hard rock

1980
AC/DC officially announced

Johnson was officially announced as the lead singer of AC/DC on 1 April. With Johnson, the group completed the songwriting previously begun with Scott for Back in Black . Recording took place at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas a few months after Scott’s death. Produced by Lange and recorded…
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ZZ Top made their first appearances in Europe

In April 1980, ZZ Top made their first appearances in Europe, performing for the German music television show Rockpalast (later included on the 2009 DVD Double Down Live: 1980 & 2008 ) and the BBC show The Old Grey Whistle Test .

AC/DC offered Johnson a place

On 29 March 1980, Malcolm offered Johnson a place in the band, much to the singer’s surprise. Out of respect for Scott, the band wanted a vocalist who would not be an imitator. In addition to his distinctive voice, demeanour and love of classic soul and blues music, the group…
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Def Leppard was released on 14 March 1980

Def Leppard’s debut album, On Through the Night , was released on 14 March 1980. Although the album hit the Top 15 in the UK, many early fans were turned off by the perception that the band was trying too hard to appeal to American audiences by recording songs such…
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The Angels (Australian band) The Angels signed an international contract with CBS Records and, in

The Angels signed an international contract with CBS Records and, in March 1980, released a new version of Face to Face on the Epic Records subsidiary. It is a compilation of tracks from the Australian forms of Face to Face and No Exit , plus an edited variety of the…
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AC/DC pronounced dead

Unable to wake Scott early on the evening of 19 February, Kinnear rushed him to King’s College Hospital , Camberwell, where Scott was pronounced dead on arrival. The official cause of death was ” acute alcohol poisoning “. Scott’s family buried him in Fremantle, Western Australia , the area they…
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AC/DC Scott passed out

On 18 February, Scott passed out in a car driven by his friend Alistair Kinnear after a night of drinking at The Music Machine in Camden Town , London. According to police, Kinnear left Scott in the car overnight to sleep off the alcohol effects.

AC/DC began to work

In February 1980, the members began to work on their seventh studio album, Back in Black , with Scott on drums instead of vocals.

Geordie (band) After AC/DC’s lead singer Bon Scott died in February 1980, AC/DC

After AC/DC’s lead singer Bon Scott died in February 1980, AC/DC chose Brian Johnson (whose vocal talent had previously been praised by Scott) to take over lead vocal duties. Johnson travelled with the band and producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange to Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas to write and…
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Uriah Heep (band) Ex- Lone Star John Sloman was brought in, a younger singer who played

Ex- Lone Star John Sloman was brought in, a younger singer who played keyboards and guitar and was, in the words of Box, “an all rounder”. But almost instantly, Lee Kerslake departed, after a row with Bron, whom the drummer accused of favouritism towards Hensley’s material. Several tracks of the…
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