The brothers formed their first band together in the early '70s, taking the name AC/DC from their sister's sewing machine. Young also stumbled across a gimmick that would remain his trademark to this day -- band rehearsals were right after school, so he would practice in his "school boy uniform" (which consisted of a cap, tie, a white shirt, jacket, and shorts). The look became such a hit that Young wore the outfit on stage. He also began playing a Gibson SG, the only guitar model he would play throughout his career. Reportedly, his reckless stage presence came to be after Young had to cover up tripping over something on-stage, and the audience thought it was part of the show. The Young brothers turned a deaf ear to popular musical trends of the early '70s (disco, prog rock, etc.), and bashed out raw and simple three-chord rock, predating punk rock by a few years. And with the addition of singer Bon Scott, AC/DC became a sensation in their native Australia, soon signing a worldwide record deal with Atlantic Records.

While AC/DC never strayed far from their original musical path, record and ticket sales continued to increase with each successive album and tour. With massive global success beckoning, AC/DC overcame a career-threatening tragedy in 1980 when Scott died from alcohol poisoning. But his replacement, Brian Johnson, fit in perfectly, as the group immediately issued their biggest hit of their entire career, the classic "Back in Black." And with nearly all rock guitarists copying Eddie Van Halen and his kamikaze guitar pyrotechnics throughout the '80s, Young admirably stuck to his economical and tasty playing style, influencing such future bands as Guns N' Roses, Jackyl, Buckcherry, and Nashville Pussy.