as an Australian im curious how popular is ACDC in america?
Posted by OptimalButterfly4650@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 386 comments
ive only ever heard of ACDC being popular in australia because its an australian band but i have heard a few americans talk abt it when talking about australia so im curious how big is it in america?
TheBimpo@reddit
If they did a stadium tour next year it would sell out in every market.
Do young people listen to them? Not as much as they used to, rock music in general isn't nearly as popular as it was 20 or 40 years ago. They're still among the most popular artists on classic or hard rock format radio.
All of us old people will be first in line to pump our fists at the shows. Anyone over the age of 45 knows all about AC/DC, they were among the most popular bands in America from 1980-2000.
5oco@reddit
I work in a High School and although I mostly agree with you(rock music in general isn't nearly as popular) I've found that the ones that do listen to older rock absolutely love AC/DC, like as their favorite band. I hate the band, but every kid I've talked to that tells me they listen to rock will ultimately tell me how AC/DC is one of the greatest rock bands there ever were.
JaunxPatrol@reddit
Who hates ACDC?!? Ridiculous opinion
Jumpy-Figure-4082@reddit
I don't like them but I don't loathe them. There is a time and place for them, but I would never pay to listen to them, a lot of their songs aren't that different.
Malcolm_Y@reddit
I love them, but like to poke fun too. My favorite is "AC/DC, it's not just the band name, it's also the chord progression."
macthecomedian@reddit
Interesting username Mr. Young... what's it like having Angus as a brother?
Malcolm_Y@reddit
Lol
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
They have a great song. So great that they play it over and over with different lyrics.
solarhawks@reddit
That's not AC/DC. That's Boston.
AlienDelarge@reddit
Its actually all just one song they have put out in installments.
NewbombTurk@reddit
While semi-accurate, ACDC is fucking Bach compared to today shitty pop music.
Malcolm_Y@reddit
Truth
Cacafuego@reddit
"A lot of people say we made the same album, 11 times or so. Really, they're lying, it's actually been 12 times at least."
-- Angus
I don't buy it, though. They have some of the most distinctive riffs and songs in all of rockdom.
Suppafly@reddit
I lowkey do. They basically have one song just with different names and slightly different lyrics.
Hoosier_Jedi@reddit
They’re good enough for Butthead.
SevenSixOne@reddit
My dad has always hated ACDC so much that he'll turn the radio completely off for several minutes if one of their songs comes on so there's no way he'll hear any of it
He doesn't have a problem with similar bands/sounds from that era, so I don't know why ACDC specifically is a no-go
CaptainPunisher@reddit
Assholes and prudes.
WarrenMulaney@reddit
I don’t really like them.
Ralph--Hinkley@reddit
I don't really care for them, and I'll change the radio everytime they come on.
OnThe45th@reddit
Will do! JK. Didn’t. This is the internet, opinions are unacceptable here….
fourthfloorgreg@reddit
I was over them by my mid-20s. Great soundtrack music, gets old fast if you are actually actively listening to it.
T-Rex_timeout@reddit
Please play big balls for them. Just have it in nonchalantly and hold a straight face. I played it for my son when he was 12 and that’s the hardest I’ve seen him laugh.
Sandi375@reddit
This was the first song that popped into my head when I saw AC/DC.
sofaraway00@reddit
My 8yo LOVES AC/DC!
DreamsAndSchemes@reddit
Yup. My teenager listens to AC/DC as well as a lot of older rock and metal. His words: ‘current music sucks’
Heykurat@reddit
Services like Spotify are bringing old bands into the lives of many younger folks. Pretty soon music won't be a generational thing anymore. I've caught my 20-something coworkers singing songs by the Eurythmics, The Carpenters, Run DMC, Scorpions, and lots of other older bands.
WorthPrudent3028@reddit
BMG and Columbia House CD clubs did the same for Gen X and early millennials. Most of those bands have always been in the high school and college age playlists. First thing you'd do when you signed up was get the well known classics like Zeppelin IV, Rumors, Bob Marley Legend, and Back in Black. But on your 3rd or 4th cancelation and re-sign up to BMG, you'd start to explore great but slightly lesser known bands like Cheap Trick, Scorpions, and Yes. And since you owned the albums, they'd get tons of replay which set that era apart from the Spotify era. Even as your CD collection grew, it was never infinite. In the car, you'd usually only have about 6 CDs that you'd listen to in any given month. Sometimes I went a week or two only listening to a single album.
Shotgun_Rynoplasty@reddit
I’m dating a younger woman (not from Australia) and even though she’s not into rock, she knows AC/DC hits. Hell, they had Axl Rose sing for them. They’re one of the biggest rock acts out there
benkatejackwin@reddit
I taught middle school a few decades ago, when I was pretty young. A student looked at me, and real slow, because to them I was an elderly person, asked, "Miss, do you know who A-C-D-C is?" I was like, son, they were popular before I was born.
PacSan300@reddit
I went to an AC/DC concert in 2015 as a younger person, and the venue was totally packed. The band had so much energy despite their ages. While many people in the audience were indeed on the older side, many were also younger.
ImportantRabbit9292@reddit
Second this, one of my all time favs from 80s 90s.
proscriptus@reddit
My teenagers listen to SUBSTANTIAL AC/DC.
TheSkyIsAMasterpiece@reddit
They'd sell out in Canada too.
anisotropicmind@reddit
Re: “us old people”: I’m an elder millennial in Canada, and I like AC/DC to an extent. I really like “Back in Black”, “Thunderstruck”, “For Those About to Rock…”, “Shoot to Thrill”, “Hell’s Bell’s”, & “Highway to Hell”. This is from memory, so sorry if I got some song names wrong. Beyond that, all their songs start to kind of sound the same for me. I’ve always been into rock and alternative, but even I discovered them kind of late in life. (Nirvana was big when I was in grade 2 or 3, so it’s not like rock and alternative wasn’t popular when I grew up). And before you ask, no it wasn’t the Iron Man MCU films that made me aware of AC/DC. I knew about them before that. I do think those films picked a lot from my above list though (maybe those are just the best/most popular).
drunkenknitter@reddit
I'm not even kidding I would buy tix so fast and I can afford the GOOD seats now that I have grown-up money!
RolandDeepson@reddit
Done dirt cheap
MeanderFlanders@reddit
My teen son has AC/DC vinyl.
We attend lots of high school football and basketball games in many cities and every one plays AC/DC on their warmup playlists
PmButtPics4ADrawing@reddit
Rock music is still popular, young people just are listening to newer bands. Granted it's not as popular as before but bands like Arctic Monkeys have songs with billions of streams
AshTheGoddamnRobot@reddit
I love Arctic Monkeys but they been around since I was in my teens and I am in my thirties now lol
tkrr@reddit
Not as many young people, but I’m sure you find a decent number at concerts with their parents.
Queencitybeer@reddit
One of the better big rock shows I've been to. As someone else said they are still used a lot in sporting events. I'd also say they are still used pretty heavily in commercials, TV and movies as well. They have some very iconic guitar riffs that still work really well to build hype.
SKULLDIVERGURL@reddit
Count me in!
44035@reddit
They're huge here. It's been that way since the 70s.
OptimalButterfly4650@reddit (OP)
oh damn i never knew that are they rlly that big?
coldlightofday@reddit
They are classic rock staples here. Not uncommon to hear them at sporting events and such.
