Jesse Fink’s AC/DC

Paula Xiberras

Jesse Fink doesn’t get to Tassie as often as he wishes but he has memories of when he was here researching ‘Tiger Tales – Stories of the Tasmanian Tiger’, a book about the thylacine that he wrote with Col Bailey.

We spoke recently about Jesse’s most recent book ‘The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC’.

The book explores why these enigmatic brother enigmas created arguably the world’s most recognisable and enigmatic band.

A recognition that stretches from admiration by animals (sharks are known to be seduced by AC/DC music) to being fossilised! For AC/DC it means having their name ingrained in real rock as well as in the world of rock celebrity.

The real rock of archaeology sees some anthropoids named after AC/DC because, like the group, they are small and have travelled the world.

On a human level recognition of the band climbs to a monastery in the Himalayas where AC/DC t-shirts are worn under monks monastic robes. From mountains, to the flat of American football fields where their songs are sung as sporting anthems, the group has an ability to connect with people from totally different backgrounds.

AC/DC music is known to aid in therapy. Jesse Fink himself is proof of their music’s healing power. When he was going through a tough time he says he found only AC/DC music and lyrics could help him surmount it.

So what is it about these working class boys, emigrants from Scotland settling in Australia, that made them the world’s greatest rock band. They have sold over 200 million albums but continue to be an enigma, rarely granting interviews and fiercely protecting their familial territory like Celtic warriors of old.

They may emulate warriors of old but Angus is still the perpetual naughty schoolboy strutting his stuff on stage, Malcolm considered the brains and business acumen behind the band, arguably the worlds greatest drummer and George the businessman. The guys are a mix of the creative arts and shrewd businessmen. Jesse says while the guys may possess this creativity and business sense they are not overly sentimental and perhaps this is best demonstrated by the complete parting of ways that has occurred between them and ex band members all the while keeping their loyalty with their family.

Two things that may have influenced this is the boys Scottish working class upbringing and the clannish mentality it afforded with the idea of as Jesse says ‘stick it to the man’ but stick together as a family. Similarly George, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and producer who wrote most of the songs for the Easybeats, learned early the importance for looking out for one’s own family.

Fink’s discussion of the band also shines the light on some of those that contributed to AC/DC success such and maybe have been forgotten such as Tony Platt, the sound engineer and record producer and Mark Evans, the bass player who was with the band in their more formative years and and later parted company.

He also talks about the man who created the famous AC/DC logo, Gerard Huerta, Jesse says, has not had the recognition he deserves in creating one of the world’s most famous logos.

Jesse says for AC/DC there are two types of fans, those that hunger for any information on the band even if it might be critical and those who will not take any criticism about their beloved group.

Jesse has created a book that will certainly have these two groups of fans talking, and for the general reader it illuminates the story of a band Australia should be proud of as it’s own, possibly the greatest the world has ever seen.

‘The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC ‘ by Jesse Fink is out now published by Random House.