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Tag: AC/DC

  • This Day in Rock History: February 17

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    February 17 is a big day in rock music history. It’s the day Elvis Presley’s self-titled second studio album became a gold record and also when many rock stars were born into or taken from this world. Whether you love classic rock or alternative music, the breakthrough hits, cultural happenings, recordings, performances, and challenges of February 17 have changed the rock music industry in past years.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    These Feb.17 breakthrough hits and milestones changed rock music:

    • 1962: “Surfin‘” by the Beach Boys debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at 93 and moved up the chart slowly to peak at 75. This song helped launch the band’s career when Capitol Records signed them.
    • 1973: War made it to the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart with their fifth album, The World Is a Ghetto. It was the best-selling album of the year.
    • 1976: AC/DC released their debut album, High Voltage, in their native Australia. It featured Bon Scott on vocals and the Young brothers on guitars, establishing the band’s trademark raw sound.

    Cultural Milestones

    Your favorite music wouldn’t be where it is without the cultural milestones of February 17:

    • 1971: With the growing popularity of television, James Taylor made his TV debut on the Johnny Cash Show, singing “Fire and Rain” and “Sweet Baby James.” This appearance led to a Time magazine cover story, increasing interest in his music.
    • 1972: Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins was born in Fort Worth, TX. He recorded eight albums with the band before his untimely passing in 2022.
    • 1972: On the same day of the same year, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong was born in Oakland, California. He co-founded the band in 1987, and they’ve sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide since.
    • 2004: In an effort to curb copyright infringement, the Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against 531 John Does suspected of illicit peer-to-peer file sharing. The suits were filed in federal courts in Atlanta, Orlando, Trenton, and Philadelphia.

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    Did you know these rock recordings and performances happened on February 17?

    • 1969: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash had a legendary joint recording session at the CBS Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Their collaboration spawned the song “Girl from the North Country.”
    • 1972: Pink Floyd played songs from their Dark Side of the Moon album 13 months before it was released. A bootlegger recorded the material during the Feb. 17 performance at the Rainbow Theatre in London and sold copies of it — reportedly as many as 100,000.
    • 1976: The Eagles released their compilation album, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975). It was the first album ever to receive the RIAA’s Platinum certification and has sold over 40 million copies in the US to date, making it the best-selling album of all time in the US, ahead of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
    • 1979: Kicking off their first U.S. tour, The Clash played at The Palladium in New York City. Their Pearl Harbour tour was considered a success, but fixed seating at the first show made it challenging for fans to show their enthusiasm.

    Industry Changes and Challenges

    Though changes and challenges can be tough, rock music wouldn’t be the same if not for these past February 17 events:

    • 1950: Rickey Medlocke, best known for his work with Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He started performing at 3 years old and formed his own band right after graduating high school.
    • 2014: Bob Casale, best known for his keyboard and guitar skills in the band Devo, died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California. He’d also worked on the first solo album for Andy Summers from The Police.

    Rock music will continue to feel the waves made by these historic Feb.17 milestones indefinitely. It will be interesting to see what Feb. 17 will bring to future, ever-changing music genres.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • This Day in Rock History: December 26

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    Lots of interesting things happened in the world of rock on Dec. 26. It’s when Led Zeppelin began their quest to conquer America, George Harrison proved there’s life beyond The Beatles, and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich was born. Keep reading to discover more notable events that happened on this day in rock history.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    Some of the milestone moments that happened on the second day of Christmas include:

    • 1970: George Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord” from his All Things Must Pass solo album made it to the No. 1 spot of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, starting a four-week run. It also went to No. 1 in several other countries, including his native U.K. It’s a milestone moment for music in general, as it represents the first solo No. 1 for an ex-Beatle.
    • 1981: AC/DC’s eighth studio album and second with frontman Brian Johnson, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), reached the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, where it spent three weeks. It was their first-ever No. 1 album in the U.S. and the only one until 2008’s Black Ice.

    Cultural Milestones

    Some of the day’s most relevant cultural moments are:

    • 1939: Producer and songwriter Phil Spector was born in New York City. He produced many legendary albums, including The Beatles’ Let It Be, and created the famous Wall of Sound recording style, which involved layering multiple instrumental and vocal tracks in a way that created a dense sound.
    • 1963: Metallica co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich was born in Gentofte, Denmark. The son of a tennis player, he was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps until attending a 1973 Deep Purple concert made him want to be a musician.

