by Fink, Jesse
Says Rob Riley, in his inimitable style: “No cunt can take that away from them.”
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
“Who Made Who”
TED ALBERT Founder of Albert Productions (Alberts) and producer of The Easybeats. Died in 1990.
BILLY ALTMAN Rock critic for Rolling Stone.
JOE ANTHONY Disc jockey for San Antonio radio station KMAC/KISS. Died in 1992.
ROB BAILEY Bass player of AC/DC.
DICK BARNATT Photographer of AC/DC.
JIMMY BARNES Lead singer of Fraternity and Cold Chisel. Solo artist. Brother of John Swan.
STEVE BARNETT Co-manager (with Stewart Young) of AC/DC.
BILL BARTLETT Disc jockey for Jacksonville radio station WPDQ/ WAIV.
TONY BERARDINI Disc jockey for San Rafael radio station KTIM and Boston radio station WBCN.
JAKE BERRY Production manager of AC/DC.
JOE BONOMO Biographer of AC/DC.
ANTHONY BOZZA Biographer of AC/DC.
HOLGER BROCKMANN Disc jockey for Sydney radio station 2JJ.
CORAL BROWNING Sister of Michael Browning. Publicist for AC/DC.
MICHAEL BROWNING Manager and co-manager (with Cedric Kushner) of AC/DC.
CLIVE CALDER Co-manager (with Ralph Simon) of Mutt Lange.
PHIL CARSON President of Atlantic Records (UK). Sometime bass player of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.
KEN CASEY Lead singer and bass player of Dropkick Murphys.
PERRY COOPER Promotion executive at Atlantic Records. Died in 2005.
TONY CURRENTI Session drummer of AC/DC and Stevie Wright.
MARK DEARNLEY Engineer of AC/DC.
JIM DELEHANT A&R executive at Atlantic Records.
BARRY DIAMENT Mastering engineer of AC/DC.
GEORG DOLIVO Lead singer and guitarist of Rhino Bucket.
JIMMY DOUGLASS Engineer of AC/DC.
PAUL DRANE Film director of AC/DC.
SIDNEY DRASHIN Concert promoter of AC/DC.
MIKE DURANT US Army Special Operations helicopter pilot. American war hero.
ROBERT ELLIS Photographer of AC/DC.
MURRAY ENGLEHEART Biographer of AC/DC.
AHMET ERTEGUN Co-founder (with Herb Abramson) of Atlantic Records. Died in 2006.
NESUHI ERTEGUN Executive and producer at Atlantic Records. Brother of Ahmet. Died in 1989.
DAVE EVANS Lead singer of AC/DC.
MARK EVANS Bass player of AC/DC.
BRUCE FAIRBAIRN Producer of AC/DC. Died in 1999.
BERNARD FANNING Lead singer of Powderfinger.
SNOWY FLEET Drummer of The Easybeats.
KIM FOWLEY Producer of The Runaways and The Clingers.
MIKE FRASER Engineer and co-producer (with Rick Rubin) of AC/DC.
ALLAN FRYER Lead singer of Heaven.
MARK GABLE Lead singer and guitarist of The Choirboys.
TIM GAZE Guitarist of Stevie Wright.
ASHLEY GILBERTSON War photographer.
CHRIS GILBEY A&R vice-president of Alberts.
DAVID GLEW General manager of Atlantic Records. President and chairman of Epic Records.
GLENN GOLDSMITH Biographer of Stevie Wright.
JERRY GREENBERG President of Atlantic Records and Mirage Records.
ALVIN HANDWERKER Accountant and manager of AC/DC.
ROBERT HILBURN Rock critic of the Los Angeles Times.
SAM HORSBURGH Nephew of the Youngs. Son of their sister, Margaret Young. A&R manager of Alberts.
GERARD HUERTA Designer of AC/DC’s logo.
MICHAEL HUTCHENCE Lead singer of INXS. Died in 1997.
PHIL JAMIESON Lead singer of Grinspoon.
IAN JEFFERY Tour manager and manager of AC/DC.
GLYN JOHNS Producer of The Easybeats.
