Why does AC/DC’s Angus Young put on a schoolboy outfit onstage with the traditional rock band?
Because as rock followers know, the guitarist’s distinctive picture is synonymous with AC/DC’s music. But what are the origins of his signature schoolboy look? How does a rock star determine to make a faculty uniform a part of their onstage persona?
If you shut your eyes and take into consideration AC/DC, maybe the very first thing that involves thoughts is Young duckwalking throughout the stage as AC/DC’s swaggering model of rock music performs, schoolboy garb on full show. After that, possibly you’d consider the lightning bolt-assisted AC/DC wordmark, the Australian band’s iconic emblem — additionally a rock totem. All the touchstones of a rock legacy.
But past simply memorable typography, how Angus Young cuts a schoolboy uniform is sort of actually the AC/DC mascot. And the best way he got here up with the traditional outfit was by some assist from his relations — after a little trial and error.
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Before Young debuted the schoolboy uniform onstage with AC/DC in 1974, he’d donned weird stage costumes corresponding to a gorilla swimsuit, Zorro masks and Superman swimsuit, as Grunge reported. In the early days, the band tried out completely different outfits onstage, together with some of-the-era satin threads.
But at one level, Young’s brother and fellow AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young determined the band wanted a picture overhaul for a huge gig at Sydney’s Victoria Park, in response to a report from Louder.
AC/DC Schoolboy Outfit Origins
It was then that the schoolboy getup’s origins got here by the use of a suggestion from Angus’ sister Margaret, who thought it could be amusing for Angus to carry out in a faculty uniform as a nod to his youthful look and the truth that he’d simply left faculty when the band fashioned. For the gig, Angus borrowed Margaret’s son Sam’s faculty blazer.
It turned Angus’ trademark look, distinguishing him and the band as rebellious but relatable rockers. Chuck Berry might have invented the duckwalk, however Angus Young owns the schoolboy uniform.
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Looking again on the schoolboy outfit’s origins, Angus as soon as urged that a well-known rocker who got here earlier than him impressed him to decorate in one thing eye-catching when he hit the stage with AC/DC.
“Some people look great in civilian gear,” the guitarist mentioned, as 107.1 The Boss reported. “Like when I was younger and saw Jimi Hendrix, and went, ‘Wow!’ It’s the image, that’s the first thing when you’re younger. How cool he looked! How cool he played. And I thought, ‘I want to be that cool.'”
Angus added, “So I put the school suit on. That’s my thing. Why do people come to see us play? It’s the school suit. It works!”
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AC/DC, “School Days” (1975)
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