The topic of Angus Young, who is, of course, the lead guitarist in everlasting rock gobstopper AC/DC, comes up frequently in guitar circles, both with students and with peers. There are a lot of folks out there who aren’t sure if Angus is really any good and wonder if he might be a bit overrated as a guitar player, mostly due to the simple and straight ahead music his band plays.
AC/DC has written and continues to write the proverbial book on what it means to be a rock and roll band. They are stripped down, no frills, loud and proud rock and roll, the kind that appeals to the primitive lurking in all of us. This is sometimes, however, seen as simplistic by certain folks who want to compare Angus & Co. with more note-heavy guitarists like Van Halen, Vai, Satriani, and such. This kind of seemingly apples-and-oranges comparison shows that these people are missing the point, entirely. Angus plays a style deeply rooted in the blues, where phrasing and vibe are what really matters, and not sheer speed for the sake of speed. Wonder why his solos make such great air guitar fodder? It’s because he speaks in plain but complete musical sentences.
Think about it: I bet you could sing at least one Young solo right now. Angus is a master of this kind of guitar playing and this approach has let him milk more music out of the pentatonic scale than perhaps any guitar player in history. Couple this with the most solid rhythm section from the classic rock era, and it is no wonder how the band has managed to stay afloat and popular all this time.
The more shred-oriented guitar players out there tend to appeal mostly to other similar musicians, who can grasp the complexities of this kind of playing because they play the guitar, themselves. Angus and AC/DC are all about the man in the street, the guy down the block, you and your friends; this does not make them simpletons or musical morons. It just makes them the type of players who are all about feel and vibe in the truest sense, trying to get to the point of it without a lot of ornamentation getting in the way of what they are trying to say. If anything, Angus is underrated. He is much better than he gets credit for. The takeaway from learning his stuff is that phrasing and style trump speed and busy-ness and that, when you want to connect with people, speak straight to them, not over their heads.
Yes still. It’s not about the fact some people are appealed to the shred type style that don’t like him, it’s that we kinda find the lack of creativity in it. I mean sure the music he plays just defines rock n roll but there is way too many limits. Sure angus young is good, I recognize that but I seriously think there are more creative minds out there much need of more recognition
This article is totally on point. Angus isn’t flashy. Well I guess in a way he is. He’s a showman for sure. Who couldn’t just sit and watch him play. He is so emotionally invested when he plays. Every solo matters. I can’t think of a time he was soloing when I felt like ok enough is enough. I really can’t think of another guitarist that I can say that about. Sometimes you just tire of mindless, fast guitar wankery. I can’t think of a solo of his that I say eh it’s ok. I thoroughly enjoy ALL of them. When I was growing up it was always is Angus as good as EVH? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed EVH. He was clearly an innovator. But I never connected with his stuff like I do Angus. Angus’s playing is just dirty, raw and nasty. Just what the doctor ordered everytime. He’s a virtuoso. He is AC/DC. That’s saying something. Decades of decadence. No easy task to say the least. I say Play on Angus, I will be listening.
I think people that criticize Angus about not being so sophisticated and creative are actually trying to prove to others that they themselves recognize the difference and therefore are sophisticated and creative (mostly sophisticated). Just really listen to his skill level based on the piece of music, he is definitely underrated. I can surmise all of this because I was at least intelligent enuf to know I would have gotten pounced on for all the misspellings 🙂
No doubt Angus is a great guitarist.There are parts to his solos that i hear that tell me has plenty more in his locker.Malcolm(R.I.P) liked things minimised/simplified whaever you want to call it even Angus’ solos.to this day its still the holden rule of the bandHe would not be ut of place with some of the blues greats i reckon.maybe one day we will hear the full Angus Young repertoirre.
Hail Hail Brothers
Saw Ac/DC several times at the Day On The Green in Oakland California in 1978 and 1979. They were loud and raunchy as a band every song sounded almost the same.
Saw A/C D/C several times in the late 1970’s Day On The Green,Put on by Bill Graham. I Realize now what was happening at the time. With A/C D/C and Van Halen as Rock n’ Roll history was being made before my very eyes.
Angus Young is a guitar god. Personally I feel he is underrated. Watch the videos from the River Plate concerts. He seriously looks like a shirtless, old man bum, living in a park. But the guitar work!! OMG!! Song after song, year after year, Angus just keeps rocking while the shredders fade away.
We salute you!!