LiqdPT@reddit
Shut your mouth! "classic rock" is the 60s music my parents listened to, right? RIGHT!?!?!
Damn, I got old...
44035@reddit
Their music is used in big Hollywood movies like Iron Man.
tooslow_moveover@reddit
School of Rock is a love-letter to AC/DC
Man0fGreenGables@reddit
Who Made Who was made to be the soundtrack for Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive.
uses_for_mooses@reddit
Or the great American classic, Planes: Fire & Rescue.
wooper346@reddit
Back in Black is one of the bestselling albums worldwide, only behind Thriller according to Wikipedia.
bugzzzz@reddit
Woah, that's nuts. LOL @ Meatloaf at #6
TheVentiLebowski@reddit
Dude, Meatloaf was huge.
CaptainPunisher@reddit
So big that he got bitch tits.
BlackEagle0013@reddit
His name is Robert Paulson.
ritpdx@reddit
Jim Steinman was huge. Meatloaf was just part of that.
BlackEagle0013@reddit
I have said for decades Jim Steinman is the best songwriter of my generation.
TheVentiLebowski@reddit
Jim Steinman wrote the songs, but Meatloaf was the showman.
blaine-garrett@reddit
Must be an age thing. I really only know meatloaf as an actor who made some music didn't really care for.
nwbrown@reddit
Well part of that is people don't really but albums anymore. Some list try to accommodate that but it's iffy at best.
Head_Vermicelli7137@reddit
2-6 depending on which site you chose
needmoarbass@reddit
A lot of Americans assume AC/DC are American. They are a household name still.
cheesy_macaroni@reddit
My son is 11 and it’s his favorite band. When I was 11 they were my favorite band. I didn’t introduce him to them. They’re in pretty constant rotation on classic rock stations
Man0fGreenGables@reddit
I’m in Canada and saw them in a small province with a population less than a million people. There was like 80,000 people there. They are huge!
Comfortable-Owl-5929@reddit
When their first album came out in 79 or 80 they were huge. I was in the 9th grade.
travelinmatt76@reddit
There's even an AC/DC pinball machine made by an American pinball manufacturer that came out in 2012
Goddamnpassword@reddit
very popular this is the first movie that came to mind but there are hundred where AC/DC is on the soundtrack.
Blubbernuts_@reddit
Maximum Overdrive. AC/DC did the whole soundtrack.
dancingbanana123@reddit
I genuinely didn't know they were Australian until this post. I just thought they were another popular American rock band, like The Eagles, Queen, Guns and Roses, etc. (I have not bothered to google if these are actually American either, so I could still be way off with these ones too).
alldaylong4u@reddit
Really that big
TheBimpo@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists
173,000,000 albums sold and 4+ decades of massive worldwide tours. One of the biggest rock bands of all time, top 5 by nearly any measure.
But they're slowly dying and touring days are nearing an end. Young people don't listen to rock music now the way they did for generations. Tastes change. 20-30 years from now teenagers will look at today's music as hilarious and dated.
ElectricTomatoMan@reddit
Today's music? Yes. AC/DC, no way.
Dr_Watson349@reddit
Bro I don't think kids are listening to AC/DC. My teen daughter who is huge into music (sings and plays bass in a band) would much rather listen to the pixies or the smiths or even some pop punk than 70s rock.
To her and her friends 90s alt is classic rock.
Sizzlinskizz@reddit
That’s the “cool music” that teens get into. The next evolution is shrugging off the pretensions and saying well ya know Kenny Loggins slaps.
Sizzlinskizz@reddit
That’s the “cool music” that teens get into. The next evolution is shrugging off the pretensions and saying well ya know Kenny Loggins slaps.
RedRatedRat@reddit
My kids did. In my car, at least. They are fans along with whatever the new slop is.
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
When I was a teenager in the 1990s, all the punks respected AC/DC, even some of the snotty 'anarcho' Crass fans who hated anything fun. You'd think they would be considered textbook arena 'cock rock', but they always had cred with the punks back in the day.
The same goes for those late 80s / earlymid 1990s alt bands. Kurt Cobain was a Van Halen fan, and I'd be surprised if he didn't at least mildly appreciate AC/DC.
Dr_Watson349@reddit
Right, and my point is that as time moves on the window for what is "old" and "good" shifts as well.
I was a teen in the 90s, although a hip-hop fan. I respected all the older guys (Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee). Now a days, my era of hip-hop (90s/early00s) is considered the golden age. No doubt in another 20 years, this era will be considered the best.
Its recency bias. Once you get father away from that era, you acknowledge it less. It seems like 20ish years is the window.
fungiraffe@reddit
AC/DC already sounds cheesy TBH. I don't know anyone below the age of 40 that listens to them.
proscriptus@reddit
AC/DC to this day consistently holds several spots on the US Hard Rock streaming chart. Thunderstruck went back to number one earlier this year, and it's now number 10. You Shook Me All Night Long and Back in Black are also in the top 100 right now.
One of the biggest and most popular bands of all time in the US. Fucking legends mate
mst3k_42@reddit
Ha, I didn’t know they were Australian! I figured American or British.
Defiant_West6287@reddit
Honestly, how is that possible? One of the very biggest bands in history and you don’t have a clue about them? You should be embarrassed.
Americanski7@reddit
Ngl listen to their stuff somewhat frequently. Thought it was a U.S. band. Thats how engrained they are in the American psyche. Their music plays in every sports arena in America.
Defiant_West6287@reddit
They’re engrained in the whole planet’s psyche, and have been for decades. Wow.
mst3k_42@reddit
Not what I said. I’ve heard many of their songs a thousand times on the radio. I’ve just never bought their albums or seen them live or had any desire to read more about them. There’s plenty of artists that I know from the radio but don’t know more about them, don’t you?
Defiant_West6287@reddit
Not a band that’s as massive around the planet for decades as AC/DC, lol
Electronic-Ride-564@reddit
To be fair, Brian Johnson IS English
thorpie88@reddit
Most of them are English or Scottish originally. The young brothers were from Scotland and Bon was born in the UK.
NewbombTurk@reddit
They are considered one of the biggest rock bands of all time. The only bigger bands are the mega greats.
OddDragonfruit7993@reddit
Back in Black was my first concert EVER. And still one of the best I've seen. And I've seen a lot since then.
AC/DC has been huge in the US since the 70s. I nearly died the day I heard about Bon Scott passing away, because I never thought I'd get to see them. Then came Brian!
jaylotw@reddit
Anywhere in the country, if you turn the radio on you will hear AC/DC within ten minutes.
They are still to this day massively popular because they fuckin rock
malevolentheadturn@reddit
Mate, ACDC are one of the biggest bands in the world
1biggeek@reddit
I listened to the Back in Black cassette on my boom box nonstop in 1980.
CenterofChaos@reddit
When I was small I wanted to learn guitar. Once you finished the introductory portion you could select a song with the teachers blessing and learn to play it. Almost all the other kids picked ACDC songs, they had preprinted sheet music for all the ACDC songs because they were so popular.
I drove an old car with a tape deck and stole my dads ACDC tape. Listened to it until it wore out. He's still mad about it. They're very popular.
RedRatedRat@reddit
srsly?
scr33ner@reddit
Thunderstruck is used to introduce professional sports teams.
