AC/DC formed in September 1973 by brothers
Malcolm and
Angus Young, with drummer
Colin Burgess (ex-
the Masters Apprentices), bass guitarist
Larry Van Kriedt and vocalist
Dave Evans. The group recorded single "
Can I Sit Next to You, Girl" in January–February 1974 at
EMI Studios in Sydney, with older brother
George Young and
Harry Vanda as the producers – both were former members of
the Easybeats and Marcus Hook Roll Band. Scott also had experience as a songwriter and drummer. Both Bailey and Clack were fired in January 1975, In mid-1977, Mark Evans was fired – he ascribed disagreements with Angus and Malcolm as a contributing factor. The band briefly considered quitting, but encouraged by the insistence from Scott's parents that he would have wanted them to carry on, they decided to continue and sought a new vocalist, In April 1983, following an altercation with Malcolm Young and ongoing problems with substance abuse, Rudd was fired from AC/DC. In April 1988, following the
Blow Up Your Video World Tour shows across Europe, Malcolm announced that he was taking time off touring, principally to deal with his alcoholism. Angus and Malcolm's nephew,
Stevie Young, temporarily replaced Malcolm on guitar. In 1989, Wright left the group to work on American heavy metal band
Dio's fifth studio album
Lock Up the Wolves (1990); he was replaced by session veteran
Chris Slade. He died on 18 November 2017 aged 64, due to the dementia. On 6 November 2014, Rudd was charged with threatening to kill, possession of
methamphetamine and possession of
cannabis, following a police raid on his home. AC/DC's remaining members issued a statement clarifying that
Rock or Bust World Tour would continue, but did not indicated whether or not Rudd would participate, or whether he was still a member. At a charity signing before the
Grammy Awards, the band were photographed together with Slade. It was later confirmed that he had rejoined for the Grammys and upcoming tour. Shortly thereafter, the band's web site removed Rudd as their drummer and replaced him with Slade. On 7 March 2016, the band announced that the final ten dates of the second North American leg of the tour would be rescheduled as Johnson's doctors had ordered him to stop touring immediately: he risked complete deafness if he persisted. The ten cancelled dates were to be rescheduled, "likely with a guest vocalist" later in the year, leaving Johnson's future in touring with the group uncertain. On 16 April 2016,
Guns N' Roses front man
Axl Rose was announced as the lead vocalist for the remainder of their 2016 tour dates. Williams indicated he was leaving AC/DC during an interview with
Gulfshore Lifes Jonathan Foerste on 8 July 2016, "It's been what I've known for the past 40 years, but after this tour I'm backing off of touring and recording. Losing Malcolm, the thing with [Rudd] and now with [Johnson], it's a changed animal. I feel in my gut it's the right thing." At the end of the Rock or Bust World Tour, he released a video statement confirming his departure. After completing the tour in 2016, AC/DC went on hiatus. Over the next few years, speculation grew that former members Johnson and Rudd were back and working with the band again. A fan living near the Warehouse Studio, Vancouver claimed to have observed them in the outdoor area of the studio from an apartment window. The rumors have been confirmed to be true two years later, as on 30 September 2020, they announced the return of Johnson, Williams and Rudd to the line-up alongside Angus and Stevie, reuniting the
Rock or Bust line-up. On 9 September 2023, one month before their scheduled show on the
Power Trip festival, AC/DC revealed that Williams was part of the line-up after coming out of retirement, and American drummer
Matt Laug, who had previously played for
Slash's Snakepit and
Alice Cooper, replaced Rudd. The
Power Up Tour was announced on 12 February, with former
Jane's Addiction bassist
Chris Chaney replacing Williams. ==Members==