Tag: AC/DC

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australians Up for Grammy Award

Aussies are in line to take home three gongs at next year’s Grammy Awards.

Kylie Minogue’s chart-topping dance album X is up against new releases from Cyndi Lauper, Daft Punk, and Moby in the best electronic/dance album category.

Industry newcomer Sam Sparro is also showing the world that Aussies can do more than rock. His debut smash “Black and Gold” has a shot of being named best dance song. But it’ll be tough for the local lad, with stiff competition from Madonna, Rihanna, and Lady GaGa.

With so many years under their belt, it’s amazing to think AC/DC have never won a Grammy. They’re in with a shot this year, with “Rock N Roll Train” nominated as best rock performance by a duo or group. They’ll fight Coldplay, Radiohead, The Eagles, and Kings of Leon for the title.

Good luck to all our Aussie Grammy hopefuls! The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on 8 February 2009.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Bigger Than The Beatles

It might have only lasted one week at the top spot in Australia, but AC/DC’s Black Ice continues to do massive things all over the world. It’s currently the number one album in USA, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Argentina, Canada, and Spain.

Black Ice actually topped sales in 29 countries, and more than 5.3 million copies of the album were shipped all around the world.

The American stats are really interesting though. Black Ice is the band’s first US number one, and they’ve achieved it easily will sales exceeding 1 million copies. With the sales of the newie and the back catalogue combined, AC/DC has outsold The Beatles in the United States this year.

No doubt these sales figures have been helped by the American leg of AC/DC’s world tour, which kicked off in Pennsylvania on October 28. Critics and fans alike have been going nuts for the performances which one reviewer described as “a celebration of all that is great about rock ‘n’ roll.”

Now if they would just hurry up and announce those Aussie dates!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Top Influential Aussie Albums List

AC/DC’s Back in Black has been named the most influential Australian album of all time. The rock classic took top honours in the poll voted on by a GQ magazine panel.

Acca Dacca’s international smash edged out the disco stylings of Saturday Night Fever, The Bee Gees triumphant soundtrack.

Iconic albums from The Saints, The Birthday Party, and The Easybeats rounded out the top five.

These sort of lists always generate controversy and conversation, but I think the panel’s done a pretty good job. I don’t agree with everything that made the cut, but I think it’s a really great representation of the different facets and changing times of Australian music. I’m really surprised that The Whitlams and John Farnham didn’t rate a mention, especially considering Rick Springfield did, but no list is perfect, is it?

The list will be published in GQ’s 2008 Music Issue, which hits newsstands on Wednesday. Until then, take a sneak peek at the full top 50!

GQ’s 50 Most Influential Australian Albums of All Time

  1. Back in Black – AC/DC
  2. Saturday Night Fever – The Bee Gees
  3. I’m Stranded – Saints
  4. Junkyard – The Birthday Party
  5. Absolute Anthology – Easybeats
  6. Since I Left You  – The Avalanches
  7. East – Cold Chisel
  8. Blood Red River – Scientists
  9. Crowded House – Crowded House
  10. Young Modern – Silverchair
  11. The Good Son – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
  12. Kylie – Kylie
  13. Diesel and Dust – Midnight Oil
  14. Kick – INXS
  15. Radios Appear – Radio Birdman
  16. Quasimodo’s Dream – Reels
  17. Tribal Voice – Yothu Yindi
  18. Hourly Daily – You Am I
  19. Liberty Bell and the Black Diamond Express – Go Betweens
  20. Gossip – Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
  21. Starfish – The Church –
  22. Dead Can Dance – Dead Can Dance
  23. Love Buzz – Hummingbirds
  24. True Colours – Split Enz
  25. Magic Box – The Loved Ones
  26. Calenture – Triffids
  27. Girls on the Avenue – Richard Clapton
  28. The Honeymoon Is Over – The Cruel Sea
  29. It’s a Man’s Man’s World – Renee Geyer
  30. Doughboy Hollow – Died Pretty
  31. Sad and Dangerous – Dirty Three
  32. Divinyls – Divinyls
  33. Sunset Studies – Augie March
  34. Flash and the Pan – Flash and the Pan
  35. Spirit of the Place – Goanna
  36. The Night of the Wolverine – Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes –
  37. Mars Needs Guitars –  Hoodoo Gurus
  38. Human Family – Hunters and Collectors
  39. Primitive Man – Icehouse
  40. Highlights of a Dangerous Life – The Johnny’s
  41. Grand Slam – Spiderbait
  42. The Pleasure of your Company – Models
  43. Business as Usual  – Men at Work
  44. Unit – Regurgitator
  45. Savage Garden – Savage Garden
  46. Working Class Dog – Rick Springfield
  47. Aztecs Live! At Sunbury – Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
  48. Leaves Me Blind – Underground Lovers
  49. Countdown Silver Jubilee – Various Artists
  50. Cannot Buy My Soul (A Kev Carmody Tribute) – Various Artists

Image source: Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Release "Black Ice" in October

Mark your calendars AC/DC fans. Their long-awaited new album Black Ice will be released on October 18 in Australia and October 20 in the United States.

