AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, 1975's High Voltage. Membership subsequently stabilised around the Young brothers, singer Bon Scott, drummer Phil Rudd, and bassist Mark Evans. Evans was fired from the band in 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams, who has appeared on every AC/DC album since 1978's Powerage. In February 1980, about seven months after the release of their breakthrough album Highway to Hell, Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking. AC/DC considered disbanding, but at Scott's family's request, the remaining members opted to continue the band, bringing in longtime Geordie vocalist Brian Johnson as Scott's replacement. Later that year, the band released their first album with Johnson, Back in Black, which was dedicated to Scott's memory. The album launched AC/DC to new heights of success and became one of the best selling albums of all time.
The band's eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981), was their first album to reach number one in the United States. Prior to the release of their next album, Flick of the Switch (1983), Rudd left the band and was replaced by Simon Wright, being in turn replaced by Chris Slade in 1989. The band experienced a commercial resurgence in the early nineties with the release of their twelfth studio album The Razors Edge (1990); it was their only album to feature Slade, who was replaced by the returning Rudd in 1994. Rudd has since recorded five more albums with the band, starting with, and including, Ballbreaker (1995). Their fifteenth studio album Black Ice was the second-highest-selling album of 2008, and their biggest chart hit since For Those About to Rock, eventually reaching No.1 worldwide.
The band's line-up remained the same for twenty years, until 2014 with Malcolm Young's retirement due to early-onset dementia (he died in 2017) and Rudd's legal troubles. Malcolm was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young, who debuted on AC/DC's 2014 album Rock or Bust, and on its accompanying tour, previous drummer Chris Slade filled in for Rudd. In 2016, Johnson was advised to stop touring due to worsening hearing loss. Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in as the band's vocalist for the remainder of that year's dates. Long-term bass player and background vocalist Cliff Williams retired from AC/DC at the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016 and the group entered a four-year hiatus. A reunion of the Rock or Bust line-up was announced in September 2020 and the band's seventeenth studio album Power Up was released two months later.
AC/DC have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 75 million albums in the United States, making them the ninth-highest-selling artist in the United States and the 16th-best-selling artist worldwide. Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second-highest-selling album by any artist, and the highest-selling album by any band. The album has sold 25 million units in the US, where it is the fourth highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2003. AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and were named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, AC/DC ranked No. 72 on the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Producer Rick Rubin, who wrote an essay on the band for the Rolling Stone list, referred to AC/DC as "the greatest rock and roll band of all time". In 2010, VH1 ranked AC/DC number 23 in its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC
Discography
High Voltage (1975) (Australia only)
T.N.T. (1975) (Australia only)
High Voltage (1976) (international version)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
Highway to Hell (1979)
Back in Black (1980)
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)
Flick of the Switch (1983)
Fly on the Wall (1985)
Blow Up Your Video (1988)
The Razors Edge (1990)
Ballbreaker (1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Black Ice (2008)
Rock or Bust (2014)
Power Up (2020)
Big Jack
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Workin' up and down the line,
The pot is getting ready,
He's been working it so hard,
When it comes to lovin',
Big jack is on his way,
Wink of satisfaction,
His time is going on,
Smoking holy Joe,
He's a big pretender, look out for jack,
He's on his way
[Chorus]
Big Jack, Big Jack,
You know it's only natural, he gets you up to scratch,
Big Jack, Big Jack,
You've got a reputation you really got the knack,
Big Jack, Big Jack,
He said that he's the only one who got a full sack,
Big Jack, look out Jack, he's always at your back.
