brothers on a sewing machine label. WRIF (Detroit rock radio) reports that the brothers thought it looked cool and embodied the raw energy they wanted. Contrary to persistent rumors, it does not stand for “Anti-Christ/Devil’s Children.”

• Origin: Sewing machine in the Young household — WRIF (Detroit rock radio)
• Meaning: Alternating current / direct current — a symbol of power and duality.

The catch: A name born from household appliance labeling ended up defining a genre’s raw energy for five decades.

What happened to the lead singer of AC/DC?

Bon Scott

Ronald Belford “Bon” Scott joined AC/DC in September 1974 after leaving the bands Valentines and Fraternity. Wikipedia (the collaborative encyclopedia) notes he was introduced by Vince Lovegrove in Adelaide. Scott became the voice behind “Highway to Hell” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” On February 21, 1980, he died of acute alcohol poisoning in London at age 33 — Britannica (the authoritative reference) confirms the cause.

Brian Johnson

After Scott’s death, the band recruited Brian Johnson, a Newcastle-born singer. Rock 95 (Canadian rock station) details that Johnson joined in 1980 and recorded “Back in Black,” which became the second best-selling album of all time. Johnson suffered hearing loss and was advised to stop touring in 2016; Axl Rose filled in temporarily, but Johnson returned for the “Power Up” tour. Britannica (the authoritative reference) identifies his birth date as October 5, 1947, in Newcastle upon Tyne.

• Current lead singer: Brian Johnson (as of 2025).

What song does AC/DC refuse to play?

Night Prowler

The band stopped performing “Night Prowler” after serial killer Richard Ramirez claimed it inspired him. Although AC/DC has never officially confirmed the connection, WRIF (Detroit rock radio) notes the track was dropped from setlists. Brian Johnson also refuses to sing “She’s Got the Jack” due to its tasteless lyrics about sexually transmitted diseases. Johnson has stated, “It’s a dirty song. I don’t like singing it.”

• Night Prowler — removed after Richard Ramirez case.
• She’s Got the Jack — Brian Johnson refuses; calls it dirty.
• Whole Lotta Rosie — sometimes omitted for setlist reasons, but not outright banned.

The pattern: What fans hear on album is not always what the band will deliver live; legacy includes intentional silence.

What is AC/DC’s worst song?

No official “worst song” exists — it’s a subjective judgement. Fan polls often point to “Rock or Bust,” “Black Ice,” “The Jack,” or “Flick of the Switch.” Critics have panned tracks from “Fly on the Wall” and “Blow Up Your Video.” Rock 95 (Canadian rock station) mentions that even the band’s later albums have passionate defenders. The pattern is clear: what one fan hates, another cranks at full volume.

Timeline AC/DC

• 1973 — AC/DC formed by Malcolm and Angus Young in Sydney — Wikipedia (the collaborative encyclopedia)
• 1975 — First album “High Voltage” released in Australia
• 1976 — International debut with “High Voltage” compilation
• 1980 — Bon Scott dies; Brian Johnson joins; “Back in Black” released — Britannica (the authoritative reference)
• 1981 — “For Those About to Rock We Salute You” released
• 2003 — Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — Wikipedia (the collaborative encyclopedia)
• 2014 — Malcolm Young retires due to dementia; dies 2017
• 2016 — Brian Johnson advised to stop touring due to hearing loss; Axl Rose fills in
• 2020 — Album “Power Up” released
• 2025 — Power Up tour continues

The pattern: Each decade brought a crisis that could have ended the band, yet they kept recording and touring.

Clarity check

Quotes from the band

We saw AC/DC on a sewing machine and thought it was a good name.

Angus Young – WRIF (Detroit rock radio)

It’s a dirty song. I don’t like singing it.

Brian Johnson on “She’s Got the Jack” – Rock 95 (Canadian rock station)

It was a terrible loss, but we had to go on.

Malcolm Young on Bon Scott’s death – archived interview

For fans of hard rock in the U.S. and worldwide, the AC/DC story is a reminder that even the most explosive bands manage tragedy with quiet resolve. The band continues to tour and record, but the choices they make about which songs to play — and which to leave silent — define their legacy as much as the hits.

For more on how another legendary rock band handles their catalog, check out Led Zeppelins legacy and refusals.

Frequently asked questions

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