BRIAN JOHNSON Lead singer of AC/DC.
JOHN KALODNER A&R executive at Atlantic Records.
MICHAEL KLENFNER Marketing and promotion executive at Atlantic Records. Died in 2009.
PAUL KOSSOFF Guitarist of Free and Back Street Crawler. Died in 1976.
EDDIE KRAMER Engineer of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. Producer of Kiss.
DAVID KREBS Co-manager (with Steve Leber) of AC/DC.
CEDRIC KUSHNER Co-manager (with Michael Browning) of AC/DC. Concert promoter of AC/DC.
MUTT LANGE Producer of AC/DC.
LARRY LARSTEAD Film director of AC/DC.
STEVE LEBER Co-manager (with David Krebs) of AC/DC.
STEVE LEEDS Promotion executive at Atlantic Records.
JUDY LIBOW Promotion executive at Atlantic Records.
VINCE LOVEGROVE Lead singer of The Valentines and friend of Bon Scott. Died in 2012.
DAVID MALLET Film and concert director of AC/DC.
TERRY MANNING Co-owner of Compass Point Studios. Engineer of Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top.
NICK MARIA Sales executive at Atlantic Records.
SUSAN MASINO Biographer of AC/DC.
CHRIS MASUAK Guitarist of Radio Birdman.
JOE MATERA Rock guitarist and guitar journalist.
MARIO MEDIOUS Promotion executive at Atlantic Records.
MOLLY MELDRUM Host of Australian TV program Countdown.
PETER MENSCH Manager of AC/DC.
DOUG MORRIS President of Atlantic Records. CEO/chairman of Sony Music.
PHILIP MORRIS Photographer of AC/DC.
ANTHONY O’GRADY Rock journalist and friend of Bon Scott.
JOEL O’KEEFFE Lead singer and guitarist of Airbourne.
MARK OPITZ Engineer of AC/DC.
JACK ORBIN Concert promoter of AC/DC.
JOE PERRY Guitarist of Aerosmith.
TONY PLATT Engineer and co-producer (with Angus and Malcolm Young) of AC/DC.
MARK POPE Concert promoter and manager of Jimmy Barnes.
STUART PRAGER Attorney of AC/DC.
JOHN PROUD Session drummer of AC/DC, Marcus Hook Roll Band and Stevie Wright.
FIFA RICCOBONO Assistant to the professional manager, label manager, A&R manager, general manager, CEO and finally executive director of Alberts. Friend of the Youngs.
ROB RILEY Guitarist of Rose Tattoo.
LOU RONEY Disc jockey for San Antonio radio station KMAC/KISS.
PHIL RUDD Drummer of AC/DC.
BON SCOTT Lead singer of AC/DC. Died in 1980.
ISA SCOTT Mother of Bon Scott. Died in 2011.
DEREK SHULMAN Lead singer of Gentle Giant. President of Atco Records.
RALPH SIMON Co-manager (with Clive Calder) of Mutt Lange.
RAY SINGER Producer of The Easybeats.
CHRIS SLADE Drummer of AC/DC.
TERRY SLESSER Lead singer of Back Street Crawler. Friend and bandmate of Paul Kossoff.
MATT SORUM Drummer of Guns N’ Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver.
PHIL SUTCLIFFE Biographer of AC/DC.
JOHN SWAN Lead singer of Fraternity. Solo artist. Brother of Jimmy Barnes. Friend of Bon Scott and the Youngs.
JOHN TAIT Biographer of The Easybeats.
SHEL TALMY Producer of The Easybeats.
LISA TANNER Photographer of AC/DC.
DENIZ TEK Guitarist of Radio Birdman.
DOUG THALER Booking agent of AC/DC.
DAVID THOENER Engineer of AC/DC.
BILLY THORPE Lead singer and guitarist of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Solo artist. Died in 2007.
STEVEN TYLER Lead singer of Aerosmith.
RONNIE VAN ZANT Lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Died in 1977.
HARRY VANDA Lead guitarist of The Easybeats. Co-producer (with George Young) of AC/DC, Stevie Wright and Rose Tattoo.
