AC/DC fans only just realising what band's name means after 51 years

Rock legends AC/DC's name origin has left fans thunderstruck, as they've only just pieced together the puzzle 51 years after the band's formation. The creators of anthems like Thunderstruck and Back in Black are still electrifying stages in 2025, with a sold-out gig at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on the cards for this year.

Yet, it's only now that listeners are uncovering the peculiar roots of the band's moniker, much to their amusement. A revelation on the r/ACDC Reddit page had aficionados buzzing over the backstory, with many astonished by the source of the group's title. A curious post on the subreddit queried: "What was the reason for AC/DC's name? I always though it was something that had to do with maths or geometry." This assumption was swiftly corrected by fellow fans.

One Redditor enlightened the community: "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 enthusiast chimed in with additional insight into the "simple suggestion" that birthed what is arguably "the greatest, most catchy name a rock band can have." Their comment read: "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 subsequently lauded the AC/DC moniker, which also incorporates a lightning bolt following the first two letters. Gerard Huerta would craft the logo for the group, which first emerged on Let There Be Rock.

Adam Behr noted: "[Its] type font conveyed the sense of electricity implicit in their name."

The Australian outfit has been performing since the 1970s, and are scheduled to take the stage later this year at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. Fans were left seething during the ticket sales for the now sold-out show, which is the band's only UK date this year.

One irate fan exclaimed: "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."