AC/DC

AC/DC are a hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 (see 1973 in music) by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. The band has sold over 150 million albums worldwide and over 68 million albums in the United States alone, making them one of the most successful hard rock acts ever. Their 1980 album, Back in Black, has sold 42 million units worldwide (21 million in the US alone), and is the second highest selling album of all time and the biggest selling album by any band. In their recording career, The band has had two distinctive lead singers; Bon Scott and then later, Brian Johnson. Therefore, fans tend to divide its history into the "Bon Scott era" (1974–80), and the "Brian Johnson era" (1980–present).

Although the group is generally considered to be a pioneer of hard rock and heavy metal music along with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, the members have always referred to their music as "rock 'n' roll". The band also accept the description "hard rock" (they are ranked number 4 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of hard Rock"), but they find the "metal" description offensive. At one point they were known as a punk band, with which they also disagreed even though this helped their career in the UK.

In 2005, The band finished second in a list of highest-earning entertainers from Australia—trailing The Wiggles—despite neither releasing an album nor touring that year.