Black Ice is the band’s first studio album in eight long years. It contains 15 new songs including the first single “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train.” Fans will get a sneak peek of the new material when the track hits radio on August 28.

Black Ice was produced by Brendan O’Brien in Vancouver, Canada. Music fans will know Brendan as the man behind massive albums from Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, and Rage Against the Machine. Will Black Ice rock as much as these releases? You betcha.

AC/DC will kick off a world tour at the end of October in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Stay tuned for those dates as they come to hand! Until then, here’s the complete track Black Ice listing!

  1. Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
  2. Skies On Fire
  3. Big Jack
  4. Anything Goes
  5. War Machine
  6. Smash ‘n’ Grab
  7. Spoilin’ For A Fight
  8. Wheels
  9. Decibel
  10. Stormy May Day
  11. She Likes Rock N Roll
  12. Money Made
  13. Rock N Roll Dream
  14. Rocking All The Way
  15. Black Ice

Image source: AC/DC website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC World Tour in the Works

Anticipation is building as AC/DC’s comeback draws ever closer. The latest word out of the camp of the Aussie rock supergroup is that they plan to embark on a massive 18-month world tour to support their new album.

We’re all looking forward to welcoming back our favourite sons, but the best news is that the local leg may be more exhaustive than you’d expect.

“Concert industry sources at Coachella said AC/DC leader Angus Young wants to do major centres and has asked promoters to put Alice Springs in the tour schedule. Asked about the significance of Alice Springs, Young says it’s a gesture of giving back and he wants to take a major tour off the main road. The tour is likely to happen early next year,” said The Herald Sun.

The first single from the new album is slated for release next month. How exciting!

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Ink Wal-Mart Album Deal

AC/DC’s first album in eight years will be available exclusively through Wal-Mart stores in the United States of America.

The Eagles were the first to ink a similar deal last year. They received $30 million when Wal-Mart sold their Long Road Out of Eden album.

The AC/DC deal is expected to be somewhere in the same vicinity. Nice work if you can get it!

The as-yet-untitled album is slated for release later this year.

AC/DC are also planning a world tour to support the release, which should start in Australia early next year.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Album, and a Tour?

There hasn’t been a lot of news since AC/DC announced last year a new album was in the works. I’m happy to say though the Aussie rock veterans are well on their way to releasing this highly anticipated new work.

Singer Brian Johnson says the new album, their first in eight years, should be released later this year. And a tour isn’t out of the question either.

“We’re working with Brendan O’Brien, [Bruce] Springsteen’s producer, and he’s a great guy,” Brian told Channel [V]. “He knows exactly what we want, and so far, it sounds really good. I’m well pleased.

“Mal and Ang are still just electric on their guitars, and Phil’s got the old magic on the drums and Cliff Williams is Mr. Reliable on bass – he’s brilliant – and it’s just been fun. It’s like a bunch of old friends getting together again and having a great time.”

When asked about their touring plans, Brian had this to say.

“I would probably think so, yeah. I always hate to say yes in case something happens, but I really do think we will be out there, everybody’s enjoying being back together again and the buzz is still there and the excitement.”

All sounds very promising for you hard rock fans out there!

Image source: Lost Parables @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Set to Launch Massive Comeback

There must be something in the water. Following the successful reunions of Crowded House and The Saints comes the news AC/DC are planning a comeback.

It’s been seven years since Australia’s original hard rockers released their last studio album, Stiff Upper Lip, but they finally have another one in the works.

“Malcolm and Angus [Young] are in the studio,” frontman Brian Johnson told media at the Classic Rock Cares tour. “There’s an album in the works, and a tour, too, I think. The boys are working on something special. They don’t want to do just another album.”

No doubt the album and coinciding tour will be a raging success. Despite a considerable absence from the world music stage, AC/DC were the sixth highest grossing Aussies in the BRW Top 50 Entertainers List. Looks like next year they may give top earners The Wiggles a run for their money.

Image source: Newscom