by Benjamin Smith
12/12/2014
Legendary Australian boogie-meisters AC/DC have had many highs in their career, and their most recent feat is one for the record books. The band’s latest album, Rock or Bust, debuted last week in the number 1 spot in album charts around the world, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, and Germany. In the good old U.S. of A., home to those “American thighs” singer Brian Johnson is so fond of, the record debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and sold over 174,000 albums in its first week.
AC/DC’s commercial triumph is extra sweet given the difficult circumstances the band has grappled with this past year. In September, founding rhythm guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young permanently retired from the group due to health problems including dementia. Then in November, original drummer Phil Rudd, who played on the new album, was arrested and his ongoing legal problems may sideline him from the band indefinitely. Despite these events, the band presses on and recently spoke with VH1 about the new album and how they keep rocking so hard 40 years into their career.
Hear AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young talk about what he’ll miss most about playing with brother Malcolm.