Their music has been variously described as hard rock , blues rock and heavy metal , although the band calls it simply " rock and roll ". They are cited as a formative influence on the new wave of British heavy metal bands.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in and have sold over million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. They underwent several line-up changes before releasing their debut Australasian -only album, High Voltage Seven months after the release of Highway to Hell , Scott died of alcohol poisoning and English singer Brian Johnson was then recruited as their new frontman.
Their first album with Johnson, Back in Black , dedicated to Scott's memory, became the second best-selling album of all time. Their eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock , was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard Rudd was fired partway through the Flick of the Switch sessions in and was replaced by Simon Wright , who was replaced by Chris Slade six years later. Rudd has since recorded five more albums with the band, starting with Ballbreaker Their fifteenth studio album, Black Ice , was the second highest-selling record of and their highest chart peak since For Those About to Rock , eventually reaching number one worldwide.
The band's line-up remained the same for 20 years until , when Malcolm retired due to early-onset dementia , from which he died three years later; additionally, Rudd was charged with threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. On the accompanying tour , Slade filled in for Rudd.
Williams retired at the end of the tour and the band entered a two-year hiatus. A reunion of the Rock or Bust line-up was announced in September ; the band's seventeenth studio album, Power Up , was released two months later. Its supporting tour was announced in February , with drummer Matt Laug replacing Rudd, and bassist Chris Chaney replacing Williams.
