Angus started playing guitar when he was about five. Another kid who lived nearby had one, and Angus would come over and play on it. He got his own "guitar" by taking a banjo his ily had lying and the house and restrainging ita guitar. He didn't really get into guitar playing, thoguh, until his early teens. He got his first Gibson SG after seeing it in a friend's catalogue. Until then, he had been playing on an old Hofner guitar he got when his brother Malcolm got his Gretsch Jet Firebird.
For a part time job, before AC/DC and when the band had just started playing shows, Angus worked at a printing company in Australia.
Angus Young practiced with his band, AC/DC, which was just developing at the time. Angus had developed a trademark 'schoolboy' style in the band. One rumor is that he did not have time to change between his school uniform and band practice, and simply wore the uniform. The truth is though that his sister suggested he do it as a gimmick. Angus previously tried dressing as Zorro and also a gorilla. Eventually, it became a signature trademark of the entire band.
Angus Young is notorious for his wild onstage antics. He entertains audiences with his intense moves and jumps onstage and with his running back and forth across the stage while playing the electric guitar. During live shows, Angus would clamber on singer Bon Scott's shoulders and they would make their way through the audience with smoke streaming from a satchel on his back while he played an extended solo.
In later years, Angus performed moves such as his own version of the Duck Walk, which was inspired by his idol Chuck Berry, and his "spasm", during which he throws himself to the ground, kicking, shaking, and spinning in circles, while playing the guitar, of course; both can be seen in the "Who Made Who" video. Angus developed the "spasm" while playing live in a small club in Australia when he tripped over a cable onstage, while playing his solo. He made it into part of his act by having a seizure-like "spasm" onstage to make it seem as part of the act. It has grown ever since. Other gimmicks employed by Angus include his strip act, which is viewable during "Jailbreak" on AC/DC's Live At Donington DVD.
Angus Young influenced such bands as Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard. Angus cites his own influences as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and other blues/early rock players
Although Angus Young keeps his private life out of the media it is known that he now lives in Sydney, Australia and Aalten, Netherlands. It is also known that he married his wife Ellen in 1980 right before Bon Scott died.
Problem Child
Angus Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm cold as ice
Get out of my way, just step aside
Or pay the price
What I want I take, what I don't I break
And I don't want you
With a flick of my knife, I can change your life
I'm a problem child
Problem child
I'm a problem child
Feel like running wild
Make my stand, no man's land
On my own
Man in blue, it's up to you
The seed is sown
What I want I stash, what I don't I smash
And you're on my list
Dead or alive, I got a .45
And I never miss
I'm a problem child
Problem child
I'm a problem child
Just feel like running wild
~(SOLO)~
Every night, street light
I drink my booze
Some run, some fight
But I win they lose
What I need I like, what I don't I fight
And I don't like you
Yeah, say bye-bye while you're still alive
Your time is through
Cause I'm a problem child
I'm a problem child
I'm a problem child
I'm a problem child
Problem child
I'm a problem child
Even my mother hates me
I'm a problem child
I'm a problem child
(Problem child, problem child)
(Problem child, problem child), ....
(Problem child, problem child)
(Problem child, problem child)
Problem child
I'm a problem child
Problem child
And I'm running wild
I'm a problem child
(Problem child, problem child...)
The lyrics of Angus Young's Problem Child describe a character who is aggressive, unpredictable, and unapologetically selfish. He positions himself as a force to be reckoned with, warning others to stay out of his way or face the consequences. He revels in his ability to take what he wants, using violence to get it when necessary. The character is painted as a lone wolf, undeterred by authority figures or the opinions of others, and driven solely by his own desires. The song captures a sense of rebellion and disregard for societal norms, with the character embracing his bad-boy image and daring anyone to challenge him.
