AC/DC BIOGRAPHY - MEMBERS, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

AC/DC are the Australian rock band formed in Sydney in November 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. Built on bone-shaking riffs, a schoolboy-uniformed lead guitarist, and choruses made for stadiums, they became one of the best-selling and most enduring acts in rock history, with signature songs including "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell," "Thunderstruck," and "Hells Bells."

More than five decades later, the band wrote a new headline: on 2 October 2026, AC/DC closed their sprawling PWR/UP Tour with a finale at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — a night that also featured the Foo Fighters as openers and a surprise onstage appearance by Dave Grohl. It was a fitting capstone for a group that never really left the road, and never announced a farewell.

AC/DC Quick Facts

Origin: Sydney, Australia

Formed: November 1973

Founders: Angus and Malcolm Young

Genres: hard rock

Years active: 1973–present

Current touring lineup: Angus Young (lead guitar), Brian Johnson (vocals), Stevie Young (rhythm guitar), Matt Laug (drums, touring), Chris Chaney (bass, touring)

Best-known songs: Back in Black, Highway to Hell, Thunderstruck, Hells Bells

Career

AC/DC formed in Sydney in November 1973, when guitar-playing brothers Angus and Malcolm Young — born in Scotland and raised in Australia — launched a band built around Malcolm's rock-solid rhythm work and Angus's frenetic lead playing. The early years belonged to the Bon Scott era, with the charismatic frontman giving the group its first classic records and a dangerous, hard-living swagger.

After Bon Scott's death in 1980, the band recruited Brian Johnson — born 5 October 1947 in Gateshead, England — as its new frontman. His debut with the group, Back in Black (released 25 July 1980), became a phenomenon: with roughly 50 million copies sold worldwide, it stands as the second best-selling album in history, according to Consequence (February 2024). Go deeper into the title track with our Back in Black lyrics — AC/DC page.

The decades that followed brought endless stadium tours, lineup changes, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. In 2016, with Johnson sidelined by hearing problems, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in on vocals to complete the tour — read our Guns N' Roses biography for his full story. Rhythm guitarist and co-founder Malcolm Young died in 2017, and his nephew Stevie Young took over the role permanently. The band's 17th studio album, Power Up, arrived in November 2020.

That album launched the PWR/UP Tour, which ran from May 2024 through October 2026 with around 89 shows across Europe, North America, Australia, and Latin America. The finale took place on 2 October 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after being rescheduled from 25 September 2026 because of severe wind. The Foo Fighters opened the night — see our report, Foo Fighters open for AC/DC at MetLife Stadium — and Dave Grohl joined AC/DC onstage for "Highway to Hell." The run also lost its 16 September 2026 Toronto date, cancelled after Rogers Stadium was damaged by a severe thunderstorm. And while the band billed the tour as a chance to "power up one last time," they announced no retirement, leaving the door open for whatever comes next.

Watch the Official Video

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AC/DC still together in 2026?

Yes. AC/DC closed their PWR/UP Tour in October 2026 and remain active — despite billing the run as "power up one last time," the band announced no retirement.

Who is in AC/DC now?

The current touring lineup features Angus Young on lead guitar, Brian Johnson on vocals, Stevie Young on rhythm guitar, Matt Laug on drums, and Chris Chaney on bass, with Laug and Chaney serving as touring members.

What happened at the Power Up Tour finale?

The finale took place on 2 October 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after being rescheduled from 25 September because of severe wind. The Foo Fighters opened the show, and Dave Grohl joined AC/DC onstage for "Highway to Hell."

How many copies did Back in Black sell?

Back in Black has sold roughly 50 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling album in history, per Consequence (February 2024).

Keep exploring classic rock on LatestLyrics: read our Iron Maiden biography and Oasis biography for more on the giants of the genre.