The Origin Behind AC/DC’s Band Name, and the Sister-In-Law Who They Have To Thank for It

While starting his career during the 1970s, Dave Evans continues to nurture a promising career in the music industry. Back in 2021, the singer released his EP Live on Fox Sports. He also recorded the single “Heartbreak Hotel” in 2022. Although performing in groups like Rabbit, Evans will always be remembered as the original singer for the legendary hard rock band AC/DC. Only performing with the group for less than a year, the singer was there at the band’s inception. And with fans wondering where AC/DC got its name, Evans decided to clear the air. 

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Taking part in an interview with Podpokas, Evans recalled the band not having a name at first. And apparently, they need one quickly. “Well, we were happy rehearsing [in late 1973], and a guy that wanted to manage us called Alan Kissack, he said, ‘Hey, guys, I’ve got a show for you coming up in a few weeks. And he said it’s New Year’s Eve, 31st of December [of 1973], at the famous Chequers nightclub, the number one nightclub in Australia. New Year’s Eve at midnight, and it was the best gig in Australia. And we had to get a name because it was only in a few weeks.”

Having not a single moment to spare, the band turned from practicing to tossing around band names. “We started tossing names around between us, but no one could agree. I had some really great names, but they didn’t like them. Anyway, so we didn’t know what to do. So, what we said is the next rehearsal, which was the next night, that we’d all come with three names each, and we were gonna put them in a hat and we’d pick one out. And whatever it is, that’s what we were gonna call ourselves.”

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Dave Evans Tossed The Names He Came Up With

While Evans and the rest of the band agreed, fate took a different route. “So, the next rehearsal, I came with three names in my pocket… But anyway, it didn’t matter. Because what happened was when we all arrived together, [AC/DC’s founding rhythm guitarist] Malcolm Young said to us, ‘Look, my sister-in-law’ — [his] older brother George’s wife — ‘has suggested a name.’ And we said, ‘Okay, what is it?’ And Malcolm said, ‘AC/DC’. And I thought quickly, and I thought it’s an easy name to remember, AC/DC.”

Loving the connection between AC/DC and power, Evans and the rest of the band agreed on the name. As for the names the singer brought with him – it appears fans will never know as he insisted, “I went home and threw them away.”

(Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images)