The artist Malcolm Young said completely sold out: “The glam ones fade away”
The debate surrounding AC/DC will continue to linger on. Are they repetitive? Or are they authentic? I would argue the latter.
When all is said and done, when we forget about genre, style, theme, all of these labels that we connect to the bands and artists that we listen to, the main thing that we want is authenticity. Regardless of what you’re into, the fact remains that when you’re listening to a piece of music, you want to feel as though said piece of music has come from the heart, and isn’t just a blatant cash grab.
With AC/DC, you know you’re getting the real thing. This is a band who sold out and tried to appease the charts with one of their earliest singles, and hated it so much that they never did it again. Given all of the songs that were getting radio play were love songs, their manager told them to write one, and they did… Yes, it was as bad as you’re thinking.
“On our first album, High Voltage, we did a love song called ‘Love Song’. That was very different for us,” he said, “I remember that song because the guy who worked for us at our record label told us that’s what was on the local radio at the time – very soft music. His thought we should release that song, because it’ll probably get some airplay. I remember thinking, ‘Who in their right mind would want this to go out?’”
AC/DC didn’t compromise on their views again after that moment. They were committed to making hard rock, which meant writing killer riffs, exaggerated vocals, and guitar solos that could melt the face off a statue. The band were adored because of their devotion to their favourite style of music, and it gained them fans all around the world. Eccentric Frank Zappa was even a fan, as he loved how authentic AC/DC were in their commitment to rock.
“I think he saw what everybody saw: they could play, they had a ton of energy and they were authentic. It was blues-based and it had an attitude,” recalled Zappa’s son, Dweezil, “The thing about AC/DC is they’ve carved a massive career out of playing one style that’s changed very, very little. That’s what people love – that consistency. They’re rock-solid and they have a great sound.”
Because of their affinity for the authentic, AC/DC could spot a band who were lying to their listeners a mile off. They had an acute sense of knowing when the words and music coming from an artist was genuine and when it was bullshit. The band essentially hated anyone on MTV, as they felt it was music for people who wanted to stay at home glued to their screens rather than going out and experiencing gigs. They made their album Blow Up Your Video to try and appeal to these fans.
“The idea was to get the kids out of their homes and down to the show. Don’t watch TV – come and see the real thing.” Explained Malcolm Young, before talking about Whitesnake and their blatant inauthenticity. “David Coverdale’s got success but he’s had to become a pop singer to get it […] There’s always your glamour bands and your denim-clad groups. And you usually find out that your denim-clad groups are still surviving and the glam ones fade away.”