You never leave a dollar,
Racking up the balls,
You like to get it on fast,
Back there standing tall,
When he hears the siren,
He's gonna put you on the racks,
He's got a bad reputation, climbing all over the bars
Gonna press the flesh,
Rockin' rollin' soldier,
He's the last of them all,
Well tell jack, he's on his way
[Chorus]
Big Jack, Big Jack,
You know it's only natural to get you up to scratch,
Big Jack, Big Jack, you've got a reputation, really got the knack,
Big Jack, Big Jack, he said he ain't the only one who got a big sack,
Big Jack, lookout Jack, ain't no need to worry, he's always at your back
The lyrics to AC/DC's "Big Jack" describe a rough-and-tumble character who goes by the same name. The first verse sets the scene of a working man, possibly a railroad worker, who has been laboring hard and heating up the "pot" he's been working on. The lyrics then shift to a description of Big Jack's prowess in the bedroom, boasting that he "gets you up to scratch." The second verse follows Big Jack's exploits at a pool hall, where he's more interested in "racking up the balls" and getting to the action than in playing by the rules. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing Big Jack's reputation and his ability to get ahead no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
The steam is a burning,
The energy and excitement is high and intense.
Workin' up and down the line,
Working tirelessly and diligently to get things done.
The pot is getting ready,
Preparing for something big and exciting.
He's been working it so hard,
Putting in a lot of effort and hard work.
When it comes to lovin',
When it comes to satisfying and pleasing your partner.
Big jack is on his way,
The best at providing gratification is coming.
Wink of satisfaction,
Confident and pleased with oneself.
His time is going on,
Enjoying the moment and making the most of it.
I'm like a bad defender,
Not good at defending oneself.
Smoking holy Joe,
Smoking cigarettes.
He's a big pretender, look out for jack,
Appears to be something he's not, beware of him.
He's on his way
Coming soon.
Big Jack, Big Jack, You know it's only natural, he gets you up to scratch,
Big Jack is the best at pleasing his partner and making sure they're satisfied.
Big Jack, Big Jack, You've got a reputation you really got the knack,
You're known as being great at what you do and you have a natural talent.
Big Jack, Big Jack, He said that he's the only one who got a full sack,
He boasts about himself and his abilities.
Big Jack, look out Jack, he's always at your back.
Big Jack is always there to support you and have your back.
You never leave a dollar,
You always make sure to come out on top and get what you want.
Racking up the balls,
Winning a lot in the game.
You like to get it on fast,
You're in a hurry to get things done.
Back there standing tall,
Confident and in control.
When he hears the siren,
When he senses trouble or danger approaching.
He's gonna put you on the racks,
He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it hurts others.
He's got a bad reputation, climbing all over the bars
Notorious for his behavior and actions.
Gonna press the flesh,
Going to greet and interact with people.
Rockin' rollin' soldier,
Living life to the fullest and unafraid to take risks.
He's the last of them all,
He's the best and the ultimate.
Well tell jack, he's on his way
Let everyone know that Big Jack is coming.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANGUS YOUNG, MALCOLM YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@licksnkicks1166
Phil Rudd is actually known by the name “the human metronome” His timing is perfect. I think all around he’s a fabulous drummer. Anyhow what would ACDC be without Phil?
@AfonsoEGM
Plot twist: Phill can see perfectly well without glasses. He just wears them to blur his vision and make drumming a little challenging for himself.
@Andrew-ve9ls
makes sense, he makes it seem easy
@m2nesli
Phill is a machine !! a real metronome. no fancy stuff, he stick to the beat. for me a drummer is the backbone of a rock band, he set the tempo and the other members follow.
@Aiden-cp7kl
Seems reasonable, he didn't have any in the Power Up music videos.
@comraderomania7988
@m2nesli it`s not you who thinks the drums are the backbone, THEY ARE THE BACKBONE
Rhythm is the most important in every band
@AutisticBeautyQueen
Really? I didn’t know that, I wear them cause if I don’t it’s blurry lol. Damn he’s good.
@codyryan1543
Phil, Cliff, and Malcolm= The greatest rhythm section to walk the earth.
@navandeburgt
rip Malcolm
@robertp-i4065
I'm sorry but geddy Lee and Neil Peart win