Thats_A_Paladin@reddit
They're a bar rock staple. If you're in a dive at 3pm I'd be shocked if you had to wait half an hour for an AC/DC song to come on.
Select-Belt-ou812@reddit
part of mainstream music here since the 1980s, mate...
my classmates in the mid 80s would draw AC/DC logos on desks alongside Van Halen
Def Leppard, Black Sabbath seemed actually less popular to me
thephoton@reddit
I was singing along about my big balls as a 2nd grader in the late 70's, thank you very much.
TruckADuck42@reddit
We've got the biggest, BALLS OF THEM ALL!
Kaurifish@reddit
Their most popular songs were mainstays of rock stations in Southern California back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
cruzweb@reddit
yeah man, massive. I don't think the average American is well tuned into their whole catalog like they may be with Pink Floyd, but just about everyone millenial age and older knows stuff like Back in Black, Hells Bells, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, etc. They're a mainstay on all classic rock stations in the US, many people know the name Angus Young, and seeing someone in an AC/DC t-shirt wouldn't at all be unusual.
TheLastRulerofMerv@reddit
Yeah man. They're huge. Everyone who is anyone knows AC/DC.
YoungKeys@reddit
Sort of. They’re considered old people music. Most under the age of 30 would have no idea who they are.
Bahnrokt-AK@reddit
The governor of Nevada has asked them to play at the Super Bowl this year in Las Vegas.
taz_78@reddit
Thunderstruck, Highway to Hell, and Dirty Deeds are staples at US sporting events. Hells Bells is played at any home game of a team with devil in their name.
GoblinKing79@reddit
I don't mean to be rude, but are you very young? Because they've been incredibly popular and legit iconic for like 50 years
Montooth@reddit
If you walk into a store here, there's a very solid chance that somewhere within that store, there's an AC/DC shirt for sale. Id say their popularity is arguably on the same level as Led Zeppelin.
BroughtBagLunchSmart@reddit
It has moved past music at this point. If I hear Thunderstruck I am more likely to think of a montage of scrappy high school sports team mounting a comeback against their bitter rivals rather than a rock song. Just like that Like a Rock Bob Segar song, I can't really imagine it as a regular song and not a truck commercial.
Ceorl_Lounge@reddit
They're the textbook of "ROCK" in the US.
Littleboypurple@reddit
I can safely say that AC/DC is probably one of the most recognized Rock Bands in the US. Back in Black was practically pissing money as it went 27x Platinum in the US, being beaten only by Michael Jackson's Thriller and The Eagles "Greatest Hits"
HowlinSkip@reddit
Yes. Definitely.
itsreallyalex@reddit
I would say they are huge worldwide. It's an iconic rock band.
mouse_Jupiter@reddit
I mean they’re so big you used to be able to buy an ACDC tshirt in a store like Walmart.
Cratertooth_27@reddit
*still huge here
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
In a way. My 18-21 year old boys couldn't point them out in a line up and would recognize a couple songs but not know they are AC/DC.
There were a few songs that really are a part of my youth.
Any_Stop_4401@reddit
Very popular, they generally still sell out shows here in the states. Highway to hell and Back on Black are in everyone who still collects physical media CD or vinyl collection.
defhermit@reddit
AC/DC is like a top 10 bands of-all-time level band.
annaoze94@reddit
You're absolutely massive and while there's bands like The Beatles and The rolling Stones which everyone knows are from the UK I feel like AC/DC being Australian is much less talked about. Cuz it's not like you can hear their accents in the songs or anything like that. And there's also not necessarily an Australian invasion like the British invasion of music.
Did you ever watch the Iron Man movies? Half the soundtrack of all three movies is AC/DC I think lol.
When people hear about alternating current and direct current I think they think about the band before they think about electricity. I know I do.
annaoze94@reddit
Ginormous they're absolutely massive. They're not The Beatles but they're up there with Led Zeppelin and Taylor Swift in popularity.
tommyjohnpauljones@reddit
You can turn on any classic rock (70s/80s) or hard rock station, and I 97% guarantee you will hear an AC/DC song within two hours.
Back in Black, Hells Bells, You Shook Me, Highway to Hell, Shoot to Thrill, Thunderstruck, Money Talks, Dirty Deeds, TNT, For Those About to Rock.... all in heavy rotation and have been for decades.
ESB1812@reddit
Nah we love em! I grew up with AC/DC, it was usually blaring loud at a bon fire. :) 80’s kid
Sidewalk_Tomato@reddit
Americans love AC/DC. They've had quite a few hits in the U.S.
Diana Bastet (a dancer from Ukraine) did wonderful work to "Thunderstruck". Very casually, too; black casual clothes. I can't find her version easily anymore, but here's a cool example of what she does. Small Kyiv club.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfhBX8hxCIU
mikutansan@reddit
Extremely. Not as much with the zoomers but I would say most blue collar people who like rock absolutely listen to AC/DC
Unusual_Form3267@reddit
TIL that ACDC is Australian.
Honestly, they came out 2 decades before I was born. It's not like they were on tv when I was growing up. I also wasn't such a big fan, so I never took the time to look them up. I just never realized they weren't American. They're huge here. They still come up on rock Playlists and on the radio. Teenagers wear tshirts with the logo. Those songs are classics. Most Americans would recognize the hits.
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
Any classic rock radio station or playlist will feature their hits. Most people who are over 40 (and many below) could recognize at least a few of their hits.
MyUsername2459@reddit
I'd say that younger generations would at least recognize some AC/DC stuff given it was pretty heavily used in MCU. Shoot to Thrill, Highway to Hell, Back In Black, and Hell's Bells have been used on screen in those movies, typically (but not always) whenever Tony Stark was around.. . .and the band itself was on Steve Rogers's "catch up" list of trying to catch up with modern times in Winter Soldier (at least some versions of it, they substituted in different lists for that shot in different markets, but many of them had that band on the list_.
TruckADuck42@reddit
They're still a high school football game standard, too.
WinterKnigget@reddit
The San Diego Chargers used to use Thunderstruck for an entrance, and the San Diego Padres used Hells Bells when they brought out Trevor Hoffman too. I'd say that pro sports teams using certain music exposes people to music they may not have listened to otherwise. Like, some of my new favorite music is/was used by WWE at some point
nwbrown@reddit
I'd say they are probably the equivalent to Chuck Berry in the 90s. We weren't going out and buying his records, but after 40 years he permeated popular culture enough that pretty much anyone would recognize his name and a song or two.
shelwood46@reddit
Their songs also get used a lot in soundtracks for movies/tv/etc which has kept them recognizable. (Personally,. I am more of a Paul Kelly fan.)
muggins66@reddit
AC/DC kicks ass! 🇺🇸 I’ve got big balls
rolyoh@reddit
Just reading your question made the opening guitar riff of Thunderstruck start playing in my mind. For reference, I'm 61, went thru High School in the 70s.
WinterKnigget@reddit
I (31f) grew up listening to them. In fact, I'd still consider them to be a top 3 favorite band, alongside Metallica and Iron Maiden. My dad is a huge fan of anything classic rock, and is a major afficionado, so my taste in music stems a lot from him. Like at my 8 or 9th birthday, I got a Jonas Brothers cd, like a ton of girls my age, but I also got "Back in Black".
