AC/DC

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Dan Hawkins and Malcolm Young

“We were playing in Germany the day Malcolm died. It dawned on me that he was the reason I’m making a living from rock guitar. I shed a tear onstage that night”: The Darkness’ Dan Hawkins on why Malcolm Young is one of rock’s most underrated guitarists

By Amit Sharma published

The Darkness rhythm man says he put the 10,000 hours in trying to match Malcolm riff for riff, chord for chord, but the unstoppable AC/DC guitarist's style is beyond most mortals

Geordie Greep and Angus Young

“Dirty Deeds… has some more complicated ideas that go up in an Eddie Van Halen kind of way. It reminds me of the kind of things Steve Hackett was doing in 1972”: Black Midi’s Georgie Greep on the high-voltage genius of Angus Young

By Amit Sharma published

Black Midi might sound little like AC/DC but as Greep reveals, the influence is there and it is profound, and here breaks down the madcap genius style of rock's evergreen schoolboy

Billy Joel and Axl Rose / Kevin Mazur

“Who knew Billy could play guitar?” Billy Joel rocks a Strat with Axl Rose in surprise cover of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell

By Phil Weller published

The pair also covered Wings’ Live and Let Die as Billy Joel rounded out his US tour with a little help from the Guns N’ Roses frontman’s steely pipes

Bassist Chris Chaney of Jane's Addiction performs at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at The LINQ on November 21, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I knew my pentatonic scales before I went to Berklee – and 90% of the time that’s what I’m called upon to play”: For the third time in his career, Chris Chaney has landed one of bassdom’s most coveted gigs – a slot in the re-energized AC/DC

By Gregory Isola published

Jazz-schooled bassist Chris Chaney has now secured three career-defining gigs – first with Alanis Morissette and Jane’s Addiction, and now with AC/DC

Angus Young

AC/DC just kicked off their first tour in 8 years with a new bass player – watch footage of their explosive Power Up opener

By Phil Weller published

The rock icons kicked off their European tour with a hit-filled 24-song set in Germany

Angus Young

AC/DC announce new bass player “to carry the torch for Cliff” ahead of long-awaited Power Up tour

By Phil Weller published

Nearly four years after its release, the band are finally hitting the road in support of 2020’s Power Up album, with a new bassist lined up to replace Cliff Williams

GayC/DC

GayC/DC are on the hunt for their new “Malcolm Young” – formidable rhythm chops essential, ability to pun welcome

By Jonathan Horsley published

The all-gay AC/DC tribute act are looking to replace the irreplaceable following the death of guitarist Clint Yeager earlier in the year

Nuno Bettencourt performing live

“They have one of the best guitar players in the world”: Watch Nuno Bettencourt inject virtuosic two-hand tapping flair into AC/DC’s Highway to Hell during Extreme and Godsmack’s joint cover

By Matt Owen published

The two rock outfits shared the stage for a set-closing cover – and gave the Washburn wielder free rein to solo as he saw fit

The Darkness' Dan (left) and Justin Hawkins perform onstage in San Francisco in 2023

“We’re trying to do the AC/DC version of a two-pronged attack, especially when we play live”: The Darkness’ Justin and Dan Hawkins on the high-volume twin-guitar secrets behind Permission To Land

By Amit Sharma published

To celebrate 20 years of Permission To Land, the Hawkins brothers take us back to the start, and unpack a sound built upon the elemental force of Marshall amps and Gibson Les Pauls

Dean Deleo, Nancy Wilson and Robert Deleo

Jam with legends of Heart, Stone Temple Pilots and AC/DC: Nancy Wilson, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo confirmed for Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp 2024

By Jonathan Horsley published

And Chris Slade of AC/DC and the Firm will be on the drums

Angus Young

Phrasing, vibrato and rock-solid timing: inside the essential elements of AC/DC's legendary guitar style

By Jon Bishop published

All aboard the Rock ’N’ Roll Train as we take the long way to the top with this in-depth lesson in the raw hard-rock perfection of Angus and the late Malcolm Young's playing style

Sam Fender performing with Brian Johnson and his old guitar teacher

Sam Fender’s old guitar teacher joined him onstage to play AC/DC hits with Brian Johnson – and absolutely nailed Angus Young’s solos

By Matt Owen published

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this if it wasn’t for your tutelage,” Fender wrote to his old tutor, who channeled prime Young on an Epiphone SG

Joe Bonamassa performing a cover of Back In Black with Scary Pockets

Joe Bonamassa plays AC/DC’s Back in Black like you’ve never heard it before in this soulful rhythm ’n’ blues reimagining

By Matt Parker published

The blues-rock ace has teamed up with funk band Scary Pockets and vocalist Joanna Jones to offer a new take on Angus Young’s iconic riff and solo

Peter Dankelson

Peter Dankelson on how guitar was shocked into his system by AC/DC, and why nothing was going to stop him playing

By Joe Bosso published

A bona-fide guitar fanatic, weaned on blues-rock, Dankelson has a band behind him, a high-octane EP, and a decision to make: enroll in college or go headlong into music

Kirk Hammett

Kirk Hammett reveals the secret weapon behind his guitar tone: “I can’t believe I’m telling you about it!”

By Matt Owen published

The elusive piece of gear has sonic ties to Eddie Van Halen, AC/DC and Pink Floyd, and featured throughout new Metallica album 72 Seasons

Malcolm Young (left) and Satchel

Satchel: Malcolm Young influenced more guitarists than Eddie Van Halen or Eric Clapton

By Matt Parker published

"Think about all the bands that have come after AC/DC that have tried to write AC/DC-sounding songs with three chords," the Steel Panther guitarist said in a recent interview

Brian Johnson (left) and Angus Young from AC/DC perform live on stage at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on February 16, 1982.

How to play Back in Black on guitar

By Chris Bird published

Learn one of the greatest riffs of all time from Australian rock legends AC/DC

Iggy Pop (left) and Angus Young

Iggy Pop says he was once asked to join AC/DC: “I listened to their record. I thought, I can’t fit that bill”

By Matt Owen published

The Stooges frontman – who felt he wasn't what the band needed – also recalled a "wonderful encounter" with Bon Scott

AC/DC

Brian Johnson “told not to” answer questions about the future of AC/DC, as it's the band's “official line”

By Sam Roche published

The band's frontman was tight-lipped when recently asked by Eddie Trunk about future live shows and a followup to 2020's Power Up

Man wearing headphones playing air guitar

The top 10 air guitar songs of all time

By Guitar World Staff published

From Free Bird’s iconic guitar solo to the legendary licks of Layla, here are the best tracks to “play” when you’re without your axe but fancy an impromptu practice session