AC/DC: The Definitive History (Kerrang Files) [Paperback]

Kerrang! Files (Author), Dave Mustaine (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Kerrang Files | Publication Date: April 2002

Arguably the world's greatest rock band, AC/DC have earned their place in the annuls of music history. For almost 30 years they have distilled the essence of rock 'n' roll, intoxicating each new generation of rock fans with their take-no-prisoners attitude and no-nonsense live shows. Through the files of "Kerrang" and "Sounds", this book tells the story of AC/DC's career - from their days as a covers band in Sydney, Australia, in the early 70s, through the years of world domination and intense tragedy, to the 21st century and their recognition as true rock legends.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kerrang! is the UK's leading specialist hard rock magazine, with a weekly circulation of 40,000. It is highly influential and was the only UK music magazine to increase its circulation during 2000. The articles in this book have been selected and edited from the magazine's files.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753505894
• ISBN-13: 978-0753505892
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,708,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Definitely not definitive!!!, April 8, 2003

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AC/DC: The Definitive History (Kerrang Files) (Paperback)

But it's a good read anyway.

Kerrang editor Malcolm Dome has a very pleasant style of writing and if anyone knows about rock history, that's the guy.

The book is not the "definitive" AC/DC history. In first place, it cannot be, because it's a short book (200 pages with large font types); also, the research for this book was made from the Kerrang files and, as is always the case, there are no especific interviews for this book conceded by the AC/DC guys.

Clinton Walker's book "Highway To Hell" has much more deep research about the band, at least until the point in 1980 when Bon Scott died, and much more first-hand accounts, at least by ex-band member like Mark Evans and ex-managers like MIchael BRowning.

This bood is a fast and easy read.

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Writing and Insufficient Research, August 13, 2005

By 

C. M. Scheben (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AC/DC: The Definitive History (Kerrang Files) (Paperback)

I read a lot of Biographies but this one was definately one of the worst. Malcolm Dome's feuilletonistic writing style really takes away from the reading experience. Why does he have to refer to Ac/Dc as Acca Dacca throughout the book? That was extremely irritating.
Also, all the research for this book stems from the files of either Sounds mag or Kerrang mag, sprinkled with some eyewitness accounts of AC/DC shows the author himself attended in the early 80's. That, to me, is just plain lazy. And even though the facts given in this book are acurate it still leaves you unsatisfied for the lack of detail.
Overall I must say that it DOES show that the book was written by the editor of a modern day Rockmusic mag. It reads much more like an enthusiastic review of a scribe who wants to make sure to stay on the good side of the band for future advance copies of the 'next' record than the writing of someone who takes an actual interest in cold hard facts and real roadstories. This book was lousy if you ask me.

4.0 out of 5 stars My First Insight into AC/DC with the Kerrang Files, February 19, 2005

By 

Micheal Hunt (Hellbourne) - See all my reviews

This review is from: AC/DC: The Definitive History (Kerrang Files) (Paperback)

This was the very first book of it's kind I read about AC/DC. Pretty much all of which its are in its nontents are true. It starts from the pre-ac/dc days up to about 1994 just before the Ballbreaker album. I'm told there was an extended edition released after that, and this cover art Amazon shows is not the the same as my book. So it may exceed past 1995's ballbreaker album.

It has a vast display of history, photos, informations and album guides. As well as some cool details, and the reviews written in Kerrang and Sounds over the years. Introduced by Megadeaths Dave Mustaine, each chapter of th ebook has a breif comment by muscions from various bands about what they think of AC/DC.

A good read for any AC/DC fan. Probably a snore fest for someone not into them.