Ac/Dc And The Band’S First Gig With A Broken Mic And A Stolen Drum Kit

April 3, 2025

It was a stormy night in November 1973 when AC/DC, a young band from Sydney, Australia, prepared for their very first gig. The small pub they were playing in, the Chequers, was filled with a lively crowd, buzzing with excitement. The smell of beer and cigarettes mixed with the sound of laughter, but somewhere backstage, the band was about to face an unexpected challenge. Just as they were about to set up, they discovered that their microphone was broken—silent as a stone. To make matters worse, their drummer, Phil Rudd, walked in to find his entire drum kit missing, stolen right from under their noses. The air was thick with tension and despair.

As they stood huddled together, panic threatened to take over. Angus Young, the energetic guitarist, looked at his bandmates with uncertainty in his eyes, but he quickly pushed it down, remembering why they were all there. They weren’t just a band; they were a family, passionate about sharing their love for rock music with the world. “We can’t give up now!” he shouted, rallying the rest. With a determination that would become their trademark, the band refused to let these setbacks derail them. They made a quick decision: they would put on the best show they could, even if it meant playing acoustically and using improvised instruments.

With a borrowed microphone from another band and a makeshift drum set cobbled together from cardboard boxes and spare parts, they began to set the stage, focused and fierce. The crowd, unaware of the drama that had unfolded moments before, grew more curious with each passing second. When they kicked off their first song, “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” the audience was immediately captivated by the raw energy and passion that flowed from the diminutive Angus and his brother Malcolm, who strummed with fierce determination. Though the sound was different from what they had anticipated, their enthusiasm was contagious, and the crowd couldn’t help but cheer them on.

As they played, something incredible happened. The crowd began to feed off their energy, and it became clear that the music transcended the limitations they faced. The enthusiastic response pushed AC/DC to dig deeper, channeling their frustrations into a performance that was nothing short of electrifying. By the end of the night, they had not only won over the audience but had also forged a bond with each other that felt unbreakable. The laughter and cheers echoed in the pub long after the last note faded, turning what had begun as a disaster into a defining moment for the band.

That night would go down in AC/DC history not just because of the broken mic and missing drums, but because it was a testament to their resilience. They learned that no matter the obstacles in their path, their love for music and their camaraderie as a band would carry them through anything. In the years that followed, AC/DC would go on to become one of the most iconic rock bands in the world, with classic albums like “Back in Black” and “Highway to Hell.” But it all started with a stormy night, a broken mic, and a stolen drum kit—an unforgettable night that showed them the power of persistence and the magic of live performance. They would forever carry that spirit with them, proving that passion and determination can turn even the toughest moments into the most unforgettable experiences.