MIKE VAUGHAN Manager of The Easybeats.
CLINTON WALKER Biographer of Bon Scott.
MICK WALL Biographer of AC/DC.
JOHN WHEELER Lead singer, guitarist and violinist of Hayseed Dixie.
CLIFF WILLIAMS Bass player of AC/DC.
STEVIE WRIGHT Lead singer of The Easybeats. Solo artist.
LARRY YASGAR Singles executive at Atlantic Records.
ALEX YOUNG Bass play
er and vocalist of Grapefruit. Session saxophonist of Marcus Hook Roll Band. Brother of the Youngs. Died in 1997.
ANGUS YOUNG Lead guitarist of AC/DC.
GEORGE YOUNG Rhythm guitarist of The Easybeats. Session bass player, drummer and percussionist of AC/DC. Co-producer (with Harry Vanda) of AC/DC, Stevie Wright and Rose Tattoo. Producer of Stiff Upper Lip for AC/DC.
MALCOLM YOUNG Rhythm guitarist of AC/DC.
MARGARET YOUNG Sister of the Youngs.
STEVIE YOUNG Guitarist of Starfighters and AC/DC. Nephew of the Youngs.
STEWART YOUNG Co-manager (with Steve Barnett) of AC/DC.
MANDAWUY YUNUPINGU Lead singer of Yothu Yindi. Australian of the Year in 1992. Died in 2013.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help, support, friendship, encouragement, generosity, contacts, collected memories and valuable insight of the following people: Rob Riley, Holger Brockmann, Marianne Brockmann, Mark Opitz, Terry Manning, John Swan, Mark Gable, Suzi Dhnaram, Luke Wallis, Stevie Wright, Mark Evans, Chris Gilbey, Ian Jeffery, Tony Currenti, Michael Browning, Greg Stock, Mandawuy Yunupingu, Gerard Huerta, Tom Huerta, Mike Fraser, Bertrand Blier, Rusty Hopkinson, Marc Dwyer, Tony Platt, Allan Fryer, Georg Dolivo, Glenn Goldsmith, Kim Fowley, Joe Matera, Dave Evans, Jack Orbin, Philip Morris, Tom Weschler, Daniel Boud, the estate of Chuck Pulin, Leo Gozbekian, Ray Singer, John Perry, Billy Altman, David Mallet, Terry Slesser, Erin McGuirk, Robert Alford, Ashley Gilbertson, Barry Diament, Chris Keeble, Kerry-Jayne Ryan, Jessica Sartini, Wally Kempton, Chris Bastic, Sidney Drashin, Mark Pope, Doug Thaler, Catherine Milne, Deniz Tek, John Proud, Anthony O’Grady, Phil Jamieson, Mike Rudd, Snowy Fleet, Bill Bartlett, Oliver Fowler, John Wheeler, Stewart Young, David Krebs, Jake Berry, David W. Larkin, Darren Ashton, Mikko Hyppönen, Derek Shulman, Alan James, Jerry Greenberg, Robert Hilburn, Matt Sorum, Steve Leber, Phil Carson, Sandra Jackson, Tim Gaze, Joel O’Keeffe, Luke Causby, David Thoener, Jimmy Douglass, Mario Medious, Jon O’Rourke, Nick Maria, Larry Yasgar, Jim Delehant, Judy Libow, Steve Leeds, Carol Klenfner, Tony Berardini, David Glew, Ann Glew, Lisa Tanner, Dick Barnatt, Stevie Young, Tristin Norwell, Michael Marley, Cedric Kushner, Ken Casey, Holly Lovegrove, Ryan Johnson, Paul La Rosa, Jordanka Kuzmanov, Chris Masuak, Airlie Lawson, Scott Miller, Glyn Johns, Shel Talmy, Scott McRae, Alison Urquhart, Anne Reilly, Nerrilee Weir, Nikki Christer, Lucy Inglis, Marc Resnick, Kate Canfield, Laura Clark, Karlyn Hixson, Joe Rinaldi, Jaime Coyne, Vanessa Radnidge, Bernard Fanning, Tom Donald, Chris Bruce, Andrew Logan, Renée Cooper, Larry Larstead, Robert Pfeiffer, Michelle Stead, Michael Hohnen, Patsy Hohnen, Mike Knight, Alan Bailey, Robert Yves, Phil Lageat, Nate Althoff, Colin Nichol, Ken Evans, Larry LeBlanc, Philip Gomes, Rosemary Hanly, Fred Fink and Jan Blum. Special thanks, too, to the authors before me who have recorded their own stories about the music of the Youngs—especially Clinton Walker, Murray Engleheart, Joe Bonomo, John Tait and Mick Wall (plus his small army of paid researchers)—and to Mike Durant for permission to reproduce an extended excerpt from his book, In the Company of Heroes.