It's funny, but there are 3 albums that I used to listen to in order to fall asleep. "Live at Donington", "High Voltage", and "Back in Black"
NotAtAllEverSure@reddit
AC/DC is a staple of American rock fans.
groyosnolo@reddit
I'm Canadian. They were my favourite band at one point when I was a kid. I've known lots of other people who like them.
spareribs78@reddit
Very popular
LadyFoxfire@reddit
They’re very popular, albeit mostly with middle age dads. But yeah, if you mentioned them to anyone over the age of about 30, they’d be able to name at least one song.
Icy-Student8443@reddit
i personally like ac/dc i’ve always have
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Nacho_eating_Zombie@reddit
Well seeing as it's considered a classic rock band and is constantly playing on my classic rock station in my state I would consider it pretty popular. Also, hello from the mitten state!
warrenjt@reddit
I had no idea until this moment that AC/DC is Australian.
Iron-Phoenix2307@reddit
TIL ACDC is Australian, but I'd say it's one of the more well known bands.
lizardmon@reddit
They are so popular I would wager a lot of Americans don't know they are Australian...
fiendishthingysaurus@reddit
This is the first I’m hearing it lol.
Helmidoric_of_York@reddit
They were extremely popular in the US in their heyday and are still a beloved classic rock band over here. They sold 83 million albums in the US alone.
PiermontVillage@reddit
At least they had a sense of humor. I always appreciated that about them.
Mysterious-Vast-2133@reddit
Popular enough to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
TurboNinja2380@reddit
They're really big here. Only other Australian band that comes anywhere close in popularity is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Gwsb1@reddit
Huge
manamara1@reddit
Thunder thighs.
yabbobay@reddit
I'm not even a big fan, but I was waiting at the barber for my kids and they had the best ACDC CD on. Every single song I sand along to.
DuckFanSouth@reddit
I went to an AC/DC cover band concert this year. One of my favorite bands growing up.
DangerDugong1@reddit
They are played, sampled and referenced so often that they are practically part of the atmosphere here.
mr_green1216@reddit
Lol you heard wrong. ACDC, Metallica and Nirvana are probably the most played bands on all our rock stations
TheOneWes@reddit
Look at the sales and engagement that AC/DC has gotten and still somewhat continues to this day.
Australia doesn't have enough people for that many sales and that level of engagement. It is because AC/DC became popular in America during their heyday that the band was so successful because America is the only country that has embraced that type of music that has the population to push those kinds of sales.
There's a reason why British boy bands used to come over to America when they hit a certain level of popularity.
Blathithor@reddit
Dude, they're huge here. It'd acdc lol
l3onkerz@reddit
Yep! My first concert ever was an AC/DC concert and I got hearing damage!
theoriginalcafl@reddit
I thought they were American 😂
CaptainPunisher@reddit
You mean they aren't from Arkansas?
Afromolukker_98@reddit
Exactly 😂😂
juggdish@reddit
Yeah, TIL
Raving_Lunatic69@reddit
Of course, they're God's gift to ballroom notoriety
ElectricTomatoMan@reddit
The event is never small
distrucktocon@reddit
And they’re always bouncing and always full of life.
CaptainPunisher@reddit
My balls are always bouncing to the left and to the right.
flashyzipp@reddit
lol we love them here!
RedLegGI@reddit
They’re well known and a lot of their music is women into the fabric of America
WarrenMulaney@reddit
I can tell you I was in jr high when “Back in Black” came out. It seemed like every kid (or at least white kid) had that album. Stoners, skaters, jocks, nerds…you name it.
3mptyspaces@reddit
My first big concert, age 16 seeing them on the Razor’s Edge tour, 1991.
I loved them from age 8 or so, when I got my hands on the Dirty Deeds tape. That rabbit hole went from Highway to Hell to Back in Black and eventually to the Bonfire box set, which came with an AC/DC keychain I managed to use for 20 years.
Now at almost 50, I just installed a filtertron bridge pickup into one of my guitars so I can chase Malcolm Young’s god-like guitar tone. Big fan. I think most of the lyrics are infantile, but just listening to those brothers work together on guitar makes me a happy person.
No_Bad2428@reddit
I also saw Razors Edge at age 16. Binghamton, NY. Faster Pussycat opened if memory serves.
I remember "For those about to rock" with the cannons like it was yesterday. Epic.
3mptyspaces@reddit
LA Guns opened on my leg. And yeah, the cannons. The bell. The Rosie doll. The inflatable devil. Angus bucks raining from the sky during Moneytalks. I’ll never forget it! Everyone on stage is 5 feet tall but sound absolutely huge. Glad you got to seem them on that tour, they were killing it.
blueponies1@reddit
ACDC is massive in the US. Especially back in their prime, but their music has been used extensively on the radio, in movies, on YouTube, in commercials. Even the youngest of folks with no interest in rock have definitely heard and can probably sing along with a few songs. Thunderstruck is a popular drinking game among college aged kids, where you drink every time Thunder is mentioned.
beachmasterbogeynut@reddit
AC/DC is a religion to a lot of people in the U.S. I know you said America, but that's all I can say.
HavBoWilTrvl@reddit
I will never not laugh at Big Balls.
NorthernUnIt@reddit
They are a legendary band, everywhere.... it's a troll, right?
Didgeridewd@reddit
Very very popular. Though most americans probably would assume theyre british lol
Sad-Corner-9972@reddit
When my college football team takes their field, over 65k Iowa Hawkeyes get loud.
lupuscapabilis@reddit
Extremely. Even the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' big routine is to Thunderstruck.
1MorningLightMTN@reddit
My 6 year old loves ACDC. I'm partial to bluegrass but I spawned a figgin war horse.
hatchjon12@reddit
Very popular.
Sad-Corner-9972@reddit
They rule. I was in high school when *Back in Black” dropped and it changed the trajectory of rock. The secret? Americans love it when the 12 bar Delta blues is set to a thundering beat and packaged as “cock rock.”
Shoottheradio@reddit
AC/DC is probably bigger here in the US than they are in Australia to be honest.
HidaTetsuko@reddit
You don’t even call them by their nickname
Blubbernuts_@reddit
acca dacca
thorpie88@reddit
I dunno, Bon Scott is still a cultural icon here. He was basically the prototype Bogan.
uhbkodazbg@reddit
You can play the opening riff of You Shook Me All Night Long in a lot of different settings and get a pretty positive reaction from a crowd.
Only_Jury_8448@reddit
Acca Dacca? Yeah, almost as big as INXS, approaching Midnight Oil status, really
Blubbernuts_@reddit
That's fucked up lol. Although I did own a (the?) Midnight Oil tape. Diesel and dust? I can't remember.
Comfortable-Owl-5929@reddit
As popular as in AU
LukasJackson67@reddit
100%. We love them. Every pro football team plays “thunderstruck”
boochie420@reddit
I went to see them twice in my youth, that were awesome. They could definitely still sell out shows here.
Welpe@reddit
Back in Black has to be in competition for most distinctive opening of all time. Everyone instantly knows what it is.
To be honest, I never even knew AC/DC was Australian. That’s how iconic they are. They aren’t my type of music at all either, but they are so iconic that you can’t NOT know of them through sheer cultural osmosis.
ritpdx@reddit
AC/DC rules. Back in Black is one of the best albums of the 20th century.
Source: my opinion as a citizen of the US of A.
Theironyuppie1@reddit
Fucking huge. So huge most Americans don’t even know they are Australian. American as apple pie/pizza/hot dogs/hamburgers/beer/sushi.
We did fix pizza or at least NYC did.
Thanks for AC/DC. You Australians are everywhere we wish Canadians were. Canadians are always messing up our fun. Well Rush is pretty cool. But Bryan Adams can go fuck himself.
FlyByPC@reddit
I'm not really a rock music fan, but even I know they're famous.
TIL they're Australian. Cool.
D3moknight@reddit
ACDC is huge in the States. I have been to see them.
No_Entertainment1931@reddit
You’ll hear ac/dc every single day if you put on any classic rock radio station no matter where you are
Blubbernuts_@reddit
Very. Go to any football(American football) game at any level from peewees to NFL and you will hear ACDC. TNT and Thunderstruck mostly at sporting events. I like 74 Jailbreak.
mzweffie@reddit
Pretty darn popular
PMMeYourPupper@reddit
As an American AC/DC has me Thunderstruck
Phantomtastic@reddit
AC/DC is quite popular but ACxDC is much less popular. Both should be given a listen.
rudiegonewild@reddit
Numerous professional sports teams use thunderstruck and hells bells in their arena. Every bar juke box has a large selection of ACDC and Big Balls is always fun to put on
MiketheTzar@reddit
Popular might not be there right word, but they are such a fixture of culture that most people would recognize them and would pay to see them tour.
I doubt you'll find anyone under the age of 40 who can pick out their best songs and albums, but if you put a greatest hits compilation CD at a social event you'd get a lot of people jamming along.
RickMoneyRS@reddit
I'm literally wearing an AC/DC shirt as we speak lol.
But yeah they are pretty universally held as one of the all time great rock bands. They have some haters same as anyone, but everyone with even a passing interest in rock music is at least somewhat familiar with them.
cdsbigsby@reddit
One of the most popular rock bands of that era. Definitive dad rock.
DirtyMarTeeny@reddit
It's even considered dad rock for this next generation of dads. I can't tell you how many AC/DC toddler clothes I have seen
Unlucky_Amphibian_59@reddit
Big fan. Loved seeing them live.
Comfortable-Dish1236@reddit
Maybe not as much now, but they were huge. Back In Black is one of the best-selling LP’s of all time.
BigPapaJava@reddit
They have been huge in America since the Bon Scott days.
Back in Black was one of the best selling albums in U.S. history and is a classic.
i feel like roughly 10% of every classic rock radio station playlist, or about as much as Led Zeppelin and Lynard Skynard:
How popular is Skynard in Australia.
LeResist@reddit
I think it depends on the demographic tbh. Rap and RnB is really common with young people nowadays. In general as music ages, so does its fans. As a Black person, I don't know any Black person that's an ACDC fan but I'm sure there's probably some out there
LobsterNo3435@reddit
Every sport event plays them.
23onAugust12th@reddit
Huge for early Millennials, Gen X and older. My dad is obsessed with AC/DC.
Cratertooth_27@reddit
AC/DC has a couple songs that are popular outside of their genre. Like you shook me all night long is common at clubs and weddings
tn00bz@reddit
Boomers go absolutely insane for AC/DC.
Avasia1717@reddit
i’ve never purposefully sought out AC/DC songs to listen to but i still recognize their hits, i know who they are by seeing them, i know angus young’s name, i get jokes and memes when i see them, and so on. they were and still are one of the most well known hard rock bands the late 70s and 80s. you can still get AC/DC merch at many stores.
Remote_Leadership_53@reddit
My favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox, plays Thunderstruck in the stadium before every home game and you will hear it in the tailgates outside every time
saydaddy91@reddit
Ask any American who the greatest classic rock bands are family feud style and I would bet that AC/DC makes that list
silversurfer275@reddit
If there is a country that doesn't love AC/DC, I need to know so that I can never visit.
Celticssuperfan885@reddit
Very popular
sneeds_feednseed@reddit
They’re not as popular these days but almost everyone knows them. My grandmother had some of their songs on cassette and we would jam out to them when I was little
Loverboy-W4TW@reddit
They’re the most well known Australian musicians in America by far.
a3r0d7n4m1k@reddit
Big enough that I didn't realize they were Aussies till I got down there.
HidaTetsuko@reddit
Love me some Accadacca
realvctmsdntdrnkmlk@reddit
Lollol. Omg. Back in my stripper days, I danced to SO MUCH AC/DC. My dad wore AC/DC shirts/hats until the year he died. That they were Australian was a fascination to him, because he was sorta “rural” if you get my meaning.
I miss him, bad. I wonder if he ever listened to Billy Thorpe or Sixto Rodriguez (I know Rodriguez is American, but he was more famous in Australia).
To my fellow Americans unfamiliar with Billy Thorpe..enjoy!
And here’s some Rodriguez
But to answer your question like so many others already have; Yes. AC/DC is fucking HUGE here.
Cosmic-Ape-808@reddit
I prefer Bon Scott to Brian Johnson. He had such a unique voice
Lady_Alisandre1066@reddit
Grew up listening to them. At her request, we played Highway to Hell at my mom’s funeral in 2022.
Lamaberto@reddit
ACDC is so popular worldwide that I didn't even know they were Australian.
_TheRealKennyD@reddit
They're probably my dad's favorite band (he was born in 1962), and I've seen them in concert 3 times. If they go on tour again, they will sell every ticket.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
Theyre iconic for classic rock, to the point where I almost forget theyre Australian
erandod@reddit
I’m a Canadian in my late 40s. Went to high school in the 90s. AC/DC was huge then… up there with Metallica and guns and roses. Shook me all night long was played at every school dance, sometimes more than once.
martlet1@reddit
AC/DC is one of the biggest bands ever in American history.
Story time. I got stuck in Memphis one night and there was a AC/DC concert , a rodeo , and a young black women’s business conference.
After the concert we went to Beale street and it was chaos. AC/DC fans making out with cowboys and these women all dressed up for their meeting. About 4 am an older cowboy was making out with some chick in an AC/DC shirt and was getting a lap dance from a woman in a business suit. It was crazy
Delicious-Badger-906@reddit
Psh. Next thing we know, you're going to start claiming Keith Urban as your own. Nice try, we won't allow it. /s
nash3101@reddit
I just assumed they were American
MetroBS@reddit
So popular that I’d venture to guess most people don’t know they’re Australian
JessicaGriffin@reddit
As others have said, they’re huge here.
Other Australian bands/musicans who I (49f, American) have heard of: * Midnight Oil * INXS * Crowded House * Nick Cave * Bee Gees * Empire of the Sun * Savage Garden * Sia * Olivia Newton John * Keith Urban (does he count? I think he was born in NZ…) * Kylie Minogue * Air Supply * Silverchair * Divinyls
I also saw Russell Crowe’s band play once when I was a music journalist in the 90s/2000s. They were awful, maybe b/c they were dead drunk or maybe just b/c they’re awful? The opening act was an indigenous man who danced to traditional music, though, so that was cool.
ThaDoctor49@reddit
AC/DC is played at least once at just about every single sporting event in the US
geoff1036@reddit
I'd almost posit that the U.S. are bigger fans than Aussies. Genuinely. AC/DC is standard approved music for stores, restaurants, etc. Everyone knows the hits. EVERYONE. If you grew up here you'd think they're American.
DependentSun2683@reddit
I remember my Uncle having posters on the wall when i was a kid. Acdc is legend status here.
DependentSun2683@reddit
I remember my Uncle having posters on the wall when i was a kid. Acdc is legend status here.
looney1023@reddit
Actually, they're so popular I genuinely forget that they're Australian. They just fit into the "American rock and roll" fabric so well
looney1023@reddit
They're very popular. Back in Black is something I hear in commercials, sporting events, and on the radio. Hells Bells, Dirty Deeds, Highway to Hell, You Shook Me..., For those about to rock, Thunderstruck, and even Big Balls (occasionally) are all radio staples
WS-Gilbert@reddit
My university’s football team has been coming out to Back in Black every game for 20 years, and I hope they never change it
Fluffy-Opinion871@reddit
ACDC, one of the best concert experiences I’ve had.
nwbrown@reddit
They are big. Easily recognizable. Rock isn't as popular as it used to be in general, but songs like Thunderstruck and Back in Black are standard fare in sporting arenas and movie soundtracks.
NetDork@reddit
I've always liked AC/DC. And recently I discovered Airborne, who sound a bit like AC/DC. I was not surprised when I looked them up and discovered they're from Australia.
CVK327@reddit
They're huge. They were absolutely massive. I'm not-so-patiently waiting for this tour announcement.
burnsbabe@reddit
They've used seemingly half of the AC/DC catalog in various Marvel movies, for Iron Man appearances, and such. They're about as big as it gets for classic rock.
thestereo300@reddit
Like a top 3 metal band from the 80s? One of the biggest. Up there with Guns N’ Roses and Def Leppard.
wammi_K@reddit
metal?
TheyMakeMeWearPants@reddit
The definition of "metal" has morphed over time. In the 80s, AC/DC definitely qualified, even though they wouldn't come close to being described as "metal" today.
wammi_K@reddit
how familiar are you with 80’s metal? you’re telling me that acdc was regarded in a similar vein to bands like napalm death or obituary?
TheyMakeMeWearPants@reddit
No, I don't think anyone would confuse Napalm Death with AC/DC. But metal at the time was an enormously broad genre with lots of subgenres. I remember bands like Poison and Bon Jovi being called metal then.
Zappavishnu@reddit
They were the world's last great rock and roll band.
ThinWhiteRogue@reddit
They were wildly popular in their day. We all know AC/DC.
wickedrach@reddit
Thunderstruck is my cooking hype song
ItsRainingFrogsAmen@reddit
A popular US craft store sells AC/DC-print fleece for making throw blankets. They're about as popular as a classic rock band can be.
AllAreStarStuff@reddit
My processional for my wedding was You Shook Me All Night Long, if that answers your question 😄.
I made it a medley. Opened with At Last by Etta James, then the AC/DC, then Gimme All Your Lovin’ by ZZ Top
TheRtHonLaqueesha@reddit
They're pretty well-known among older dudes.
HotButteredPoptart@reddit
I personally hate ACDC. They are still quite popular.
BrackenFernAnja@reddit
I was today years old when I learned that AC/DC were Australian. I used to listen to their music a lot, 30 years ago.
HFCloudBreaker@reddit
Spent the past week blasting ACDC to and from work (Canada)
1979tlaw@reddit
Extremely. As far as classic rock goes they are pretty much a standard. First concert I saw and I’m more of a country guy than classic rock. But you can’t pass up a chance to see them.
I listened to them so much my son when he was about 4 said “I want to hear the fast machine song.” Took me a while to figure out he meant shook me all night long.
drumsdm@reddit
As an American, I’ve know of AC/DC since I was a little kid, their music was everywhere. As a professional musician, I still cover their songs regularly. So to answer your question, yes they are very popular here.
DingBat99999@reddit
Canadian here.
When I was living in Toronto and we went through our SARS scare, it was AC/DC and the Stones that headlined the big Toronto Rocks concert.
If they announced a tour in Canada, it would be completely sold out in minutes.
My wife is in a rock choir and they just did Back In Black, for god's sake.
AC/DC is huge in North America.
down42roads@reddit
Thunderstruck has destroyed generations of livers
PerfectlyCalmDude@reddit
They're on every jukebox I've seen that has decent material. They're in regular rotation on the stations that play classic rock.
ScatterTheReeds@reddit
They were very popular back in the day, I wanna say 1970s-1980s.
yourmomwasmyfirst@reddit
Huge - everybody knows some of their songs even if they don't listen to that kind of music. Most of us don't even know they're Australian, we just assume they're an iconic American band.
grawmpy@reddit
They were one of the first bands I bought the cassette for back in the eighties. Their Back in Black album. They are my favorite of all bands.
MeJerry@reddit
TIL that AC/DC is an Australian band. Always assumed they were from the US.
WhiteMike2016@reddit
My favorite US college team, the Marshall University Thundering Herd, uses Thunderstruck as its unofficial anthem. Here's a cool video they did last year Go Herd
Our conference fined us for this, but it was an awesome drone shot.
Roboticpoultry@reddit
They’ve been huge for as long as I’ve been alive. My parents also live relatively close to Brian in Sarasota
Wallawalla1522@reddit
They are ubiquitous
smokervoice@reddit
Ever since they sang about "American Thighs" they became huge here.
NamingandEatingPets@reddit
Huge! What’s more surprising to learn is that most Americans? Don’t know anything about Tina Turner’s “Nutbush city” and how huge it is in Australia. In fact, I lived in Australia for six months and didn’t hear it once.
shibby3388@reddit
They’re not popular because it’s dinosaur rock. Older white dudes of a certain in America will most definitely know AC/DC. But anyone who doesn’t listen to classic rock stations probably isn’t really aware of them.
poopypantsmcg@reddit
ACDC is one of the best selling bands of all time of course they're well known
TerribleAttitude@reddit
Extremely. Knowledge of and favorable opinions of AC/DC are basically default, similar to The Beatles or Queen.
In particular, sports teams from elementary schools through the pros use their songs all the time.
letoiledunordstars@reddit
TIL ACDC are Australian
Snoo_33033@reddit
I don't know any, like, serious ACDC fans, but they're a staple of classic rock radio. Wildly popular.
Sufficient__Size@reddit
Growing up if you went to any youth hockey tournament or professional hockey game you would always hear AC/DC at least a few times
No_Dependent_8346@reddit
My soundtrack in the 80s was very heavy AC/Dc in rotation
Tennesseediesel@reddit
When I was in high school there was a grown man blaring AC/DC in a Taco Bell parking lot and he said, “If you don’t like AC/DC then you ain’t even American!”
Always thought that was funny seeing how AC/DC isn’t even from The United States lol.
macacolouco@reddit
ACDC is very much a worldwide phenomenon my friend.
TheBimpo@reddit
Live at River Plate may be the best concert film of all time. It's from 2009, nearly 30 years past their biggest album being released.
Look at the freaking crowd.
bfwolf1@reddit
That’s awesome
ZoomToastem@reddit
For those of us who like to rock in the US, we salute you!
Ireallydfk@reddit
Veryy big in Canada as well
lavasca@reddit
They’ve been huge in the US for a half century. They are as epic as KISS and the path of the Rolling Stones.
spilledbeans44@reddit
They are so huge I’m pretty sure everyone assumes they are an American band lol
AshTheGoddamnRobot@reddit
Pretty popular. A lot of ppl dont even realise they are Australian since they are so ubiquitous in US pop culture. Considered one the most iconic rock and roll bands
hwc@reddit
They were much more popular 30 years ago.
Stankthetank66@reddit
Holy shit just learned AC/DC is Australian. Totally thought they were British all this time.
benny86@reddit
When I was a kid in the 80s it seemed like Back in Black was standard issue for rock fans. Everybody I knew owned that album. They were huge.
ItJustDoesntMatter01@reddit
Thunderstruck is a staple at all sporting events
deebville86ed@reddit
They're popular amongst Gen X and earlier, and some millennials. I have never been a fan, though. Like if they come in rotation on a shuffle, I skip them every time
Pinwurm@reddit
They are one the biggest bands in rock music of all time. They never lost popularity with their core demographic. I'm 36, I had a little AC/DC phase in High School.
Although they're way less popular with younger generations, you still hear their music in TV, movies, commercials, etc. People know the songs, the music is baked into the culture. Maybe as much as the Bee-Gees, except you don't hear AC/DC played at Weddings as much.
For Australian bands, King Gizzard is pretty huge here right now.
thephoton@reddit
It just depends whose weddings you go to.
Down_To_My_Last_Fuck@reddit
We hate em, have hated em the whole time, dirty little boys grew up into dirty little men..
/s
SamDiep@reddit
Very popular from the 70's - 90's and moderately popular today. Last year at my county fair, I was walking behind an eight year old kid who was singing "its a long way to the top",
JeromeWeinbergg@reddit
They are the intro music for football teams in the States. They are a staple of “classic rock” radio
MoonieNine@reddit
I saw an 8 year old wearing an ACDC shirt last week. Cool as hell. The kid may not be familiar with the band, but his parents sure were.
Bayonettea@reddit
They're pretty popular
They're what made me want to learn to play guitar in the first place, and they're still one of my top 5 bands of all time
AndromedaGreen@reddit
I used to be an intern for the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL team), they would play Hell’s Bells at the beginning of the third period at every game.
Icy-Ad-7767@reddit
Called the thunder from down under and yes massive band
Vt420KeyboardError4@reddit
ACDC is generally the first band that comes to mind when somebody says "rock band."
DrGerbal@reddit
Massive, you got a movie you wanna hype up, maybe a show. Hell bumpers for football ads. Even at football games. Out on thunder struck, or for those about to Rock. For sure hella bells. It’s a hit
Kellosian@reddit
I'm pretty sure it's an FCC requirement that every classic rock station play at least 1 AC/DC song once an hour
bloopidupe@reddit
I didn't know they were Australian until this post.
Also they are one of the biggest rock groups ever.
I don't listen to rock music and I know at least a few of their popular songs.
docmoonlight@reddit
They’re so huge, I completely forget they’re Australian!
Pan_Fried_Okra@reddit
AC/DC is one of the biggest bands of all time in America. I run rock radio stations for a living and AC/DC is in the top 10 bands played on each of them.
dirkdevlan@reddit
I would say on any given night at the bar, AC/DC will be played at least once in a persons time there.
prettyjupiter@reddit
Everyone knows of them I would say
rotbark@reddit
how popular is AC/DC? Yes.
FeelTheWrath79@reddit
I LOVE THEM. My favorite song of theirs used to be Back In Black, but I think it is now Thunderstruck. I haven't really listened to their newer albums much. Maybe I should. I bought ballbreaker when it came out in the 90s and love almost every song on it.
MattieShoes@reddit
Huge. I mean, as far as bands from decades ago go, huge.
You Shook Me All Night Long is probably best known, but there's a bunch -- TNT, Dirty Deeds, Big Balls, Thunderstruck, Hells Bells, Back in Black, etc.
zugabdu@reddit
AC/DC is huge here. My dad loves them. I suspect a lot of Americans probably think they're British rather than Australian though!
infinitetbr@reddit
My 75 year old father and my 5 year old son knows AC/DC music, so yeah.... They're big here.
DonChino17@reddit
Dude they’re fuckin huge here. And I personally think they kick ass. I didn’t even know they were Australian as a kid since they were everywhere here
BackUpTerry1@reddit
For a long time I foolishly didn't even know they were aussie...they are hugely popular to say the least.
Deathcapsforcuties@reddit
Oh that are beloved here I’d say. In my experience, AC/DC music is used for getting people pumped up with energy for like a sporting event. Hell, they play them in my HIIT class occasionally.
RoyalInsurance594@reddit
FUCK YES.
Ok_Gas5386@reddit
Yes people know about them.
Question to your question, do you play the Thunderstruck drinking game in Australia? The one where you stand in a circle while the song is playing and take turns chugging beer based on when he says “Thunder”? I once drank 5 natty lights in between 1:52 and 2:42 in college
JBNothingWrong@reddit
As long as civilization persists in English speaking areas of the world, then AC/DC will be played at every sporting event for centuries to come. They are Stadium or Arena Rock manifest.
_haha_oh_wow_@reddit
Not as popular as they were in the 80s/90s, but still pretty popular.
distrucktocon@reddit
They’re literally one of the biggest names in Rock & Roll and have been for 40 years at least.
TillPsychological351@reddit
I knew who they were long before I realized they were Australian.
SnapHackelPop@reddit
Pretty much the gold standard for no frills hard rock. It ain’t for everyone. They’re my dad’s favorite band, it was my first big concert in 2010. They fucking killed
FreeTuckerCase@reddit
They took rock-n-roll right where it needed to go - NOWHERE
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
Extremely! Years and years ago the music video channel Vh-1 did 'Top 100 hard bands ever', and AC/DC cracked the top 5.
TurdFurgoson@reddit
They were definitely one of the bigger bands in the 80's. They still kinda are I guess. If I turn on my local rock station, there's a good chance that "Highway to Hell" or "Back in Black" will be played within the hour.
FreeTuckerCase@reddit
Thunderstruck was released in 1991, and I saw them in concert in '96. They were still pretty huge in the 90's.
FreeTuckerCase@reddit
I saw the Ballbreaker tour in '96 while I was in college at the University of Oregon. Drove from Eugene up to Portland in historic flooding, with local DJ's, knowing our plight, played Highway to Hell every five minutes.
Concert was packed, we had nose-bleed seats - it was the best show I'd ever been to (much better than U2 or Page-n-Plant). They opened with Back in Black.
They were huge in the 90's, still pretty big now.
GumboDiplomacy@reddit
They've won multiple Grammys, been nominated for a couple of American Music Awards, and have had four albums reach the Billboard Top 10.
UsualSuspect27@reddit
They were a very popular band but they’re also old and their fans are old. They’re not popular with young Americans
Admirable-Media-9339@reddit
Incredibly popular and one of the most successful rock bands of all time both in the US and worldwide. They still regularly sell out stadiums and will do so until whenever they stop. Australia definitely is not the only place where they're popular.
devnullopinions@reddit
They were pretty big when I was growing up in the 90s. Back in Black is probably one of the CDs I’ve played the most.
mkshane@reddit
I think a vast, vast majority of rock/metal fans in America consider them to be an absolute staple.
WingedLady@reddit
Heck when I was in college we had a drinking game around Thunderstruck because it got played so often at parties.
