AC/DC: Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be

It’s AC/DC

I'm been a huge fan of AC/DC since the 1970's, particularly the Bon Scott era, and have read a great number of books on the band. Mick Wall's " AC/DC - Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" is hands down the most definitive, comprehensive tale of the "Thunder From Down Under" that I've ever read. From their earliest tours when they were just starting out playing the dirtiest, seediest pubs to their conquests of Australia, UK, Europe, and North America, Mick gives you a tour by tour/album by album account of how they became one of the biggest bands in the world. "Let There Be Rock"!

Mick continues to mature and develop still further as one of the world's finest chroniclers of rock 'n' roll history, even after 30-plus years in the business. His Zep book, 'When Giants Walked The Earth' is already the definitive work for serious readers and the purple patch continues, following the Metallica opus, with this;the hitherto untold tale of bar-room boogie bad boys made international mega-stars, ACDC.I have to share Mr McIver's view that it took some balls to so firmly focus on the Scott years. With so little of the book left to discuss Brian Johnson there was a very real danger of the the latter quarter seeming rushed and perfunctory. That it is not, in any way, is a testament to Mick's skill and talent as a storyteller.Rudd's exit is jaw-dropping and is covered quite unlike anyone else's account, with new insights and information that add to the depth and substance of the work.Mick has a real nose for sniffing out previously unknown facts and weaving them skilfully into his work and so it has proved here again. You think you know the ACDC story? Trust me; not until you've read this, you don't.Outstanding and essential reading for any serious lover of 20th century contemporary music.

I've read many articles and books about one of my favorite bands AC/DC. This was by far the best. I thought I knew it all when it came to the boys, but Mick Wall has done an incredible job showing us the real thing warts and all. This bio really functions as two parter in a sense by heavily focusing on Bon Scott himself, and Mick Wall could have probably created his own bio with all the material presented here. I did think that Mick got a bit too much in the weeds with exploring the pasts of some minor characters for a bit too long. He also brushed past AC/DC's mid 80s--present era quite quickly, but I'd by this book again in a heart beat. Oh, and the crazy Bon stories are worth the price of the book.

First of all let me say I'm 48, a fan since back in black. My brother came home from uni with the live if you want blood . . And I couldn't believe what I heard. I was too young then to really follow them, and they were off my radar when Bon died.By the time for those about to rock was released I had all their albums to that date.This book covers in great detail that period, rather glossing over the more recent stuff.It's clearly and openly stated that noone within the band or current crew has cooperated, and it's true that many of the sources have been fired by them, well really Malcolm, so you could say its likely to be biased.I was particularly interested in the Bon Scott aspect, clearly an intelligent and warm guy, allowed to decend into hell without any intervention.I think it's probably accurate as I've read before frankly that malcolm is a tyrant.It's a real shame as they are superb, but they have lost their direction since I don't know when.It's now all I need to re-affirm my view that ac/dc pretty much ended when Bon died, a few songs and perhaps BIB being an exception. Their best album for me is Powerage.