What Does AC/DC Band Name Actually Stand For?
AC/DC may be one of the most famous rock bands in the world, but have you ever stopped to think about what the band’s name actually means? Longtime fans might think this is a silly question, but for newer fans, the name can be mysterious. There have been tons of fan theories over the years, including the ever-popular one: Anti-Christ/Devil’s Child. Some religious groups have claimed that it is the band’s name to try to make people not listen to them. However, it couldn’t be further from the truth. It actually stands for Alternating Current/Direct Current.
The story goes that two of the founders, brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, got the name from the back of a family member’s sewing machine. They wanted their music to equate to power and felt that it explained the band’s presence well. Also, they just thought it sounded cool.
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A fan shared on Reddit, “It also helps their name that they use a lot of power chords in their songs, so not only does their name mean power, but they also deliver it.”
This also explains why a lightning bolt is often seen with the band’s name in logos. Malcolm confirmed the story in an episode of VH1‘s Behind the Music and said that the sewing machine belonged to his sister-in-law Margaret, who suggested the name and lightning bolt.
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He said, “I thought it’s an easy name to remember and it was on the side of a lot of electrical appliances. AC/DC means alternate current and direct current … I thought, free advertising. It’s easy to say and it means power. It all went through my head very quickly, and I said, ‘Yes. Great, I love it.'”
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