AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock and are considered pioneers of heavy metal, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll". AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, High Voltage, in 1975. Membership remained stable until bassist Mark Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams in 1977. The band recorded their highly successful album Highway to Hell in 1979. Lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died on 19 February 1980, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. The group briefly considered disbanding, but soon ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson was selected to replace Scott. Later that year, the band released their best-selling album, Back in Black. The band's next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, was their first album to reach number one in the United States. As of 2008, AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, including 71 million albums in the United States. Back in Black has sold an estimated 45 million units worldwide, 22 million in the US alone, where it is the fifth-highest-selling album. AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and was named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, the band was ranked number 72 in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1825:

The Erie Canal, connecting the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and hence the Atlantic Ocean, was opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal

1859:

The passenger ship Royal Charter, en route from Australia to England, was wrecked on the east coast of Anglesey, Wales, killing at least 459 people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Charter_%28ship%29

1937:

Second Sino-Japanese War: Xie Jinyuan and National Revolutionary Army soldiers began the Defense of Sihang Warehouse against waves of Japanese attackers during the Battle of Shanghai. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Sihang_Warehouse

1944:

World War II: In one of the largest naval battles in modern history, Allied forces defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the seas surrounding the Philippine island of Leyte. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf

2001:

U.S. President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act into law, significantly expanding the authority of U.S. law enforcement agencies in fighting terrorism in the United States and elsewhere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

tomnoddy (n): 1. The puffin. 2. A fool or dunce http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tomnoddy

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

After bread, education is the first need of the people. --Georges Danton http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Georges_Danton