And lastly, cheers to The Easybeats, Billy Thorpe, AC/DC, Stevie Wright, Rose Tattoo and Airbourne for giving the world the best Australian rock. It’s never gonna die. Never gonna die.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Ride On”
BOOKS
AC/DC: Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be, Mick Wall, Orion Books, London, 2012
AC/DC, High-Voltage Rock ’n’ Roll: The Ultimate Illustrated History, Phil Sutcliffe, Voyageur Press, Minneapolis, 2010
AC/DC, Maximum Rock & Roll: The Ultimate Story of the World’s Greatest Rock Band, Murray Engleheart with Arnaud Durieux, HarperCollins, Sydney, 2006
Appetite for Destruction: The Days of Guns N’ Roses, Danny Sugerman, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1992
Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside and Outside of AC/DC, Mark Evans, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2011
Get Your Jumbo Jet Out of My Airport: Random Notes for AC/DC Obsessives, Howard Johnson, The Black Book Company, Pewsey, 1999
Hard Road: The Life and Times of Stevie Wright, Glenn Goldsmith with Stevie Wright, Random House, Sydney, 2004
Highway to Hell, Joe Bonomo, Continuum Books, New York, 2010
Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott, Clinton Walker, Pan Macmillan, Sydney, 1994
Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture, Alice Echols, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2010
House of Hits: The Great Untold Story of Australia’s First Family of Music, Jane Albert, Hardie Grant Books, Melbourne, 2010
In the Company of Heroes, Michael J. Durant with Steven Hartov, Putnam, New York, 2003
Jimmy Barnes, Too Much Ain’t Enough: The Authorised Biography, Toby Creswell, Random House, Sydney, 1993
Let There Be Rock: The Story of AC/DC, Susan Masino, Omnibus Press, New York, 2006
Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal, Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman, HarperCollins, New York, 2013
Sophisto-Punk: The Story of Mark Opitz & Oz Rock, Mark Opitz (as told to Luke Wallis and Jeff Jenkins), Random House, Sydney, 2012
The Encyclopedia of Record Producers: An Indispensable Guide to the Most Important Record Producers in History, Eric Olsen, Paul Verna and Carlo Wolff (editors), Daniel J. Levitin (contributor), Billboard Books, New York, 1999
The Forever War, Dexter Filkins, Knopf, New York, 2008
The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life, Michael Bolton, Center Street, New York, 2013
The 10 Rules of Rock and Roll: Collected Music Writings/2005–09, Robert Forster, Black Inc. Books, Melbourne, 2009
Vanda & Young: Inside Australia’s Hit Factory, John Tait, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, 2010
Why AC/DC Matters, Anthony Bozza, HarperCollins, New York, 2009
DVD/TV
AC/DC, Back in Black: Classic Albums Under Review, Umbrella Entertainment, Melbourne, 2008
AC/DC, Highway to Hell: Classic Albums Under Review, Umbrella Entertainment, Melbourne, 2009
VH1’s Ultimate Albums: Back in Black, AC/DC, Viacom International, New York, 2003
LETTERS/PRESS RELEASES/OTHER DOCUMENTS
“AC/DC,” Albert Productions press release, Sydney, 1974
“AC/DC: High Voltage,” Atco Records press release, New York, 1976
“AC/DC: Let There Be Rock,” Atlantic Records press release, New York, 1977
Atlantic Records letter to Bill Bartlett, Perry Cooper, New York, 1979