Hugely popular.
limbodog@reddit
Wildly popular. If you've got blue collar workers age 40+, they know AC/DC like they're old friends. When I was growing up, I was in an AC/DC cover band because one of my friends was just obsessed, bought a clone of Angus' guitar and school uniform (though he's 6'1" so it's a bit weird looking)
Taffr19@reddit
They were big up until 10 years ago. I hardly hear any of their songs playing on the radio. I think Iron Man was the last movie that played their songs in it.
Kestrel_Iolani@reddit
So, funny side story: after we got married, my initials and my wife's initials made AC/DC. My wedding gift from her was an AC/DC hoodie that I still wear regularly. Every single time I wear that in public, I have someone comment enthusiastically about the band.
Tacoshortage@reddit
I'm wearing an AC/DC t-shirt right now at work (under my scrubs).
OptimalButterfly4650@reddit (OP)
ok icl thats pretty cool
FlamingBagOfPoop@reddit
Back In Black and Thunderstruck still get played in stadiums all the time. And one of the bars I went to I. College, (over 25yrs ago) still plays Thunderstruck at midnight and the bartenders pour out free shots from the bottles. Usually something like Jager🤮🤢
Total_Math_752@reddit
Oh it’s one of my favorite bands and if you are over the age of 10 you heard many songs from them. They are considered classics for us Americans.
Danibear285@reddit
lol what. Back in Black is probably overplayed in this country at this point.
Love some ACDC
Dark_Tora9009@reddit
I mean, they were big in their heyday and have remained fairly big among rock fans but I get the vibe that younger generations are less and less into that sort of music. Shirts with their logo on it are sort of trendy, but it’s more like how Ramones shirts were a fashion statement a decade or so ago, and Nirvana and Sublime after that, the people wearing the shirts usually know nothing about the band.
ElectricTomatoMan@reddit
Extremely. They've sold 83 million records in the US. They're in my personal top 3 favorite bands. Back in Black and Powerage in particular are album perfection.
Redbubble89@reddit
I thought they were English. They came over in the 80s with Def Leopard and Black Sabbath that I don't think many knew they were Australian.
They are moderately known and could still fill arenas with older crowds.
MrLongWalk@reddit
Extremely popular, considered one of the all time greatest rock bands. Most Americans know at least a few of their songs.
dangleicious13@reddit
They are/were pretty damn big. Saw them play in an almost sold out State Farm Arena in Atlanta about 14 years ago. These days, I'd much rather see someone like Amyl and the Sniffers.
Loud_Insect_7119@reddit
It's very much not my style of music, but I'm still very familiar with them.
I actually sort of assumed they were American, tbh, lol. I've never heard them speak, and I can't tell the difference between Aussie and US accents in song.
timothythefirst@reddit
We used to do thunderchugs in college where we’d put thunderstruck on and start/stop chugging every time they said thunderstruck lol
Basementsnake@reddit
Very popular, right up there with bands like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Rush. They’re a staple of rock radio and are extremely well known.
GameTourist@reddit
I would say they are absolutely huge here amongst rock fans, especially for hard rock & heavy metal fans... like legendary status. They got a lot of radio play down here from the 80s through the 2000s. I remember getting tired of hearing "who made who" and "thunderstruck" all the damn time on the radio.
I still love them today and they are one of my go-tos when I need to get pumped up for a workout.
mdavis360@reddit
Everyone loves them. I got my teenager into them and now she wants to see them in concert.
SGDFish@reddit
They were on one of my favorite pairs of boxers growing up.
I don't just let any scrub band grace these loins
ProfessionalAir445@reddit
I had to learn Back in Black as one of my first songs when I started drum lessons recently.
ProfessionalAir445@reddit
Also prior to this I had never purposely listened to them and could still tell you there’s a guy named Angus who wears shorts.
Ineffable7980x@reddit
Their success in the US peaked in the 80s, but they are still quite popular. I think Back in Black is among the best selling albums of all time in the US.
Mesoscale92@reddit
I had no idea they were Australian. They’ve been a household name in the US for so many decades I always assumed they were from here.
Dio_Yuji@reddit
Staples on every classic rock radio station. Classic rock cover bands play lots of ACDC songs. Thunderstruck is a favorite for arena shows - sports, monster trucks, etc.
SKULLDIVERGURL@reddit
Massive. They still get played regularly at US sporting events between plays. Intro to Hells Bells & Thunderstruck most commonly. A staple of Classic rock in America.
rileyoneill@reddit
Huge in the 70s and 80s and then carried a lot of momentum. Silver Chair was also a bit popular in the 90s. Powderfinger, who I consider the greatest Australian band of all time, had a few commercial releases but never took off and never really had radio airtime. 20 years ago I saw them play in a small (but famous) LA club and it was the greatest concert ever.
GreenStrong@reddit
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is pretty well known today.
r/KGALTW
Ok_Needleworker4388@reddit
I think everybody knows Back In Black and Thunderstruck at least. They're one of the most well-known bands I can think of.
HoyAIAG@reddit
My 8 year old LOVES AC/DC
SocksJockey@reddit
Huge classic band! Love 'em!
beeredditor@reddit
They were huge in the 80s and niche since then.
brian11e3@reddit
Not only are they super popular in the US, but we even used them as entire soundtracks to movies like Maximum Overdrive.
Vexonte@reddit
They are a household name it is a joke how thunderstruck is the most expensive song to license.
Nice-Stuff-5711@reddit
You mean THE WORLD!!! Huge!!!
DaddyyBlue@reddit
Pretty much everybody is familiar with Thunderstruck and You Shook Me All Night Long. They’re staples of stadiums and classic rock radio.
scruffye@reddit
Anyone in the US who's a fan of rock/metal of that era is probably their fan so I'd say they're definitely popular even today.
ibejeph@reddit
During the Logan vs Tyson fight, which took place in very patriotic Texas, they played ACDC as the opening song.
That should tell you how we feel about them.
Rhombus_McDongle@reddit
I can't talk for younger generations but I'm in my 40's and they are super popular, even non fans are familiar with their songs from commercials, films, etc.
Evening-Caramel-6093@reddit
Very popular, I’ve listened to their music tons over the years. We actually had a classic rock cover band and we played a bunch of their songs at bars during my earlier years. Also played a bunch of other artists.
moonwillow60606@reddit
Really really big here. At least they were when I was a teenager.
1174239@reddit
They're still very well-known here. In their heyday they were absolutely massive here in America. Rock music isn't as popular with younger folks as it used to be, but lots of older folks still love them. Rock does still, of course, have a somewhat niche following with the younger generations; if AC/DC went on tour in the States again, the crowd would skew older but there would still be some younger folks there.
I'm in my mid-30s and would count myself an AC/DC fan though I don't listen to them super-regularly.
TsundereLoliDragon@reddit
Really? They were about as big as any other American rock band in the 80s. Back in Black and For Those About to Rock were huge. They have 10-20 songs that are rock standards here.
From wiki
KometaCode@reddit
Everyone has already said it but they’re massive here. I knew a lot of people that would have garages behind their house and they would always blast “dad rock” and AC/DC is the quintessential band for those types of playlists. I love AC/DC
Arleare13@reddit
Definitely one of the more well-known rock bands from that era.
CPolland12@reddit
They were massive in the 70s, and subsequently are still well known. Their songs are used in all sorts of manner (sporting events, movies, cover bands etc)