Rock & Metal

Dave Evans Explains AC/DC’s Simple Tactic For Free Advertising

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In a recent interview with Podpokas, original AC/DC frontman Dave Evans reminisced about how the band landed on their iconic name, crediting it to a suggestion from Malcolm Young’s sister-in-law.

Evans explained that in late 1973, the band had a New Year’s Eve gig booked but still hadn’t settled on a name. Initially, they planned to resolve the issue by drawing a name from a hat at their next rehearsal. However, Malcolm Young arrived with a recommendation that would stick.

“Malcolm said, ‘Look, my sister-in-law has suggested a name.’ And we said, ‘Okay, what is it?’ And Malcolm said, ‘AC/DC.’ I thought quickly, and I thought it’s an easy name to remember—AC/DC,” Evans recalled.

He elaborated on the name’s practicality and promotional potential:
“AC/DC means alternate current and direct current. Alternate current means batteries. Direct current, plug it into the wall. And I had a portable record player with AC/DC on the side. I thought, ‘Free advertising on all these appliances—it’s easy to say, and it means power.’ It just clicked.”

Evans said the rest of the band quickly agreed. “Colin Burgess liked it, Larry Van Kriedt liked it, and Malcolm said, ‘Shall we call ourselves AC/DC?’ We all put our hands up, and it was unanimous. From that moment, we were AC/DC. The names I came up with went straight into the trash.”

Evans went on to record AC/DC’s first two singles, “Can I Sit Next to You Girl” and “Baby, Please Don’t Go.” However, less than a year after their first performance, Evans departed the band in October 1974 and was replaced by Bon Scott, setting the stage for AC/DC’s meteoric rise.

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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