The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC - Softcover

"'An excellent writer and storyteller.' (The Daily Telegraph) 'Fink can take a moment and turn it into a vivid experience.' (The Australian) 'Fink makes enemies like Bill Gates makes money, but his in-your-face style is exactly what makes his blogs so good.' (Alpha) 'One of Asia's best football writers.' (The National (Abu Dhabi)) 'The best book I've ever read about AC/DC.' (Mark Evans (AC/DC bass player, 1975-77)) 'I loved it.' (Jerry Greenberg (president of Atlantic Records, 1974-80)) 'Using 11 classic tracks as his starting point, Jesse Fink delivers a fresh biographical take on AC/DC. The accomplished journalist balances a serious appreciation for the music with a driving desire to cut through the mystery and misinformation shrouding this seminal rock and roll band. Fink's book should satisfy both diehard fans and those who love reading good biographies.' (iTunes 'Editors' Notes') 'Being an all-round nice guy is no prerequisite to getting rich. Jaw-dropping reinforcement of this point is about to hit your local bookstore in the form of The Youngs by Jesse Fink... this version of the George, Malcolm and Angus saga includes testimony to the power of the music - Fink is a huge AC/DC fan and credits their songs with getting him through a divorce - but of most interest is the sheer business bloody-mindedness of the trio. Fink tracks down former bandmates, managers and associates who feel they were cut adrift by the Youngs once their financial usefulness had past. He also details a web of tax shelters and savvy merchandising deals that belie the brothers' yob-rock image. One casualty along the Youngs' road to the top was the guy who designed their iconic logo in 1977, Gerard Huerta. A Rosetta Stone of rock, the logo has undoubtedly made many of the Youngs' millions by itself, but Huerta has never received royalties.' Michael Bailey, BRW (Sydney) 'Compelling.' (Mornings with Steve Austin, 612 ABC Brisbane) 'A great read.' (Leila McKinnon, Weekend Today, Channel Nine) 'The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC promises to be... essential AC/DC history.' (Loudwire (New York)) 'Three brothers, 40 years and some 200 million albums - this is the story of George, Malcolm and Angus Young, the boys behind AC/DC. While a lot's been written about them over the years, this provides a definitive history of the trio, with accounts from rockers Guns N' Roses, among others.' (GQ Australia's "Essential Summer Reading") 'Sometimes it seems as if all the shocking rock and roll stories have been told, but [in The Youngs] there was a revelation that has genuinely raised eyebrows and opened mouths... Mark Evans, bassist in AC/DC until 1977, confirmed that Bon Scott overdosed on heroin in 1975 and was almost sacked from the band, a moment which would have changed the course of rock history. With this taster, Jesse Fink's book sounds like essential reading.' (MetalTalk.net (London)) 'Jesse Fink has taken a fresh approach in his latest book, The Youngs, looking at the Young dynasty through a clutch of their best songs, complete with brutally honest critical analysis along the way... the deeper Fink goes down the rabbit hole to unearth the truth behind the Young Brothers... the more it becomes clear that many "truths" exist and since the principals aren't saying a word to anyone, what develops is a Rashomon-like tale... it's an approach that pays dividends.' (Shane Pinnegar, 100PerCentRock.com (Australia))"

With sales of over 200 million albums, AC/DC is not just the biggest rock band in the world, it's a family business built by three brothers: George, Malcolm and Angus Young. As with any business, some people prospered while others got hurt along the way. The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC is unlike any AC/DC book you've read before. Less a biography, more a critical appreciation, it tells the story of the trio through 11 classic songs and reveals some of the personal and creative secrets that went into their making. Important figures from AC/DC's long journey to the top open up for the very first time, while unsung heroes behind the band's success are given the credit they are due. Accepted accounts of events are challenged while sensational new details emerge to cast a whole new light on the band's history - especially their early years with Atlantic Records in the United States. Former AC/DC members and musicians from bands such as Guns N' Roses, Dropkick Murphys, Airbourne and Rose Tattoo also give their perspectives on the Youngs' brand of magic. Their music has never pulled its punches. Neither does The Youngs. After 40 years, AC/DC might just have got the serious book it deserves.