"Rock or Bust" is the sixteenth studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC, released on 28 November 2014 in Australia and New Zealand, and on 2 December 2014 elsewhere. It marked the band's first album to feature rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, who replaced founding member Malcolm Young. Malcolm had retired earlier in the year due to health issues, and it was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with dementia. While Malcolm remained credited as a writer on every track, all of his guitar parts were recorded by Stevie. Tragically, Malcolm Young passed away on 18 November 2017, just weeks after his brother George Young.
The album is the shortest in AC/DC's catalog, running approximately 35 minutes, making it two minutes shorter than their previous shortest album, Flick of the Switch (1983). Rock or Bust was a commercial success, selling 2.8 million copies worldwide and reaching number 1 in 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and Sweden. It also reached the top 5 in 12 additional countries, including the UK, the US, and Italy. The album earned AC/DC a 2015 ECHO Award for Rock/Alternative (International).
Rock or Bust is the band's first album of original material since Black Ice in 2008 and the first since their involvement with the Iron Man 2 soundtrack in 2010. It was highly anticipated, but the production process was fraught with challenges. The band faced the absence of Malcolm Young, and drummer Phil Rudd encountered legal troubles that resulted in his replacement by Chris Slade for the subsequent tour. Rudd was charged with attempting to procure the murder of two men, though those charges were later dropped. However, he was still unable to participate in the album's promotion and the tour due to his other charges. Lead vocalist Brian Johnson was also forced to leave the tour early in 2016 after experiencing severe hearing loss, and Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in to finish the dates.
Despite the hurdles, Rock or Bust received positive reviews and continued AC/DC’s legacy as one of the world's most successful rock bands. In the US, the album sold 172,000 copies in its first week and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. By January 2015, it had sold 500,000 copies in the US alone, earning a Gold certification from the RIAA. In Canada, it debuted at #1 on the Albums Chart with 31,000 copies sold in its opening week.
The album's lead single, "Play Ball," was released on 7 October 2014 and became a commercial success, charting in several countries. Despite the challenges faced during its production, Rock or Bust reaffirmed AC/DC's standing in the rock world and showcased the band's resilience through difficult times.
On 30 September 2020, after a period of speculation, AC/DC confirmed that Johnson, Rudd, and bassist Cliff Williams had rejoined the band and were working on a new studio album, Power Up, which was released on 13 November 2020. This reformation confirmed that Rock or Bust would not be the final album featuring Johnson, Rudd, and Williams.
