People are only just realising the meaning behind iconic 70s rock band AC/DC’s name

AC/DC fans were thrilled to hear that the iconic band will soon embark on a European tour in 2025 – but many still don’t know the story of what the band’s name stands for. The popular Australian rock band – formed in 1973 and known for iconic hits like Highway to Hell and Thunderstruck – will hit the road for 12 dates across 10 countries this summer kicking off in Prague on June 26. The tour will run through to August 21 in Edinburgh, marking their first show in Scotland in a decade.

While their tunes are instantly recognisable, the full-length version of their name is not. One fan of the band took to Reddit and asked, ‘What does AC/DC actually stand for?’ Earning multiple replies, one user, @psychological_Ad8534, put to bed the rumours that it means ‘anti-christ/devil’s child’ and revealed the true meaning: Alternating current/direct current. Founding members Angus Young, 69, and his late brother, Malcolm – who died at age 64 in 2017 – first revealed the meaning behind the name in 1999 during an interview for The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop.

The brothers said while they were developing a name for the band, their sister Margaret pointed to the AC/DC symbol on her sewing machine’s AC adapter and suggested it could be a good name. Agreeing, the brothers felt it was a perfect symbol for the raw energy the band projected and their power-driven music performances, and thus, AC/DC was born. Despite being known as ‘Acca Dacca’ in Australia, the name is pronounced one letter at a time.

The band first shot to fame in 1975 following the release of their first studio album, High Voltage. By 1979, when disaster struck, AC/DC was experiencing global success with the release of Highway to Hell. Their lead singer, Bon Scott, died of alcohol poisoning. 26 – Prague, Czech Republic, Airport Letnany. 30 – Berlin, Gemany, Olympiastadion. 4 – Warsaw, Poland, PGE Narodowy. 8 – Düsseldorf, Germany, Open Air Park.

12 – Madrid, Spain, Metropolitano Stadium. 20 – Imola, Italy, Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. 24 – Tallinn, Estonia, Song Festival Grounds. 28 – Gothenburg, Sweden, Ullevi. AUGUST. 5 – Oslo, Norway, Bjerke Racecourse. 9 – Paris, France, Stade De France. 17 – Karlsruhe, Germany, Messe Karlsruhe / Peter – Gross – Bau Real. 21 – Edinburgh, UK, Murrayfield Stadium. Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Friday (February 7) apart from their Paris show which will go on sale on next Monday (February 10).

You can purchase tickets for the Edinburgh show here and the remaining European dates here. Despite almost disbanding, at Scott’s parents’ request, the band continued on and recruited Brian Johnson. They went on to release Back in Black, a memorial album for Scott, in 1980, which became the second best-selling album of all time. Over the years, AC/DC’s line-up has seen a revolving group of members and consists of Rudd, Angus Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson, and Stevie Young – the nephew of Angus and Malcolm.

The rockers have sold over 200 million records worldwide, with their biggest hits including Highway to Hell, which reached number eight in the UK charts and number 17 in the US. In addition to their top charting status, the band has received multiple accolades, including an induction into Australia’s ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and 10 Grammy Award nominations, one of which they won for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2010.

The band also hold two Guinness World Records. The first in 2008 for Most Albums on the US Pop Catalogue Album Chart, and the second they received in 2013 for Best-Selling Album by an Australian Group. From May to August 2024, AC/DC were busy performing on their Power Up Tour across Europe, before wrapping up in Dublin on August 17. However, the band’s original drummer, Chris Slade, previously expressed his upset at not being included on the line-up. Instead, the band were joined by Matt Laug on their most recent tour.

When asked how he felt about not receiving an invitation, Slade, 78, told Clint Switzer of On The Road to Rock: ‘You know what? Would I have done it, is the next question. I would say yes, I would do it, of course. ‘Angus probably wanted a change and thought maybe I couldn’t do it. I’m the same age as Brian [Johnson]. So, you can’t be ageist and say, “Slade’s too old now,” ’cause [Angus is] a spring chicken himself, you see.

‘He’s only about 69, I think. I’m not quite sure how old he is — 66, 69, something like that. But, yeah, so he couldn’t be ageist on me.’. Slade was part of the band from 1989 until 1994 but came to the rescue when they needed a drummer in 2015 when Phil Rudd was placed on house arrest. A version of this article was first published May 27, 2024. Got a story?. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.