AC/DC: Classic or Dud

But maybe it's a song that's got to be experienced live.

I'd go along with this, mainly because experiencing it live now would mean experiencing it live with Phil Rudd.

I have experienced it live! It's no less traumatic! At the same show I was forced to watch Angus disrobe.

Your point is moot.

("100% Angus beef" joke)

(nope, never mind)

;_;

http://www.punkmagazine.com/images/vault_images/punk_14/punk14acdc.gif

http://youtu.be/K-Op1Mng4oY

Shuffle just spit up "The Razor's Edge." I think this album is pretty good!

apparently doubt has already been cast on this prediction, but still...

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/acdc-to-split-report-20140415-36oc1.html

Huh. There's a real dark cloud hanging over that piece.:(

''AC/DC members have previously made a pact that no band members will be replaced should someone need to leave the band.

Unless they made that pact in 1995, this makes no sense. Obviously, they replaced Bon Scott, but they're on their 3rd or 4th bassist, they had two different replacements for Phil Rudd, and even Malcolm was replaced on some 80s shows.

Bon was their second singer.

(Obviously there's no point in AC/DC without both Youngs though.)

http://theorstrahyun.blogspot.com/2014/04/rip-acdc-1973-2014.html

"About 3 weeks ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain."

Another link says confirmed by Malcolm's son.

Man, that's awful. He was such an amazing player; he was AC/DC's Freddie Green.

man, i've spent so many hours of my life blissing out on his riffs. let's see what happens, but yeah very sad stuff if any of it rings true.

xpost They've had the same line-up since Rudd came back, I assume that's the line-up they've been talking about. The classic "Back in Black" line-up.

From 3 months ago, nice brotherly tribute:
http://www.guitarworld.com/let-there-be-rock-acdcs-angus-young-rhythm-playing-malcolm-young

That is a lovely tribute. Should really be an AC/DC album called "All in the Wrist."

ugh that suuuuuuucks

LET LOOSE FROM THE NOOSE NEWS: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6053874/acdc-not-quitting-retirement-rumors

Still, the management/pr wing not climbing all over themselves to squash this makes me nervous.

Hmm. I think the fact that it's already been six years since the last album, which means at minimum two more 'til the next one, if there's a next one, hints that announcing a formal split or retirement or whatever is sorta beside the point. Every band is on hiatus between albums and tours. But yeah, that Billboard piece is pretty rife with a non-denial denial vibe. It'd be pretty easy to kill this rumor right now, and that article does not do it.

Basically, no official word from the band or management, let alone anyone on the record, so I fear for the worse.

if true, it's the end of an era. what a band and malcolm should go down with ppl like nile rodgers and steve cropper as all time great rhythm guitarists

otm

Well, here's Johnson on the record:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10769783/ACDC-We-are-not-retiring.html

Again, sorta vague. Confirms someone in the band has a debilitating illness, confirms there is still a plan to head to the studio to see how things go, and maybe that there will be a 40th anniversary tour. But then he also says everything is up in the air, so I guess plans don't mean that much.

it'd be nice if they got to do one last big album and farewell tour, a lot of big bands end their run unexpectedly and don't get to soak in a moment like that. but they're old guys and nobody lives forever, it's okay whenever it ends, they've had a great run.

I'd be perfectly happy if it just ended unexpectedly, without the three year Final Farewell Forever Tour. As befits a band who thus far has refused to release a best-of or comprehensive boxed set.

Formal word:

https://www.facebook.com/acdc/posts/10152370344752930

After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.
In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.

thus far has refused to release a best-of or comprehensive boxed set.

What else would you have included on the box sets?

If you have Who Made Who and the Iron Man 2 soundtrack you have a decent best of.

A "best-of" would be rough to whittle down for AC/DC, but I'd listen to a "greatest hits" comp on the reg anyway.

maybe it's strategic, their hits are such high points that it must really boost their catalogue sales to have them spread out on albums that are otherwise plenty listenable

Man, there have been tons of best-ofs and greatest hits released for all sorts of shitty bands. It has nothing to do with I'd want - that is, nothing - but what the band could get away with releasing and yet has not released. Boxed set-wise, the two sets - Bonfire and Backtracks - are sort of odds and sods, no? There's no equivalent of the 4-disc career-overview best-of that, again, lots of other acts release. Whether one is warranted or not is another question, but again again, that has not stopped lesser bands from doing it.

but what the band could get away with releasing and yet has not released

this is the thing - they're proud of their albums as individual works, they reasonably think there's no need to fleece fans, the two movie soundtracks are functional best-ofs, Family Jewels has almost everything you'd want to see, and the DVD in Backtracks has the alternate videos.

and as one of the best-selling bands in the world, they're likely not under any irresistible pressure to cash in from any record companies. (and even if they were, I'd guess have enough control via George and Alberts to refuse if they wanted.)

Name me some other best selling acts with no greatest hits on the shelves.

Conversely, New Order (a band I imagine sells reasonably large numbers) has more compilations available than proper studio albums.

Name me some other best selling acts with no greatest hits on the shelves.

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, April 16, 2014 9:23 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Metallica

Good call.

Oh yeah, good one.

kind of amusing to think of what those would look like, though. lots of bands do periodic greatest hits (ie, "Best of 1983-1989"), can you imagine how rankled the diehards would be with a "Metallica Greatest Hits: 1991 - 2011" release.

Nutallica has its own very devoted following of people who have almost nothing in common with the fans of the 80s stuff.

totally, and it'd sell really well, but I'm just amused thinking of all of the diehards going "THE CD SHOULD BE A BLANK CD-R" on newsgroup message boards (ok ok it's 2014 not 1996 but w/e)

if AC/DC was going to do any kind of best-of, they'd probably have to do a Bon and a Brian comp separate

what Metallica and AC/DC also have in common is that they were two of the biggest holdouts in not putting their music on iTunes for years before finally giving in. interesting how it's a couple bands who have dozens of singles in permanent rock radio rotation that are really trying to uphold the sanctity of the album.

Bon disc 1 and Brian disc 2 comp would be pretty killer. Van Halen should've done that, too, but they had to go and mix up their comp chronologically, which seems like a terrible idea.

Van Halen should've done that, too, but they had to go and mix up their comp chronologically, which seems like a terrible idea.

otm

Name me some other best selling acts with no greatest hits on the shelves.

I ought to have been clearer: obviously the band don't want to do it, and their sales success gives them the ability to reject any suggestions*. Presumably most best-selling acts are happy to sell EVEN MORE copies of Greatest Hits Vol. III / come up with the idea themselves.

*or to do it twice in the same non-obvious way

Well, yeah, that's why I respect AC/DC's decision. They could, and it would sell millions, but they clearly don't want to. See also: the delay selling stuff online, the dogged dedication to formula, the lack of some weird trendy outlier in the band's catalog ...

Well, yeah, that's why I respect AC/DC's decision. They could, and it would sell millions, but they clearly don't want to. See also: the delay selling stuff online, the dogged dedication to formula, the lack of some weird trendy outlier in the band's catalog ...

this is why I feel this strange melancholy at the idea of AC/DC shutting down, even though I have no interest in hearing more material or seeing a 2014 show. Loosing that singleminded dedication to formula with the Ramones long gone and Motorhead wobbly too. I've always assumed it was Malcolm who was the force behind that.