Even the people that don’t like the Rock ‘N’ Roll music of the band AC/DC, recognize it when they hear it. They’re one of the classic Rock bands known to even the least educated of music fans. We know their music, we know their style, and we know the influence they’ve had over other rock ‘n’ roll bands. What most people don’t know however, is where they got their name.
AC/DC was an acronym written on the back of Angus and Malcolm Young’s sister’s sewing machine. The letters are an abbreviation for “alternating current/direct current”, which indicates that the machine was capable of using either type of power to operate. The band felt as though the name captured the essence of their “power-driven” performances, and so it stuck.
I remember my mom asking me if it stood for “Anti-Christ / Devil Child”. That was the 80’s for you.
That’s the greatest interpretation of the name I’ve ever heard! So funny. Gotta love the 80s!
I’m sure you’ve also heard the classic Kiss rumor – “Knights In Satan’s Service”! Alternately, “Kids In Satan’s Service”.
With hindsight it’s amusing to think of a time when simple rock and roll like AC/DC seemed like that much of a threat to a kid’s health and safety. I remember there was such a thing as “De-Rock camps”. Tesla even wrote a song called “Don’t De-Rock Me”.
That’s such a great fun fact! I’ll have to add it to our list for the blog (: