High Voltage

Book excerpt: Angus Young, the co-founder and the last surviving original member of AC/DC, has for more than 40 years been the face, sound and sometimes the exposed backside of the trailblazing rock band. In his trademark schoolboy outfit, guitar in hand, Angus has given his signature sound to songs such as ‘A Long Way to the Top’, ‘Highway to Hell’ and ‘Back in Black’, helping AC/DC become the biggest rock band on the planet. High Voltage is the first biography to focus exclusively on Angus. It tells of his remarkable rise from working-class Glasgow and Sydney to the biggest stages in the world. The youngest of eight kids, Angus always seemed destined for a life in music, and it was his passion and determination that saw AC/DC become hard rock’s greatest act. Over the years, Angus has endured the devastating death of iconic vocalist Bon Scott, the forced retirement of his brother in arms, Malcolm Young, and more recently the loss from the band of singer Brian Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd. Yet somehow the little guitar maestro has kept AC/DC not just on the rails, but at the top of the rock pile. ‘High Voltage is a great read, easy to whip through and take in, but it doesn’t leave you feeling short-changed, it simply opens your thoughts up to: what if there were more?’ —Shane Murphy, Daily Review ‘Apter’s lively and highly readable biography . . . is an inspiring story. Angus was the son of Scottish migrants, brother of one of the Easybeats, who gave up a printing apprenticeship to pursue his dream of being a rock star.’ —Daily Telegraph ‘A GRIPPING new book about AC/DC schoolboy guitarist Angus Young charts the carnage around the supergroup from wild groupies, violent fist-fights, tragic fans’ deaths – and even being linked to a serial killer.’ —Scottish Sun