Original lead singer Bon Scott pioneered the raunchy, high-pitched style that Johnson later perfected; he died shortly after AC/DC's belated American breakthrough, Highway to Hell. 

 "You Shook Me All Night Long" epitomizes AC/DC's streamlined attack: a ringing, near-melodic chorus is welded to a granite-shattering beat. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," insists another title. 

 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap compiles the best of Bon ScottÐera AC/DC; the title cut is a trashy, irresistible revenge fantasy. 

 For Those About to Rock almost measures up to the heft of Back in Black, but successive albums quickly become rote.  

 AC/DC's macho posturing is unspeakably dull when it's not supported by killer hooks. 

 A quickie soundtrack album, Who Made Who works as an effective introduction to the group. 

 AC/DC returns to business as usual with Blow Up Your Video, where even the hottest riffs ("Heatseeker") don't seem to detonate with the same gratifying crunch.  

 After girding its loins for a few years, AC/DC confidently stalked back into the metal arena with The Razor's Edge–loud and proud. 

 A serviceable 1992 live album, AC/DC Live, culled from the tour following The Razor's Edge, acted as a reminder of their onstage fury.  

 After a three-year break the band returned to the studio for the Rick RubinÐhelmed Ballbreaker. Perhaps using Rubin was a stab at relevance. 

 The band returned in 2000 with Stiff Upper Lip, a somewhat tired collection, lacking the energy of Ballbreaker and smelling suspiciously like an excuse to rake in more arena ticket money. 

 AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2008 the band released Black Ice, on which their signature stomp was stubbornly unaltered. 

 In October of 2008, AC/DC scored their first ever Rolling Stone cover, and the following year they released the two-CD, one-DVD box set Backtracks, which included live cuts, rarities, and music videos.