AC/DC Inducted Into Hollywood Rock Walk
On Friday, the rest of the world may have had their eyes on the Summer Olympics in Sydney, but the members of AC/DC — arguably Australia’s biggest export of the last three decades — had something other than gold medals and steroids on their minds.
The veteran hard-rockers, who formed in 1973, took a night off from their ongoing U.S. tour and were in Los Angeles to be inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk, in front of fans, other musicians and media members at the Guitar Center on the Sunset Strip.
The band (guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, singer Brian Johnson, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd) arrived via limo just before the 7 p.m. start time. After a proclamation from the mayor’s office was read, local disc jockey Jim Ladd introduced the band, whom he said has made “some of the most gentle, sensitive love songs ever written,” while “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” blared from the loudspeakers. “Thanks to everyone and keep on rocking,” said Angus, clad not in his usual schoolboy uniform but in a T-shirt and blue jeans.
The band members then each put their handprints into a cement frame, part of a commemorative plaque that will be mounted in front of the music shop. A back-up cement mold was also made and stored in case the original is damaged by earthquake.
Musicians in attendance included George Clinton and Bootsy Collins (Parliament