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)
Sin City
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poor man last, rich man first
Lamborghinis, caviar
Dry martini, Shangi-La
I've got a burnin' feelin'
Deep inside of me
It's yearnin'
I'm goin' in
To Sin City
I'm gonna win
In Sin City
Where the lights are bright
Do the town tonight
I'm gonna win
In Sin City
Oh, let me roll you baby!
Ladders and snakes
Ladders give, snakes take
Rich man poor man
Beggar man, thief
Ain't got a hope in hell
That's my belief
Fingers Freddie, Diamond Jim
They're gettin' ready
Look out! I'm comin' in!
So spin that wheel, cut that pack
And roll those loaded dice
Bring on the dancing girls
And put the champagne on ice
I'm goin' in
To Sin City
I'm gonna win
In Sin City
Where the lights are bright
Do the town tonight
I'm goin' in
To Sin City
The lyrics to AC/DC's song Sin City are full of colorful and descriptive language that paints a picture of the gambling and nightlife in Las Vegas. The first verse describes the contrast between the wealthy and the poor, with the rich enjoying expensive cars, luxurious food and drink, while the lower classes struggle to make ends meet. The singer admits to feeling a burning desire inside him and wants to unleash it, which brings him to the city of sin. The chorus emphasizes the singer's confidence in his chances of winning big in the bright lights of Las Vegas.
The second verse continues with the theme of contrast, where ladders symbolize a way up in life and snakes represent setbacks and deception. The lyrics reflect the singer's belief that no matter what social status someone starts from, only the wealthy have a chance of success in Sin City. The mention of Fingers Freddie and Diamond Jim indicates that the singer has some familiar gambling companions that are getting ready to join him. The lyrics culminate in a call-to-action to start the gambling and partying, with the dancing girls and champagne on ice adding to the visual imagery of a night in Las Vegas.
Line by Line Meaning
Diamonds, and dust
Money, glamour, and poverty coexist in Sin City
Poor man last, rich man first
Wealthy people are prioritized in Sin City while poor people are left behind
Lamborghinis, caviar
The wealthy indulge in luxury items and services in Sin City
Dry martini, Shangi-La
Sin City offers high-class cocktails and a luxurious lifestyle
I've got a burnin' feelin'
The singer is consumed by a desire to experience Sin City
Deep inside of me
Sin City's appeal is internal and emotional
It's yearnin'
The singer feels a strong desire to be a part of Sin City
But I'm gonna set it free
The singer is determined to go to Sin City and indulge in its pleasures
Where the lights are bright
Sin City is vibrant and full of excitement
Do the town tonight
Enjoy everything Sin City has to offer for a night
Oh, let me roll you baby!
The singer invites someone to join him in experiencing Sin City
Ladders and snakes
The game of chance and risk that comes with Sin City
Ladders give, snakes take
Luck can lead to success, but failure can also lead to loss in Sin City
Rich man poor man
People of all classes participate in Sin City's lifestyle
Beggar man, thief
Even those who resort to dishonesty or illegal activities can be found in Sin City
Ain't got a hope in hell
The chances of success in Sin City are slim for most people
That's my belief
The singer accepts that Sin City is a difficult place to succeed, but still wants to try
Fingers Freddie, Diamond Jim
Nicknames for people who are skilled at gambling and living in Sin City's lifestyle
They're gettin' ready
The competition in Sin City is preparing for the singer's arrival
Look out! I'm comin' in!
The singer is confident and ready to take on Sin City's challenges
So spin that wheel, cut that pack
The singer is eager to gamble and try his luck in Sin City
And roll those loaded dice
Accepting that cheating is a part of Sin City's gambling culture
Bring on the dancing girls
The sex appeal and entertainment value in Sin City is emphasized
And put the champagne on ice
The indulgence and luxuriousness of Sin City's lifestyle
I'm goin' in
The singer is going to experience Sin City
To Sin City
The destination of the singer's journey
I'm gonna win
The singer is optimistic and hopes for success in Sin City
In Sin City
The location of the singer's desired success
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Ronald Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind