EMP goes “Back in Black” with exclusive AC/DC exhibition

Angus Young, AC/DC, Atlanta, Georgia, 1978. Photograph by Rennie Ellis Courtesy of Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

“Highway to Hell”, “Back in Black”, “You Shook Me All
Night Long”. They’re just some of the iconic hits from one
of the biggest rock bands of all time. And the rock
royalty that is AC/DC is getting a coronation of sorts in
an exclusive new exhibition opening this weekend at
Seattle’s EMP Museum.

AC/DC: Australia’s Family Jewels features a massive
collection of over 400 artifacts spanning the band’s
nearly 40 year history from the early days in Australia to
today.

Among the rarities are one of guitarist Angus Young’s
famous schoolboy uniform’s, handwritten letters and lyrics
from original singer Bon Scott, guitars, rare photos and
concert posters from all over the world.

In a preview of the exhibition, Tim Fisher, Sr. Curator
with Arts Centre Melbourne says it took an incredible
amount of work and unprecedented cooperation from the
surviving band members, their families and friends.

“Really, this is the first and maybe the only approved
biography that fans will be able to see,” says Fisher.

He says it was a big challenge to get the band members
to approve, which he needed in order to be able to use
their music and gain access to many of the never before
seen rarities.

“They are notorious for never giving permission for
biographical treatments. There has to be a high level of
trust between the people doing the exhibition and the
subject,” says

While the band grew out of Fisher’s native Australia
and is considered a national treasure, it was their
breakthrough in America that really catapulted the band to
world wide superstardom.

“They really always had the highest ambitions to make
it in the States. They didn’t really feel like they’d
truly made it on the world level until they really did
make it here,” Fisher says.

But that success wasn’t without tragedy. Lead singer
Bon Scott died from acute alcohol poisoning after a night
of partying soon after Highway to Hell became an
international hit. And Scott’s life and death make for a
dramatic focal point in the exhibition.

Fisher says band members are still extremely protective
of Scott’s legacy and his family. But they became much
more enthusiastic when Scott’s mother agreed to lend some
rare memorabilia including Scott’s last leather jacket,
which hangs in tribute in a glass case in the center of
the exhibition.

Letters from Scott and even an old, unwashed AC/DC
sweatshirt he wore that was lent by an old girlfriend in
Australia are among some of the most memorable artifacts.

While the show will delight hard core fans, Fisher says
it’s really a time capsule that should appeal to anyone
who loves rock and roll.

“It’s really about a rock and roll show, to come to let
a few things seep into you, but really to have a good time
to listen to some music and let the exhibiton do its stuff
on you,” Fisher says.

“This is also an exhibition about popular culture. And
by that I mean people’s own history.”

AC/DC remains one of the biggest rock bands of all
time. It’s seminal “Black in Black” is the third-best
selling album of all time, and the band plans to continue
recording and touring.

AC/DC: Australia’s Family Jewels runs April 28th
through September 29th at EMP Musuem in Seattle. You can
check out some of the artifacts from the exhibition in our
online gallery .