A question that comes up regularly: AC/DC is a famous name, but what does it actually stand for? Dave Evans, the original singer of AC/DChas now revealed the story behind the band’s naming.
Dave Evans was a founding member of AC/DC in 1973, along with brothers Malcolm (rhythm guitarist) and Angus Young (lead guitarist). Plus drummer Colin Burgess and bassist Larry Van Kriedt. Bon Scott is the front man on everyone’s lips these days. But Dave Evans still sang on AC/DC’s first two singles, “Can I Sit Next to You Girl” and “Baby, Please Don’t Go.”
Dave Evans wasn’t part of AC/DC for long. He left the hard rockers in October 1974 and was replaced by the same Bon Scott. Until his death in 1980, Scott recorded six studio albums with AC/DC.
AC/DC: Now we have to come up with a name quickly!
In an interview with “Podpokas”, Evans now remembers how the name AC/DC came about. Alan Kissacks, a man who was involved in the band’s founding, gave AC/DC, then still without a name, good and bad news. The good news: You’ve secured a spot at the Australian nightclub Checkers for New Year’s Eve. The bad news: Now we have to come up with a band name quickly!
“We had to think of a name because it was only a few weeks away. So we started throwing around names, but no one could agree,” Evans explained. “I had some really great names. But they didn’t like them.”
“We said we would [rechtzeitig zur] next rehearsal everyone would come with three names each. They would put one in a hat and pull one out. And whatever the name would be, that’s what we would call ourselves,” he added.
According to Dave Evans, he presented three names himself. All were found unfit. Then a relative of the band came. And suggested “AC/DC.”
Free advertising on the site of all these devices, and it’s easy to pronounce
“When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, ‘Look, my sister-in-law’ [die Frau seines älteren Bruders George] suggested a name. AC/DC”. And I thought, that’s an easy name to remember. And it was on a lot of electronic devices!” Evans said.
“AC/DC means alternating current and direct current [und] many devices were AC/DC. I thought, ‘Free advertising. Free advertising on the site of all these devices, and it’s easy to pronounce. And it means strength.’ This all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes.”
The other hard rockers were also excited. “Malcolm looked at us and said, ‘Well, should we call ourselves AC/DC?’ And we all raised our hands. It was unanimous. We all shook hands and were AC/DC. These three names [die ich mir ausgedacht hatte]I went home and threw it away.”