The song's lyrics undoubtedly appeal to a certain type of audience who identifies with the rebellious, anti-establishment image portrayed in the song. The lyrics tap into a universal desire for freedom and autonomy, as well as the thrill of breaking the rules. However, they also raise questions about the human cost of such behavior, and the risks associated with living outside of society's moral framework. It's interesting to note that despite the problematic nature of the character's behavior, the song is undeniably catchy - a testament to Young's ability to create memorable, anthemic rock songs.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hot, and when I'm not
I am passionate and intense in everything I do, but I can also turn cold and indifferent when I choose to.
I'm cold as ice
I can be aloof and detached, showing no mercy or compassion to those who cross me.
Get out of my way, just step aside
I am not to be trifled with, and anyone who stands in my way will be dealt with severely.
Or pay the price
I am not afraid to use force or intimidation to get what I want, and those who defy me will suffer the consequences.
What I want I take, what I don't I break
I am a ruthless and selfish person, who will use any means necessary to achieve my goals, even if it means destroying those who oppose me.
And I don't want you
I have no use for anyone who cannot help me or who stands in my way, and I will discard such people without a second thought.
With a flick of my knife, I can change your life
I am so powerful and dangerous that I can easily take someone's life, or at least alter it in a profound way, with a simple gesture.
There's nothing you can do
No one can stop me or stand up to me, as I am too powerful and intimidating for anyone to challenge me.
I'm a problem child
I am a rebellious and disruptive individual, who refuses to conform to society's norms or rules.
Feel like running wild
I have an insatiable desire for freedom and excitement, and I will do whatever it takes to satisfy that craving, even if it means hurting others.
Make my stand, no man's land
I will fight for my independence and my right to do as I please, regardless of the consequences, and I will not let anyone tell me what to do.
On my own
I am a lone wolf and a maverick, who does not need anyone's help or guidance to achieve my goals.
Man in blue, it's up to you
I am challenging the authority of the police and the law, and I am daring them to try and stop me, knowing full well that they cannot.
The seed is sown
I have planted the seed of defiance and rebellion in my own heart, and I will not rest until it has blossomed into a full-blown revolution.
What I want I stash, what I don't I smash
I know what I want and how to get it, and I will hoard it jealously, while destroying anyone or anything that threatens to take it away from me.
And you're on my list
I keep a mental record of all those who have crossed me or stood in my way, and I will make sure to get revenge on them, sooner or later.
Dead or alive, I got a .45
I am always armed and dangerous, and I will not hesitate to use deadly force if necessary to protect myself or my interests.
And I never miss
I am a deadly shot and an expert in combat, and I know exactly how to take down my enemies with precision and efficiency.
Every night, street light
I am a creature of the night, who feels most alive and free when the darkness covers the city and the streetlights flicker on.
I drink my booze
I indulge in vices and pleasures, such as alcohol or drugs, to numb myself from the pain and stress of my life.
Some run, some fight
Some people are weak and cowardly, while others are strong and brave, but in the end, they will all fall before me.
But I win they lose
No matter how hard anyone tries to take me down, I will always come out on top, as I am too clever and ruthless to be defeated.
What I need I like, what I don't I fight
I am very picky and selective about what I desire or crave, and I will fight fiercely to obtain it, even if it means kicking and screaming.
And I don't like you
I am disdainful of most people and things, as they do not meet my high standards, and I will push them away or insult them to prove my superiority.
Yeah, say bye-bye while you're still alive
I am giving a warning to anyone who dares to come close to me or challenge me, telling them to leave or face certain death.
Your time is through
I am announcing that a new era has arrived, one in which I am the ruler and everyone else is my subject, and that there is no escaping this fate.
Even my mother hates me
I am such a problematic and disturbed person that even those who are supposed to love me, such as my own mother, cannot stand to be around me.
(Problem child, problem child)
I am repeating my mantra, that I am a problem child, a rebel and a troublemaker, who will never conform or obey.
(SOLO)
During this section of the song, there are no lyrics, only an instrumental guitar solo, which expresses the wild and carefree spirit of the problem child, as he runs free and fearless.
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.