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    Dec. 26 has also had its share of electrifying live performances over the years. A couple of them are:

    • 1968: Led Zeppelin played their first-ever concert on U.S. soil as part of their first North American tour. The first stop on the tour was Denver’s Auditorium Arena, where they opened for Vanilla Fudge.
    • 1979: The first performance in a series of benefit shows called Concerts for the People of Kampuchea was held at London’s Hammersmith Odeon to raise funds for Cambodia’s famine victims. The organizers were Paul McCartney and UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, and performers included Queen, The Pretenders, Wings, The Clash, and The Who.

    These are some of the most exciting rock-related events that happened on Dec. 26. Visit us again tomorrow to find out what happened on that day in rock history.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • Original AC/DC Frontman Dave Evans Releases New Single With Video Filmed at Ecuador Cemetery, Volcano

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    Dave Evans just dropped a music video for his new single, “Still You Keep Haunting My Dreams.” 

    On Instagram, he wrote, “Filmed in the sacred José María Azaél Franco Municipal Cemetery in Tulcán, Ecuador, and the dramatic landscapes of nearby mountains, an active volcano, and a mountain lake, this visual journey brings the song to life in a powerful way. Written with Nicolas Robinson and recorded in Denmark, the track was produced by GRAMMY Award–winning producer Flemming Rasmussen.” Rasmussen worked with Metallica on several albums before this project. 

    Locals call the cemetery the Park of Memories, and it holds sacred status throughout the region. Evans fronted AC/DC from November 1973 until September 1974, when the band first started. Bon Scott replaced him in October 1974.

    The singer performed at the group’s first show at Chequers nightclub. He also recorded their debut single, “Can I Sit Next To You Girl?,” with the band.

    After leaving AC/DC, Evans joined Newcastle hard rock band RABBIT in 1975. The group signed with CBS Records. They released two albums: Rabbit and Too Much Rock And Roll. RABBIT broke up in 1978 after lineup changes and touring.

    Since 1978, the vocalist has worked on various projects, including DAVE EVANS & THUNDER DOWN UNDER in 1986 and AC/DC tribute bands. He’s put out more than a dozen solo albums. Sinner, Judgement Day, and Revenge came out in 2013 with former Alice Cooper guitarist John Nitzinger.

    Evans continues to tour across Europe and the United States. He’s built a strong fanbase in Latin America. As of 2024 through 2025, he’s on a world tour celebrating 50 years since the band’s first show.

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    Laura Adkins

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  • Ghost Releases Chapter 23 Video Featuring Frater Imperator’s Reunion With Deceased Mother

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    Ghost dropped the 23rd chapter of its web series on Tuesday. Frater Imperator reunites with Sister Imperator’s ghost, his dead mother. The eight-minute video doubles as a music video for “Cenotaph” from Skeletá and announces the Skeletour’s final show: February 23, 2026, at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome in California.

    Frater Imperator complains about his clergy position throughout the video. He used to go by Papa Emeritus IV and Cardinal Copia. Sister Imperator pushes him to stick around until the campaign ends.

    The video teases a meeting with Papa V Perpetua, his twin brother, who replaced him as frontman of the Swedish occult rock act. The clergy demoted Frater Imperator to desk work during the Skeletá cycle. Papa V Perpetua became the new face.

    Skeletá made history. It was the first rock record to claim No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC’s Power Up in 2020. It sold 86,000 units that first week — 77,000 from physical copies. Vinyl alone accounted for 44,000.

    The record conquered multiple charts, including U.S. Album, Vinyl Album, Indie Store Album, Independent Album, Rock Album, Rock and Alternative Album, and Hard Rock Album. It was also at number 1 in Sweden, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and Finland, while the UK, Netherlands, and Norway placed it at No. 2.

    Every remaining Skeletour date will be phone-free starting January 21, 2026, in Orlando at the Kia Center. The band hits Jacksonville, Knoxville, Charlotte, Greenville, Uncasville, Montreal, Toronto, Columbus, Cincinnati, Peoria, Tulsa, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and Anaheim before wrapping in Inglewood. Fans can get tickets from the band’s website.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • Rock and roll legends AC/DC coming to 4 Canadian cities in summer of 2026 | Globalnews.ca

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    Hells Bells! Rock ‘n’ roll fans better get ready to be shook all night long, because one of the biggest acts on earth is returning to four Canadian cities in 2026.

    AC/DC has announced more dates for its ongoing Power Up tour (named for the band’s album of the same name that came out in 2020) that includes stops at some of the biggest stadiums in North America.

    In Canada, the Australian rock band will perform with The Pretty Reckless in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.

    Their first stop will be in Edmonton at 56,400-seat Commonwealth Stadium on Aug. 9, 2026.

    “We’re thrilled to host rock star legends AC/DC at Commonwealth Stadium, the largest venue of its kind in Canada,” said Heather Seutter, director of Commonwealth Stadium.

    “Events like this draw in people from across the city, the province and beyond and demonstrates that Edmonton is a concert destination of choice for major artists.”

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    AC/DC previously left fans Thunderstruck in Edmonton in 2015 and 2009.


    Click to play video: 'The AC/DC Comeback That Saved 2020: ‘What Makes People Happy is the Music Itself’'


    The AC/DC Comeback That Saved 2020: ‘What Makes People Happy is the Music Itself’


    After Edmonton, AC/DC will perform at Vancouver’s BC Place on Aug. 13, 2026.

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    After shows south of the border, AC/DC will then head to Montreal for a show at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Sept. 12, 2026. The park on the Saint Lawrence River that can hold up to 65,000 people is set to also host Iron Maiden the week before AC/DC’s arrival.

    Their last Canadian date is Sept. 16 at Rogers Stadium in Toronto.

    Tickets for all Canadian stops go on sale to the public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time on Ticketmaster.

    AC/DC has been one of the leading rock and roll bands for over four decades, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide.

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    One of the most influential rock bands in history, AC/DC played their first show on Dec. 31, 1973 at a nightclub in Sydney, Australia.

    By 1980, the band was on a roll, known for its high-energy performances and predictably hard-charging songs. Their album Highway to Hell was certified gold in America and made it into the top 25 Billboard album charts.

    The band was founded by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young; the latter died in 2017 at the age of 64 after suffering from dementia for several years. Angus remains the only continuous member of the band.


    Click to play video: 'AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young dead at 64'


    AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young dead at 64


    The Power Up tour will see Angus Young on lead guitar, vocalist Brian Johnson, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and bass player Chris Chaney

    AC/DC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.


    &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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    Karen Bartko

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  • AC/DC’s Angus Young Backs Band’s Signature Style: ‘This is What We Do Best’

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    AC/DC’s Angus Young stands firm on the band’s musical direction. Speaking to The Project TV, he defends their raw, straight-ahead rock sound. Critics point to similarities in their music across four decades.

    “With us, it’s to be expected,” Young said, according to Kerrang!. “As my brother used to say, when somebody said, ‘Every album you’ve ever made sounds the same,’ he said, ‘Yeah. It’s the same band! When we started, we weren’t reinventing the wheel. This is what we do best. We make rock and roll.”

    Take their 1979 hits, “Highway to Hell” and “If You Want Blood.” The tracks pack a similar punch, with Bon Scott’s gritty vocals cutting through thick walls of blues-tinged guitar riffs.

    Young singled out two standout tracks: “‘Back in Black.’ It was a riff that Malcolm played,” he told Far Out Magazine. “We had been touring on ‘Highway to Hell’, and he put the riff on a cassette and played it for me… He said, ‘What do you think of that? Is it rubbish? Should I trash it?’ So I said, ‘No, don’t trash it. If you’re gonna trash it, give it to me and I’ll say I wrote it.’”

    Music giants saw their worth early on. Frank Zappa tried to sign them in the 1970s. His son, Dweezil, explained, “I think he saw what everybody saw: they could play, they had a ton of energy, and they were authentic.”

    When the new wave swept through music in the 1980s, labels pushed for change. The band stuck to their guns. This mindset held strong after Brian Johnson stepped in for Scott after his death.

    Their 2020 release, Power Up, keeps Malcolm Young’s spirit alive. His guitar work and writing shine through all 12 tracks, recorded before his passing.

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    Laura Adkins

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