Customer Reviews

AC/DC: The Definitive History (Kerrang Files)

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

As the people close to me know, I love AC-DC. Angus' hard solos, Malcolm's smooth rhythm, and both Bon's and Brian's vocals. Before I bought this book I have read a whole lot of other information not in here. One is that the book didn't mention that the famous "Back in Black" riff was Malcolm's and not Angus's. One chapter was about the death of AC-DC's first front man, Bon Scott. Everybody was down yet AC-DC still pulled it through with Brian Johnson. There were a few mishaps in that chapter, but for the most part, it was correct. Other than those few missing and wrong facts this is a great book about the great AC-DC. It tells info about all of the great albums, and not so great albums, about Bon and Brian, and many more. This book is for any rocker who wants a little background or for somebody who just wants to read something. That is why I gave it a 4 out of 5

As the people close to me know, I love AC-DC. Angus's hard solos, Malcolm's smooth rhythm, and both Bon's and Brian's vocals. Before I bought this book I have read a whole lot of other information not in here. One is that the book didn't mention that the famous "Back in Black" riff was Mal's and not Angus's. One chapter was about the death of AC-DC's first front man, Bon Scott. Everybody was down yet AC-DC still pulled it through with Brian Johnson. There were a few mishaps in that chapter, but for the most part, it was correct. Other than those few missing and wrong facts this is a great book about the great AC-DC. It tells info about all of the great albums, and not so great albums, about Bon and Brian, and many more. This book is for any rocker who wants a little background or for somebody who just wants to read something. That is why I gave it a 4 out of 5

As the people close to me know, I love AC-DC. Angus' hard solos, Malcolm's smooth rhythm, and both Bon's and Brian's vocals. Before I bought this book I have read a whole lot of other information not in here. One is that the book didn't mention that the famous "Back in Black" riff was Mal's and not Angus's. One chapter was about the death of AC-DC's first front man, Bon Scott. Everybody was down yet AC-DC still pulled it through with Brian Johnson. There were a few mishaps in that chapter, but for the most part, it was correct. Other than those few missing and wrong facts this is a great book about the great AC-DC. It tells info about all of the great albums, and not so great albums, about Bon and Brian, and many more. This book is for any rocker who wants a little background or for somebody who just wants to read something. That is why I gave it a 4 out of 5

As I'm a big AC/DC fan (up until the "FLICK OF THE SWITCH" album), I bought this book.

It was a big dissapointment. Of course KERRANG has a lot of tradition in the business of writing about rock and roll, but the book seemed to me just a bucnh of old articles put together to sell a book. No new research.

Also, of course, the book is "devoted" to AC/DC. Anywhere, the writer (or "writers") are capable of telling some of the truth: Brian Johnson's voice, nowadays, is totally shot. It's simply not pleasant anymore to listen to it (I mean, in the albums. Alive, the vibe and the hype will do the job for the band).

It does not mention that Angus' extended solos are ludicrous (the solos INSIDE the songs are majestic). It does not mention the fact that,a long a show, it seems that drummer Phil Rudd, bassist Cliff Williams and Malcolm Young are having no fun at all.

Also, it simply does not have the nerve to talk the truth: after Bon Scott's death, the band entered a never ending decline in terms of creativity, only bypassed by the majestic debut of Brian Johnson, BACK IN BLACK. Even if songs like WHO MADE WHO and HEATSEEKER made it to the charts, and that some album had good material, it was always below par comparing them to Bon's albums, always.

The chapter about Bon Scott's death is full of wrong information.

About Phil Rudd return's to the band, there's onnly a brife phrase stating that he came back to the band after "a four-year break"... Well, Rudd left the band in 1983 and returned in 1995. For me, it means a twelve-year break...

There's also the caption of a photo saying it was taken in Cambridge, 1980. But the photo has drummer SImon Wright on it.... And Simon entered the band in 1983...

All in all, this book will add nothing to the serious AC/DC fan, but will at least provide a good frametime for your own research.