Angus Young Reveals The Musician He Considers A “Rock God”
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Guitar player Angus Young of AC/DC performs during the AC/DC Rock or Bust Tour - Washington, DC at the Verizon Center on September 17, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BT PR)
AC/DC is one of the few bands that perfectly exemplifies heavy rock. Over the years, the Australian band has gone through a number of lineup shifts; Malcolm and Angus Young, the band’s founding brothers, have been the only consistent members throughout the band’s history.
The brothers’ early influence came from the world of traditional 1950s rock and roll, but they later took cues from heavier rock artists like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. But of course, they didn’t forget the 50s titans that help them introduce the lively music of rock.
Angus Young was questioned in a 2001 interview with Rolling Stone about the music that gets his “toes tapping.” He said:
“I plug into a lot of old rock and roll. Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis. I love all that stuff. In fact, if I get a chance and I’m on my way to a gig, I’ll put one of their tapes on. Because they’re good vibe meters, and I still get off on them.”
In a more recent interview via The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker in 2021, he was asked who he considers his “rock god.” Angus simply mentions the Godfather of rock, Chuck Berry. This perhaps is obvious, given how Berry influenced Young not just in music, but with his signature “duckwalk” as well.
