Maps of Music

Rock or Bust (2014)

Where the lyrics of Rock or Bust take you, and where it was really made.

The album was the first AC/DC record made without founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, whose guitar parts were recorded by his nephew Stevie Young.

Key places

Where Rock or Bust was recorded (2014)

Recording site Warehouse Studios — The album was recorded at Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, Canada, with producer Brendan O'Brien and mixer Mike Fraser. The sessions ran about four weeks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Rock or Bust: sixteenth studio album by the Australian rock band AC/DC
• Released 28 November 2014 in Australia and New Zealand, and 2 December 2014 elsewhere
• First album without founding member Malcolm Young; Stevie Young took over as rhythm guitarist
• About 35 minutes long, the shortest AC/DC album to date, surpassing Flick of the Switch (1983)
• Sold 2.8 million copies worldwide
• First album since Iron Man 2 (2010) and first of original material since Black Ice (2008)

Background

• Malcolm Young left the band in 2014 for health reasons
• The band and management later stated that Malcolm was officially diagnosed with dementia
• Malcolm has writing credits on every track; his guitar parts were recorded by his nephew Stevie Young
• Malcolm died 18 November 2017, weeks after his older brother George Young
• Brian Johnson said making the album without Malcolm was difficult
• Johnson proposed the title Man Down but thought it might be too negative toward Malcolm's situation and health
• Drummer Phil Rudd was arrested on 6 November 2014 for attempting to procure the murder of two men
• The attempted procurement charge was dropped the following day; other charges remained
• The band's statement said Rudd's absence would not affect the album's release

Recording

• Recorded at Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, Canada
• Producer Brendan O'Brien; mixer Mike Fraser
• Rudd was ten days late for the sessions; O'Brien was ready to replace him, but Rudd arrived and recorded his parts
• Angus Young estimated recording took about four weeks
• Songs were built largely by Angus Young from material the brothers accumulated during earlier albums
• Angus used the Schaffer Replica on some lead tracks, a device donated by fan Fil "SoloDallas" Olivieri

Cover

• Art direction by Josh Cheuse of the Arcade Creative Group
• Physical edition got extra features; the cover is lenticular
• The booklet has 24 pictures featuring the band

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young.
• The band name comes from the AC/DC symbol on the adapter of their sister Margaret's sewing machine.
• Their music has been described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, though the band calls itself simply a rock and roll band.
• Their early sound was rooted in Australian pub rock.

Members

• Angus Young (lead guitar) and Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar) were the founding core of the band until Malcolm retired in 2014.
• Bon Scott was lead vocalist until his death in February 1980.
• Brian Johnson became lead vocalist in 1980.
• Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams and Stevie Young have also played key roles.

Career

• Their 1980 album Back in Black became one of the best-selling albums of all time.
• The band has sold an estimated 200 million records worldwide.
• They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic: score of 75 from 22 reviews, generally favourable
• Trucking magazine: praising review by Andy Stewart, who called the album short but sweet and full of excellent riffs
• PopMatters: Charles Pitter said the album focused on catchy choruses and riffs

Records

• US: debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 172,000 copies in its first week
• US: 500,000 copies sold by January 2015; RIAA Gold certification, the band's 22nd album to reach that status
• Canada: debuted at No. 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart with 31,000 copies in its first week
• Amazon UK: sixth most pre-ordered studio album of 2014
• Worldwide: 2.8 million copies sold in 2014
• Peaked at No. 1 in 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany and Sweden
• Reached the top 5 in 12 more countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Italy
• 2015: Planet Rock award for Best International Album
• 2015: ECHO Award for Rock/Alternative (International); nominated for Album of the Year but lost
• 2015: ARIA Music Awards Best Group nomination, lost to Tame Impala

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The band made a special promotional video in a Polish quarry, where a rock exploded to reveal a carved AC/DC logo.
• Drummer Phil Rudd was absent from both single video shoots and was replaced by Bob Richards.
• The single "Rock or Bust" leaked by accident when it was uploaded to the AC/DC YouTube account instead of "Play Ball".
• The first single "Play Ball" was first used in a trailer for Major League Baseball on TBS postseason coverage on 27 September 2014.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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