Last night I had the privilege to play host to a conversation with AC/DC bass player Mark Evans who has just released his autobiography ‘Dirty Deeds’. What a great read it is.
Evans was 19-years old when he left his job in the public service for a roller-coaster ride in AC/DC which saw him contribute to the now classic albums ‘TNT’ (High Voltage in the USA), ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ and ‘Let There Be Rock’.
Mark went from living in the housing commission flats in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran to touring the UK just one year and 10 days after he joined the band.
The book describes a band who were committed to success, driven by creativity but had to pay their dues.
For ever step forward, their was a step back leading to frustrations within the band.
‘Dirty Deeds’ goes further than AC/DC. After Mark left the band he joined Finch who become Contraband and had an Australian hit with ‘Where Were You’. Next came Heaven and a tour with Rainbow but the band he was invited to join but never did was Rose Tattoo.
‘Dirty Deeds’ is an honest, well written account of a magic time in the Australian music industry, one that has never been repeated.
The book is available now though Allen & Unwin.
