Australia’s Family Jewels

  

Even though they are hailed as Australia’s most legendary rock band, none of the band members of AC/DC were actually born in Australia. Original lead singer Dave Evans, the brothers Young and co, and their families were recipients of the 10-pound British migration scheme, and even though they did attend school in Australia, immediately on breaking into the international music scene they left Australian shores (although family members still reside in Australia).

Regardless, the band members themselves claim AC/DC as Australian. As Angus Young once quipped “who else would claim us?” when interviewed by Sixty Minutes.

In fact he goes on further in that Sixty Minutes interview to say that AC/DC would probably never have survived as a rock and roll band in any other country.

“Everyone knows we started from Australia. AC/DC was formed there, and it probably wouldn't have come out of any other country because at that time, it's the music of that time. It was the right climate, the right time, the right people. Australia's got that kind of rawness about it, too, and it's got that kind of rough edge about it and, if anything, we've always had that rough edge you know.”

The story of AC/DC began when Malcolm, Angus and George Young (brothers) who were born in Glasgow, Scotland, migrated to Sydney with their family in 1963. George was the first to try his had at music – learning the guitar and joining the Easybeats (remember Fridays On My Mind)

Then Malcolm too – obviously noticing George’s success, started playing with a band called the Velvet Underground (and no that’s not Lou Reed’s crew).

And then finally in November 1973 Malcolm and Angus Young formed AC/DC, started recruiting, and as they say in show business the rest is history.

There have been a number of band member controversies and changes in the past 35 years. Notably the death of lead singer Bon Scott from reportedly some truly excessive alcohol consumption in 1980.

Even though the band considered shutting up shop after this devastating loss, the quick recruitment of ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson (who is still there 29 years later) changed any ideas of disbanding.

1983 saw another band controversy ensue when the band started to loose its following in a protest by fans to the firing of drummer Phil Rudd, replaced by future Dio drummer Simon Wright. (Rudd did return in later years to contribute to the AC/DC album 1995 album Ballbreaker).

Now in 2009 AC/DC are still going strong, performing live, and are said to have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. They are undoubtedly rock and roll royalty and fittingly the Arts Centre and Western Australian Museum in association with AC/DC, Albert Music and Sony Music have produced an iconic exhibition covering 35 years of performing, fittingly called AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels.

It is the first exhibition ever about AC/DC.

The Arts Centre’s Senior Curator Tim Fisher took a break from his managerial role at the Arts Centre to invest 12 months into producing the AC/DC exhibition, and anyone who has the pleasure of visiting it will be impressed with the meticulous attention to historical detail Fisher has shown in his efforts to produce a chronologically based characterisation of the band and its members through access to some first-ever seen archived documents and material.

In fact Fisher recalls the amount of time it took him to source some original material never seen previously on public display in AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels. Albert Music (the band’s first record label) in particular proved helpful in procuring material they had loyally kept under wrap these past 35 years, as did Bon Scott’s mum who provided access to his letters, notes and famous leather jacket.

The exhibition is designed to point to the most significant periods in this band’s 35 year history, from the original migration to Australia, to their first years playing as a band, where they initially struggled to find their rock and roll identity amongst an influx of Gary Glitter glam rocker, (which original lead singer Dave Evans brought on board), and then to their monster success overseas.

There is everything of significant interest not only for AC/DC fans but also lovers of well put together sociological exhibits. From colourfully worded letters by Bon Scott (who knew he was a prolific letter writer) to original outfits, guitars, and photos (Angus Young’s ‘Super-Ang’ costume and school boy outfit and Bon Scott’s Leather), as well as a strong multimedia element with some rarely seen live footage and an actual guitar just waiting to be played by anyone walking past (like my 6-year-old son who couldn’t be torn away).

As explained by Tim Fisher AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels is the fifth exhibition in the Arts Centre’s Icon Exhibition Series, which aims to celebrate Australia’s internationally renowned performing artists. Other particularly successful Icon exhibits at the Arts Centre include Kylie and Edna Everage – both were taken to tour the UK (and were hugely successful exhibits there).

And it wouldn’t be surprising if AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels too will tour internationally, after all in 2004, Rolling Stone listed them 72 in their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

TIDBITS OF AC/DC INFORMATION:

Malcolm and Angus Young developed the idea for the band's name after their sister-in law saw the initials "AC/DC" on a sewing machine.

According to original AC/DC lead singer Dave Evans, when interviewed by Wales On Sunday the reason Angus Young got into his schoolboys outfit is because “ ll the Aussie bands looked the same and we were a typical jeans and T-shirt band until the guitarist Angus Young decided he was going to dress as a shorts-sporting school boy in order to attract the kids…Malcolm would wear a satin jump suit, drummer Noel Taylor was dolled up like a joker from a pack of cards, and our bass player Neil Smith decided to dress like a tough New York motorcycle cop – and this was long before that YMCA song, mate!”

AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels is at the Arts Centre, Gallery 1 until February 28. This is a free exhibition.