BOOK: ‘AC/DC FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the World’s True Rock ‘n’ Roll Band’ by Susan Masino
In his foreword to this FAQ, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith declares that “no band rocks harder than AC/DC,” and he’s probably right. Some may dismiss the group as “pedestrian,” using the well-worn “three chord” phrase to describe their music, but they’ve never claimed to be anything other than a straight-up rock ‘n’ roll band. It’s precisely that which has won them millions of adoring fans worldwide
over the four decades they’ve been together. Sometimes straight-up rock ‘n’ roll is all you need, and it obviously works, as AC/DC has just recently embarked on another stadium tour.
This really is a fans’ book, something author Susan Masino acknowledges from the beginning. Not only has she herself been a die-hard fan of the band since 1977, she’s also a personal friend, which allows her to draw upon unique insights and firsthand interviews with the band members and those connected to them. We get to read an exclusive interview with Angus Young from 2008’s Black Ice tour as well as one of their first American interviews from 1977.
No stone is left unturned in the history of AC/DC. All of their albums and tours over the years are chronicled, as are the backstories of band members past and present (including original singer Dave Evans). The stories behind Angus Young’s iconic school uniform and the origins of the band’s name are revealed, and their influences are explored. George Young, older brother of Angus and Malcolm, plays an important role in the story. A member of successful Australian ’60s band the Easybeats, he taught his brothers how to play guitar and helped them to develop their songwriting techniques, going on to produce many of AC/DC’s albums.
One of the key issues dealt with, of course, is the untimely passing of frontman Bon Scott and his subsequent replacement by Brian Johnson. While most bands probably would have fallen apart after losing their singer, AC/DC not only carried on but managed to continue their incredible success, with Johnson being widely accepted pretty much from the start. What’s particularly nice about the whole situation is that both men were admirers of each other, and after watching Johnson perform with his previous band, Geordie, Scott told the other members of AC/DC that he should be the one to replace him, should the need ever arise.
While Masino’s deep level of affection for the band is endearing, it does have its disadvantages at times. Some sections are, in my view at least, unnecessary; do we really need to know, for instance, which member of AC/DC “packs the biggest punch,” or about coincidences and synchronicities involving the number 17? There are also times when Masino’s inside knowledge results in over-speculation — for example, over the question of whether the “Suzy” mentioned in “Down Payment Blues” is her. These are minor gripes, however, and as you might expect with an FAQ book, it’s easy to choose whichever chapter takes your fancy at any given time without having to worry about missing key information. So if you’re not particularly interested in the fights the band members got into, you can simply skip ahead.
The book ends on a poignant note, with a short chapter on Malcolm Young, “the heart and soul of AC/DC” and founder member, whose recent health problems have meant he has been unable to join his bandmates on tour and was also absent from their new album, Rock or Bust. The fact that the book is dedicated to him is an indication of just how highly regarded he is by the band’s fans, and how integral he has been to their sound for all these years.
The AC/DC FAQ would certainly be a good introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the band, but the level of detail it goes into means it’s not for those with only a passing interest. While dedicated fans will probably already know the AC/DC story inside out, there is still plenty to enjoy, and the fact that it’s written by someone who loves them so much will only add to the appeal.
To get your copy of the AC/DC FAQ, head over to Amazon.
