DISGRACELAND: AC/DC Pt. 2 – Dirty Deeds, Dead Friends, and Murder for Hire

Release Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Jake Brennan

Episode Overview

In this gripping continuation of the AC/DC saga, host Jake Brennan dives deep into the band’s turbulent ascent, catastrophic losses, and brushes with true crime—both in their lyrics and in real life. The episode centers on the wild, dangerous, and often tragic path that AC/DC took from working-class Australia to global rock stardom, tracing how the mayhem and murder alluded to in songs like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" sometimes mirrored real events in the band’s orbit. This chapter focuses especially on the inner demons of drummer Phil Rudd, the mysterious death of their manager, and AC/DC’s unrelenting drive in the face of loss, addiction, and scandal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Making of a Rock and Roll Machine

[02:22–13:40]

• Founding Brothers: Malcolm and Angus Young's working-class upbringing instilled a relentless work ethic—whether mixing cement like their father or building one of the greatest rock bands in history.
• Origins of “Dirty Deeds”: The song drew inspiration from Bond Scott’s outlaw fantasies, Angus’s fondness for the cartoon villain Dishonest John, and noir films.
• Rock vs. Rock and Roll: Brennan distinguishes ACDC’s essential “swing” (Phil Rudd’s drumming) from bands that just “rock”—“Most rock bands get it wrong... they’re not rock and roll bands, they’re just rock bands.”
  • Notable quote (Jake Brennan, 11:09):

    “Being just a rock band wasn’t good enough. You might as well be hauling concrete or watching cartoons. Being in a great rock and roll band was something that would last.”

2. American Breakthroughs, Label Battles & Tragedy

[13:41–23:27]

• Industry Setbacks: "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was initially shelved in America, forcing the band to double down with "Let There Be Rock," which finally caught the world’s attention.
• Touring Toll & Internal Struggles:
  • Bon Scott’s concerns for Phil Rudd’s mental health were shared in a letter to his sister, showing the overlooked psychological wear of relentless touring.
    • Bond’s note to Valerie (Jake Brennan quoting Bon Scott, 16:38):

      “Phil had a bit of a nervous breakdown… but luckily he got over it quickly enough not to upset the band and we had to treat him with kid gloves for a bit. But he’s okay now.”

• Producer Wars: The Youngs rejected Atlantic Records’ first producer choice (Eddie Kramer), clashing before embracing Mutt Lange, who got the best out of ACDC, helping create their U.S. breakthrough, "Highway to Hell."

3. The Death of Bon Scott & the Rise of Brian Johnson

[23:28–28:12]

• Scott’s Final Days: Bon Scott celebrates after writing lyrics for the next album, only to die tragically after a night of revelry, found choked on his own vomit in a car.
• Band’s Grief:
  • Angus Young refused to fly first class when Bon’s coffin would be in the luggage hold, showing the band’s fierce loyalty (“This Angus wouldn’t have it” — 24:30).
• Finding a New Frontman & Global Domination:
  • Brian Johnson’s recruitment, rumored to be tipped to the band by a fan, and the creation of "Back in Black" as a tribute to Bon, which becomes the second-best-selling album globally.

4. Phil Rudd’s Descent: Ghosts, Grief, and Departures

[28:13–34:29]

• Phil's Haunting Guilt: After Bon’s death, Phil drowns himself in alcohol, plagued by visions and “drinking with ghosts” in hotel rooms.
• The Breaking Point:
  • Onstage collapse in Uniondale, NY (Oct 8, 1983), followed by Malcolm Young punching Phil backstage and firing him on the spot.
    • Notable quote (Jake Brennan, 33:24):

      “Afterward, Malcolm Young walked up to his drummer backstage and walloped him in the face with his fist. That was it. Phil could fuck off.”

5. The Search for “The Swing” and Serial Tragedy

[34:30–43:35]

• Years Without Rudd:
  • Success continued but the “swing” was gone—“Thunderstruck” and other hits lacked the magic.
    • Notable quote (Jake Brennan, 36:19):

      “Thunderstruck by ACDC wasn’t rock and roll either. It’s about as meat and potato, as hard rock as you can get… But it isn’t ‘Highway to Hell’ or ‘Let There Be Rock.’”

• Manager Crispin Dye’s Murder (Dec 1993):
  • Beaten and murdered in Sydney, possible hate crime and botched investigation. Updated forensic evidence in 2023 linked the crime to a now-deceased felon, but the case remains unsolved.
  • Crispin’s funeral reunites Malcolm and Phil Rudd, sparking Phil’s return.

6. Reunions, Creative Struggles & Real-Life “Dirty Deeds”

[43:36–55:02]

• Phil’s Return & Comeback Attempts:

  • Jam sessions, studio time with Rick Rubin for "Ballbreaker" (creative clashes) and the George Young-produced "Stiff Upper Lip" (acclaimed as the band’s best Brian Johnson-fronted LP besides "Back in Black").
  • Notable quote (Jake Brennan, 47:20):

    “Stiff Upper Lip may be an overlooked record from ACDC’s catalog, but it’s the band’s best record with Brian Johnson that’s not named Back in Black... the band was ready to charge into the new millennium with the same white hot intensity they’d owned in the 70s.”

• Phil’s Final Fall: Attempted Murder for Hire

  • In 2014, as Malcolm Young succumbs to dementia, Phil Rudd is charged in New Zealand with attempting to hire a hitman to kill two men. He's also found with meth and cannabis.
    • Notable quote/report (Jake Brennan, quoting news, 53:10):

      “The drummer of the rock band AC/DC is accused in an alleged murder plot. Phil Rudd was charged… with attempting to hire a hitman… Rudd could face ten years behind bars.”

  • Charges are reduced; Rudd pleads guilty to death threats and drug possession, receives eight months house arrest, violates parole but escapes jail.

7. The Enduring Band and the Cost of Rock and Roll

[55:03–End]

• Band Perseveres:
  • Even with Malcolm gone (died 2017), ACDC continues, but Phil remains ousted, “living out on the fringe, just like one of those characters his friend Bon Scott used to write about.”
  • Closing thought (Jake Brennan, 57:55):

    “He lives out on the fringe, just like one of those characters his friend Bon Scott used to write about in his songs... Like a real dishonest John and a true disgrace.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the swing that defines rock and roll:

  “ACDC is a rock and roll band. The rock part… sounds hard. The roll part's hard to do. It’s the part that swings. Most rock bands get it wrong… Malcolm Young was hell bent on being a rock and roll band. Being just a rock band wasn’t good enough.”
  —Jake Brennan (09:45)

• On Bon Scott’s death and the band’s bond:

  “This Angus wouldn’t have it. He wasn’t flying home first class with his friend being hauled underneath the plane with the rest of the cargo.”
  —Jake Brennan (24:30)

• On Phil Rudd’s vulnerable state:

  “Phil Rudd was drinking with ghosts. They were right there at the edge of his bed… But when Ian entered the room, it was empty. Empty with the exception of Phil. There were no groupies, no fans. Only a ghost.”
  —Jake Brennan (32:01)

• On murder encroaching on AC/DC’s real life:

  “At the age of just 41, ACDC's manager Crispin Dye was murdered. They never caught his killers. And this case is steeped in hate… the case of the murder of ACDC’s manager remains unsolved.”
  —Jake Brennan (39:59)

• On legends and replaceability:

  “His attorney voiced Malcolm Young’s point of view. Phil’s drummer was integral to the band’s sound. Why should the band suffer because of Phil’s actions? The judge disagreed and replied that Queen replaced Freddie Mercury. Apparently the judge wasn’t aware that AC/DC replaced Bon Scott. Everyone, even Malcolm Young, was replaceable.”
  —Jake Brennan (56:26)

Timeline: Important Segments and Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:58–04:00 | Introduction & defining “Dirty Deeds,” mythos | | 04:01–13:40 | AC/DC history, sound, and breakthrough struggles | | 13:41–23:27 | Deep dive into albums, label battles, producer wars | | 23:28–28:12 | Bon Scott’s death, mourning, and Brian Johnson’s entry | | 28:13–34:29 | Phil Rudd’s grief, alcohol, onstage collapse, firing | | 34:30–43:35 | Crispin Dye’s murder, investigation, Phil’s return | | 43:36–47:20 | Ballbreaker, Stiff Upper Lip, struggles to recapture magic | | 47:21–55:02 | Phil Rudd’s 2014 arrest, drugs, murder-for-hire plot | | 55:03–57:55 | Phil’s ouster, the band’s perseverance without him |

Thematic Takeaways

• Rock and roll’s cost: AC/DC’s longevity came at a steep price: mental breakdowns, addiction, violence, and literal loss of life on their path to immortality.
• Myth and reality blur: The criminal darkness and murder-for-hire lore in their songs is chillingly echoed by the chaos surrounding the band members in real life.
• Enduring legacy: Despite lineup changes, deaths, and disasters, AC/DC’s core vision — and the unique rhythm only Phil Rudd could provide — remains central to rock and roll history.

For Further Listening

• Mini Episode on Back in Black Lyric Controversy: Available for Disgraceland All Access members, exploring if Bon Scott penned lyrics later credited to Brian Johnson.

“Like a real dishonest John and a true disgrace.”
—Jake Brennan, closing line (57:55)