News

Angus Young On AC/DC's Consistent Sound: "This Is What We Do Best – We Make Rock'N'Roll"

AC/DC's Angus Young reveals late brother Malcolm's brilliant response to the comment, "Every album you've ever made sounds the same."

Angus Young On AC/DC's Consistent Sound: "This Is What We Do Best – We Make Rock'N'Roll"
Words:
Emily Carter

Unsurprisingly, following the release of AC/DC's awesome new album POWER UP, the same old comments about the band sounding exactly the same have cropped up again ("It’s never been the point for AC/DC to do anything ‘new’, just to do more of it," read Kerrang!'s 4/5 review of the record, "That’s why they do it, and that’s why they’re the best at it. And that’s why we love them"). And in a new interview, Angus Young has addressed their consistent sound – and has a brilliant response for why they are the way that they are.

Speaking on Australia's The Project, the legendary guitarist reflected on the fact that, rather than pushing the boat out too far with new styles, they've instead honed their craft and worked on what makes them… well, AC/DC.

"With us, it's to be expected," Angus says (via Blabbermouth). "As my brother [late AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young] used to say, when somebody said, 'Every album you've ever made sounds the same,' he said, 'Yeah. It's the same band.' When we started, we weren't reinventing the wheel. This is what we do best – we make rock'n'roll."

Read this: 10 musicians who became world-famous overnight

Based on the strength of POWER UP, it's hard to argue with that. And, in fact, frontman Brian Johnson wants to inspire a new generation of fans with the record, too.

“This album, I just want kids to listen to it, we all do, and just go out and say, ‘I wanna buy a guitar, I wanna be in a band,’” he said earlier this month. “I think we’ve accomplished something if that happens.”

In October, Angus revealed that POWER UP is a tribute to his brother.

“I know Mal’s not with us anymore, but he’s there with us in spirit,” Angus said. “This band was his baby, his life. He was always one [to say], ‘You keep going.’ His big line always, every now and again, he’d go, ‘If you’re a musician, it’s a bit like being on the Titanic. The band goes down with the ship.’ That’s how he viewed it.

“Even the title we gave it, POWER UP, pretty much sums him up, too,” he continued. “When he put on that guitar, he was one big guitar. To put it this way: When he played guitar, it sounded like there were two people playing.”

Check out more:

Now read these

The best of Kerrang! delivered straight to your inbox three times a week. What are you waiting for?