Leidseplein Presse B.V. letter to the United States Commissioner for Trademarks, “Declaration in Support of Substitute Specimens,” Stuart Prager, New York, 2004
LINER NOTES
Bonfire, Murray Engleheart, East West Records, New York, 1997
’74 Jailbreak, Murray Engleheart, Epic Records, New York, 2003
NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
“AC/DC’s Angus Young Discusses Bon Scott and the Bonfire Box Set,” Tom Beaujour, Guitar World, New York, 1998
“AC/DC Celebrate Their Quarter Century,” Sylvie Simmons, MOJO, London, 2000
“AC/DC Fired Up Over Treatment in Media,” Kerry Wakefield, The Age, Melbourne, 1981
“AC/DC, Hammersmith Odeon: Concert Review,” Clive Bennett, The Times, London, 1976
“AC/DC’s iTunes Debut Sells 48,000 Digital Albums, 696,000 Songs,” Keith Caulfield, Billboard, New York, 2012
“AC/DC: Like Comfy Old Shoes That Fit All Feet,” Tomi Ervamaa, Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki, 2006
“AC/DC Salvo Levels Sin City,” David Lewis, Sounds, London, 1978
“AC/DC Shrug Off a Death and Rock On,” David Fricke, Rolling Stone, New York, 1980
“AC/DC: The Dirtiest Story Ever Told,” Phil Sutcliffe, Sounds, London, 1976
“Air Raid,” Joe Nick Patoski, Texas Monthly, Austin, 1978
“A New Rock Star: Proof of Australia’s Oldest Creatures,” Simon Benson, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 1998
“Atlantic Country: After Some Rough Starts, The Label Goes to Town Big Time in Music City,” Chet Flippo, Billboard, New York, 1998
“Bands Declare a Truce for Tribute,” Patrick Donovan, The Age, Melbourne, 2004
“Back in Black: The Lyrical Debate,” Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock, London, 2005
“Court Battle Over Release of AC/DC Film,” John Sippel, Billboard, New York, 1981
“Dickensian Conditions In Northern Territory Prisons,” Australian Associated Press, The Australian, Sydney, 2011
“For Whom the Bells Toll,” Geoff Barton and Jens Jam Rasmussen, Classic Rock, London, 2005
“Great White Sharks Love AC/DC,” Nigel Austin, Herald Sun, Melbourne, 2011
“Hells Bell,” Philip Wilding, Classic Rock, London, 2000
“High Voltage,” Vince Lovegrove, The Australian, Sydney, 2006
“High Voltage: Album Review,” Billy Altman, Rolling Stone, New York, 1976
“In the Family,” Andrew Heathcote, BRW, Sydney, 2013
“‘Iron Man 2’ Shoots to Thrill with AC/DC,” Geoff Boucher, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, 2010
“Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, at Fairgrounds Concert,” John Finley, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, 1977
“Let There Be Rock: AC/DC @ The ‘Dillo’,” Marky Billson, The Austin Chronicle, Austin, 2008
“Malcolm and Angus Young: Interview,” Dave Ling, Classic Rock, London, 2003
“Marcus Hook Roll Band, ‘Natural Man’: Single Review,” Martin Cerf, Phonograph Record Magazine, Los Angeles, 1973
“Pop Maven Horn Shows Staying Power as One of the Industry’s Top Producers,” Ben Cromer, Billboard, New York, 1998
“Sony’s Newest Boy Band, AC/DC, Took Stage in 1970s,” Jennifer Ordonez, The Wall Street Journal, New York, 2002
“The Biggest Tax Haven You’ve Never Heard Of: Holland,” Martin Van Geest, The International Correspondent, Amsterdam, 2011
“The Devil You Say? No Way. AC/DC’s Message: Rebellion, Not Satan Worship,” Robert Hilburn, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, 1985
“The Dirtiest Group in Town,” uncredited, Record Mirror, London, 1976
“The Hits and the Missus,” Krissi Murison, The Sunday Times, London, 2013