They’re one of the most well-known bands in the world – but some music lovers are only just learning what AC/DC actually stands for after 51 years. Founded by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young, the Australian rock band’s current line-up comprises lead guitarist Angus, bass guitarist Cliff Williams, drummer Phil Rudd, lead vocalist Brian Johnson, and rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, nephew of Angus and Malcolm.
Since 1974, the band has won 17 awards and has received another 50 nominations – including Grammy Awards, ARIA Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards (VMA). However, it seems some of their fans still can’t decide on their music style with some describing it as hard rock while others say it’s heavy metal or blues rock
Some of their most popular songs include You Shook Me All Night Long, Back in Black, Thunderstruck, Highway to Hell, It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll), and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. But after listening to AC/DC one day, one loyal fan started to wonder what its band name actually means – and asked Reddit users: “What does AC/DC actually stand for?”
While some believe AC/DC stands for ‘Anti-Christ/Devil’s Child’, its origin story couldn’t be further from ‘the Devil’. When Malcolm and Angus were brainstorming band names, their sister, Margaret, pointed out the symbol AC/DC on the AC adapter of her sewing machine. The abbreviation stands for alternating current/direct current electricity, something the brothers felt symbolized their band’s ‘raw energy’.
But while most Brits and Americans refer to the band as AC/DC, it is colloquially known as in Australia. Commenting on this revelation, one user said: “I thought it meant Alternate/ Direct Current.” Another user joked: “Angus Can Dance Cool.” A third user said: “It’s a play on a theme, and a damned good one if you ask me.
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