AC/DC fans are only just figuring out where the rock legends got their name ahead of a sole UK appearance from the Back in Black rockers, whose name comes from an unlikely machine
An unlikely inspiration led to the naming of rock legends AC/DC. Fans are only just figuring out the origins of the group’s name, 51 years on from their founding. The hitmakers behind Thunderstruck and Back in Black are still touring as of 2025, with a sold out show at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh set for this year.
But listeners are only just figuring out the strange origins of the band’s name, and are delighted to hear of the oddity. A post to the r/ACDC Reddit page had fans share the origin story, with some truly impressed by where the band picked up their name.
A post to the subreddit reads: “What was the reason for AC/DC’s name? I always though it was something that had to do with maths or geometry.” Neither is true for AC/DC, with fans correcting the listener.
One user shared: “Alternate Current/ Direct Current, something to do with electricity, apparently Angus and Malcolm’s older sister would make the bands stage clothes in the early days and they saw it on her sewing machine.”
Malcolm Young, who passed away in 2017, and his brother Angus, who is now 70, are the founding members of the iconic rock band.
Another fan added some extra detail on the “simple suggestion” which made for the “greatest, most catchy name a rock band can have.”
They wrote: “Wasn’t it that their sister came up with the name after seeing it on her sewing machine.
“Quite funny how Angus and Malcolm were struggling to come up with a catchy name and then their sister comes up with a simple suggestion, yet it’s the greatest, most catchy name a rock band can have.”
AC/DC has since confirmed the origins of their name. Dave Evans, who as part of the line-up from their formation in 1973 and was replaced by Bon Scott in 1974, explained the story to Podpokas: “When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, ‘Look, my sister-in-law’ [wife of his older brother, George] has suggested a name… AC/DC’. And 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 [and] a lot of appliances were AC/DC. I thought: ‘Free advertising… free advertising on the side of all these appliances, and it’s easy to say, and it means power.’ It all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes.”
Critics have since praised the AC/DC name, which also features a lightning bolt after the first two letters. Gerard Huerta would design the logo for the band, which first appeared on Let There Be Rock. Adam Behr added: “[its] type font conveyed the sense of electricity implicit in their name.”
The Australian band has been touring since the 1970s, and are set to perform later this year at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Fans were left livid during ticket sales for the now sold out show, which is the group’s only UK date this year. One fumed: “Here you are in line for AC/DC at Ullevi. 22316 before at 10.00
“When you got down to 4911 you were kicked out and had to start over with 23000 before. What the hell kind of f**king system do you have? You can shut down your f**king business because you never learn. Hell, sitting in a 30-minute queue and getting kicked out. Yes, I’m so pi**ed off. #Ticketmaster.”