Up to the standards Quarto has done for me with my Zep, Queen, recent Dark Side of the Moon book and a title similar in concept, Bowie @ 75, as their hype text expounds:

A beautifully produced, photo-packed celebration of the ultimate rock band, AC/DC at 50 examines the extraordinary history of the Australian rockers through the lens of 50 milestone events and an illustrated gatefold timeline.

Formed in Australia in 1973, AC/DC became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history with their loud, heavy, sweat-drenched, blues-based rock. This richly illustrated book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band on the occasion of their 50th anniversary by curating and examining the 50 most significant milestones.

Popoff covers everything down through the decades:

• The role played by the Angus and Malcolm Young’s older brother, George
• The songwriting, legendary antics, and tragic death of vocalist Bon Scott
• The mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs
• The debut of singer Brian Johnson on the band’s mega breakthrough, Back in Black
• The band’s fallow 1980s and 1990s resurgence
• Later difficulties, such as Malcolm’s onset of dementia and passing and the legal problems of drummer Phil Rudd
• And, of course, each of the landmark studio LPs

In examining 50 touchstones, Popoff provides a unique presentation of AC/DC’s career arc from Sydney pub band to international mega-platinum stadium fillers. Every page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, ticket stubs, and more.

The result is an epic tribute to one of the most influential and admired bands in rock history—in a milestone year.

Here’s the Table of Contents, which pretty much spells out what I did with it:

Introduction

Part 1: Bonfire

• “Problem Child:” AC/DC forms, in Sydney, Australia.
• “Love at First Feel:” AC/DC issue their debut single, “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl.”
• “Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer:” Bon Scott joins AC/DC.
• “Show Business:” AC/DC issue their debut album, High Voltage.
• “Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire):” AC/DC issue their second album, T.N.T.
• “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll):” AC/DC issue, internationally, a compilation version of High Voltage.
• “Live Wire:” AC/DC play a pub in London, their first date outside Australia.
• “There’s Gonna be Some Rockin’:” AC/DC issue their third Australian album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
• “Bad Boy Boogie:” AC/DC issue their fourth album, Let There Be Rock.
• “Gimme a Bullet:” Cliff Williams replaces Mark Evans as AC/DC’s bassist.
• “First Blood:” AC/DC play their first show in the US.
• “Safe in New York City:” AC/DC play CBGB.
• “Flick of the Switch:” AC/DC issue Powerage.
• “Let There Be Rock:” AC/DC issue their first live album, If You Want Blood You’ve Got It.
• “Rising Power:” AC/DC issue the Mutt Lange-produced Highway to Hell.
• “Have a Drink on Me:” AC/DC receive their first RIAA certification.

Part 2: Geordie

• “Miss Adventure:” Bon Scott dies.
• “Send for the Man:” Malcolm Young calls Brian Johnson at home and offers him a job.
• “Back in Business:” AC/DC issue Back in Black.
• “All Screwed Up:” Atlantic issues Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in North America, upsetting the band.
• “Stand Up:” AC/DC headlines the second annual Monsters of Rock festival at Donington.
• “Fire Your Guns:” AC/DC issue their eighth album, For Those About to Rock.
• “Breaking the Rules:” AC/DC issue a self-produced album, Flick of the Switch.
• “This House is on Fire:” AC/DC become the first band to headline Monsters of Rock twice.
• “Go Down:” AC/DC headline Rock in Rio.
• “Shake Your Foundations:” AC/DC issue Fly on the Wall.
• “War Machine:” AC/DC issue soundtrack/hits pak Who Made Who.
• “Systems Down:” AC/DC issue Blow Up Your Video.
• “Touch Too Much:” Malcolm goes into rehab.
• “Thunderstruck:” AC/DC issue comeback album The Razors Edge, which represents a comeback for the band critically and commercially.

Part 3: Legacy

• “Money Made:” Back in Black is certified ten times platinum (but not diamond!).
• “Go Zone:” AC/DC headline Russia’s first ever open air rock festival.
• “Kicked in the Teeth:” Atco issues a second AC/DC live album, simply called Live.
• “Ruff Stuff:” AC/DC issue Ballbreaker.
• “Up to My Neck in You:” East West issue the five-disc Bonfire box set.
• “Rock the Blues Away:” AC/DC issue their 14th album, Stiff Upper Lip.
• “Shoot to Thrill:” AC/DC perform “Stiff Upper Lip” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” on SNL.
• “School Days” – In 2003, AC/DC play club shows and support the Rolling Stones.
• “Rock the House:” AC/DC is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• “Skies on Fire:” AC/DC perform at the Toronto Rocks benefit show.
• “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution:” AC/DC issue their 15th album, Black Ice.
• “Boogie Man:” Columbia issues the Backtracks box set.
• “Jailbreak:” AC/DC issue their third live album, Live at River Plate.

Part 4: Malcolm

• “Realize:” Malcolm, due to ill health, is forced to step down, while Phil Rudd gets fired.
• “Play Ball:” AC/DC issue Rock or Bust, their first album without Malcolm Young.
• “Nick of Time:” AC/DC perform “Rock or Bust” and “Highway to Hell” at the 57th annual Grammys.
• “Hells Bells:” Brian Johnson plays his last show with AC/DC to date.
• “Guns for Hire:” AC/DC play 23 European and US dates with Axl Rose as front man.
• “Through the Mists of Time:” Rest in peace, George Young and Malcolm Young.
• “Flick of the Switch:” AC/DC issue their 17th album, Power Up.

Price including shipping:

Book will be signed to you from me, so let me know if it is a present for someone else, or you don’t want it signed.

For orders outside the US and Canada, please email me your phone number. The new rule is I can’t buy postage without it, and it goes on the postal form If you would like a PayPal invoice, please indicate what country you are in and give me the email address you use at PayPal. Or just do yer usual and direct funds to [email protected]

Or mail payment (personal check in US funds, cash, or INTERNATIONAL money order), to:

Martin Popoff
P.O. Box 65208, 358 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4K 2Z2