UPDATED U.S.A. ALL TIME ALBUM SALES DEC 2002 SOURCE: R.I.A.A.
1- THE EAGLES "THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975" 28 MILLION
2- MICHAEL JACKSON "THRILLER" 26 MILLION
3- PINK FLOYD "THE WALL" 23 MILLION
4- LED ZEPPELIN "LED ZEPPELIN IV" 22 MILLION
5- BILLY JOEL "GREATEST HITS VOLUME 1 & VOLUME II" 21 MILLION
6- AC/DC "BACK IN BLACK" 19 MILLION
7- THE BEATLES "THE BEATLES" 19 MILLION
8- SHANIA TWAIN "COME ON OVER" 19 MILLION
9- FLEETWOOD MAC "RUMOURS" 18 MILLION
10- WHITNEY HOUSTON "THE BODYGUARD SOUNDTRACK" 17 MILLION AC/DC's BACK IN BLACK has sold over 44 million copies on a worldwide basis, making it the strongest selling Hard Rock(metal included) album in music history.
In the U.S.A. alone, the top selling acts of all time as of DEC 2002 are(SOURCE: R.I.A.A. ):
1- THE BEATLES 164.5 MILLION
2- LED ZEPPELIN 105 MILLION
3- GARTH BROOKS 105 MILLION
4- ELVIS PRESLEY 102 MILLION
5- THE EAGLES 86 MILLION
6- BILLY JOEL 77 MILLION
7- PINK FLOYD 73.5 MILLION
8- BARBARA STREISAND 68.5 MILLION
9- ELTON JOHN 64.5 MILLION
10- AEROSMITH 63.5 MILLION
11- AC/DC 63 MILLION
12- THE ROLLING STONES 62.5 MILLION
13- MADONNA 59 MILLION
14- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 58.5 MILLION
15- MICHAEL JACKSON 58 MILLION
16- MARIAH CAREY 53 MILLION
17- WHITNEY HOUSTON 53 MILLION
18- KENNY ROGERS 50.5 MILLION
19- GEORGE STRAIT 50.5 MILLION
20- VAN HALEN 50.5 MILLION
TO DATE: AC/DC HAVE SOLD OVER 140 MILLION ALBUMS ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS- THE BEST SELLING HARD ROCK(INCL. METAL) BAND OF ALL TIME.
DEC 9TH:
AC/DC Rides The Highway To Epic source: http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1774429 Australian rock icons AC/DC have signed a multi-album deal with Epic, the first fruit of which will be refurbished reissues of seminal albums such as "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell," and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," due early next year. Further reissues will follow, all of which will sport new liner notes and rare photos, and utilize Sony's proprietary ConnecteD technology to unlock special online content created for each release. It is understood that AC/DC's next studio album, due sometime next year, will complete the group's contractual obligation to Elektra. AC/DC has spent the past 26 years of its career recording under the Warner Music Group umbrella. The group's back catalog is one of the most consistent sellers on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog chart. According to Epic parent Sony, 1980's "Back in Black" has sold 41 million copies worldwide, making it the sixth highest-selling album in history. It has sold 318,000 copies this year alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The move to Epic reunites AC/DC with Epic chairman Dave Glew, who previously worked with the group at Atlantic, as well as Epic executive VP/GM Steve Barnett, formerly the group's manager. The new deal brings 16 of AC/DC's 18 U.S. releases to the label, which plans to also reissue some of the albums on vinyl and compile DVD releases. "Today AC/DC is going stronger than ever, making it a true pleasure to welcome the band into the Sony Music family, and an honor to have the opportunity to bring both their classic repertoire and new releases to fans across the country and around the world," Sony Music chairman/CEO Thomas D. Mottola said in a statement. AC/DC's last Elektra studio set, "Stiff Upper Lip," debuted in March 2000 at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 842,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The title track from that album hit No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Meanwhile, Image Entertainment has set a Feb. 18 release date for the DVD "Rockmasters -- AC/DC," capturing an Oct. 27, 1977, concert in London. The video finds the band, at the time fronted by the late Bon Scott, running through such favorites as "Let There Be Rock," "T.N.T.," and "Bad Boy Boogie."
DEC 4TH:
ROCKMASTERS DVD/VHS to be released in FEB 2003! Here's the cover art and tracklisting for this VHS/DVD that is scheduled for Feb 18, 2003 release from image entertainment:Let There Be Rock, Problem Child, Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be, Whole Lotta Rosie, Bad Boy Boogie, Rocker, T.N.T. (Live at London's Hippodrome, BBC 1977
NEW AC/DC ALBUM IN MARCH!(?)
AC/DC are allegedly in the studio in Vancouver, Canada, recording at Bryan Adams studios as they did with the recording of the STIFF UPPER LIP album in 2000. The band have made recent comments in interviews, namely Brian Johnson, that they plan to release a new album by March 2003 and have a tour to follow, probably by June. Looks like 2003 will be a great year again for music!!
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THE MONSTERS OF MOCK TRIBUTE FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK!! The First MONSTERS OF MOCK Fest is scheduled to take place at THE VANDERBILT in Plainview, NY on Saturday night, November 30th! This will feature New York's top tribute bands, including LIVE WIRE (AC/DC Tribute), In The Flesh(Pink Floyd Tribute), 2112(Rush Tribute), and Appetite For Destruction(GNR Tribute)! Tickets for the event are only $9.85 (sponsored by 98.5 THE BONE), and are available at the box office or through TICKETMASTER.
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NEW AC/DC Book in the works! AC/DC Collectibles guide! Anyone interested in submitting photos of AC/DC rarities, especially extremely rare items such as Promotional items, Tour flyers, Tshirts, Test Pressings, Acetates, ultra rarities and the like, please contact me or send them to me. Anyone who feels they can contribute is more than welcome to contact me and will be thanked accordingly. Those who feel they can help to a large degree will also get a free copy once completed. More info on this as the project moves forward.
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AC/DC inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame...finally! Long overdue, AC/DC have been nominated and inducted into the Rock N Roll hall of fame, and an induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NY City on March 10th, 2003. For MTV press release on this news look here
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New AC/DC Boot releases have been surfacing recently. Many on Vinyl LP....
BLUES BOOZE N TATOOS: Very limited edition LP(400 Copies)...recording from Nashville Atlantic Recording Bar, 8/8/1978. 200 copies Red vinyl, 200 copies White vinyl.
CALIFORNIAN DEVILS LP.....Live from Fresno Selland Arena, Fresno, CA 7/15/1978. Available on Green, Yellow and red vinyl.
And I Curdled Her Cream... 2 LP Set + CD R. VERY limited edtion 30 copies! Live from Hobart City Hall 1/7/1977...
CAN I SIT ON YOUR FACE GIRL...YOU CAN SIT ON MINE LP..pressed in Sweden. Limited Edition of 500 copies. Live from Adelaide Australia 4/12/1976
NASHVILLE PUSSIES LP...VERY LIMTED EDTION 100 COPIES BLUE VINYL.. Same as Blues, booze and tatoos.
OVERDOSE VOL 1 LP. LIMITED EDITON 400 COPIES. (275 BLACK VINYL ,125 GREY VINYL) PART 1 OF A 3 LP SERIES. RELEASED IN GERMANY. RECORDED LIVE FROM Nürnberg, Frankenstadion 6/29/2001
WANTED ALIVE LP...Various recordings from 1977 on this LP, released in Sweden. Available on various colored vinyl: gold, black, purple, clear-purple, clear pink. Limited Edition of 500 copies.
SCOTTISH BASTARDS LP...Live in Edinburgh Scotland, 6/12/1976...available in red, brown, purple, gold, blue-gold colored vinyl.
GOIN' DUTCH CD... New Boot CD release limited edition 150 copies from Holland. Features various live 1978-79 recordings.
RANGER ROCK CD...Live Glasgow Apollo(If You want Blood concert +) 4/30/1978
VOLTAGE STRAIN CD....Live at Barbarella's Club, Birmingham England 7/31/1976
CURRENT PEAK CD...Live in Edinburgh Scotland 6/12/1976