Battle of the Bands, 70's - AC/DC v.s. The Rolling Stones

Which band Earns the Win?

  • Total voters
    26
  • Poll closed .
TVvoodoo

TVvoodoo

Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Country flag
Looks like the KISS Army found themselves outnumbered here on TTR, had to wave the white flag
maybe they were suffering from the effects of too much Cold Gin

Deep Purple beats down KISS, rather decisively.

tourney ladder .jpg

Let's move on. Another match-up that made my heart sink when the ladder came together.
Two of my favorites meet in the first round. Tough scene. AC/DC vs. The Stones.

Both absolute road warriors, with unlimited cred, legions of fans. Both known for bad boy behaviors, causing major line up changes.

I've seen both in concert. Both were frickin' AMAZING shows AC/DC around 1988, Who Made Who - both rank 1/2 in my best concerts ever.
Stones on the Voodoo Lounge tour, around '98 I think. At this point, after so many years of hits, both bands had
deep catalogs to draw from, and delivered all the goods, way more than I expected. My ears rang for days after the AC/DC concert with
the cannon fire during the finale, The Stones were WAY more active than I ever expected, and had a magnificent production in an
open stadium, yet it still seemed intimate. Mick was a frickin' machine, best frontman I've ever seen in action. Even then, at 55 yrs old.

As a teen, I was an AC/DC devotee. Probably five or six of my first ten records I spent my own money on were AC/DC platters.
I made my own denim vest with silver studs spelling out the logo on the back, lent it to a hottie at a house party, never saw it again.
Came to know the Stones much later, I find them similar in ways, both based on a very rootsy sound, true to rock 'n roll. Obviously
the lyrics of the Stones numbers somewhat more... um mature? I guess? A wider variety of material, themes, and song styles.
AC/DC found their vibe, never really seemed too aspirational after that. Both built up enough momentum to coast for decades.

Both very blues-based at the start, taking that base sound/form in new directions.

Anyway, after all that... This is going to be probably the toughest decision of the contest for me.



How about you fellas?
 
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Emotional Rescue 8-track came with my second car. I loved it, even as a "rock 'n roller" at the time.
But, I've always had pretty varied tastes. I look through my 80's purchases, there's punk, new wave,
early metal, like anthrax, Eurythmics, Adam and the Ants. I was a seeker, I guess.
 
TVvoodoo said:
Emotional Rescue 8-track came with my second car. I loved it, even as a "rock 'n roller" at the time.
But, I've always had pretty varied tastes. I look through my 80's purchases, there's punk, new wave,
early metal, like anthrax, Eurythmics, Adam and the Ants. I was a seeker, I guess.
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Variety.
I voted AC/DC , Let There be Rock. If that’s not to stupid. lmao
Bring on the next vote!
 
These are two bands I hold in my top 5 so it's not as easy as you'd think for me

The Stones are legendary, plain and simple. There are 3 definitive eras: Brian Jones, Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood. All 3 eras are very different from the others. The most important and simply the best? The Mick Taylor years. This was the Stones at their dirtiest, raunchiest and most creative. They literally went on a tear from Let it Bleed, to Sticky Fingers, to Exile on Main Street, to Goat's Head Soup and finally, It's Only Rock N Roll. These are masterpieces and cannot be beaten.


But then there is the absolute monster that is AC/DC. THE band that ruled my life until Iron Maiden and they still sit equally in my opinion. The Thunder From Down Under is a no-bull$hit straight rock band that is pure energy, pure volume and always a blast. Go listen to any AC/DC album upto For Those About to Rock and tell me with a straight face that you don't feel like having a great friggin' time or at least have a smile on your face! Go on, take your pick, I dare you! And if you say you don't? You're either A) A damned liar or B) THE biggest stick in the mud I can imagine or C) Lost! And I stand by those words!

AC/DC can make the bad times feel good and the good times feel incredible. It might be 4 chord rock? But YOU can't make those 4 chords sound that good if you tried and neither can anyone else!

I've been on a Highway to Hell since I was 5 years old and I will be until I hear the last Hell's Bells. All killer, NEVER any filler. AC/DC for the win and this is the way it is.




 
Clockworkmike said:
B) THE biggest stick in the mud I can imagine
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Present and accounted for, sir!

in-the-mud-mud.gif
 
The sultans of sleezy rock, accadacca ! The band that birthed two of rocks best front men the charismatic bon scott the pied piper if you will that launched them into the big time and on stages with alot of the bands mentioned here , Kiss ,Rush, they even fist fought deep purple in 1975 at sunbury festival ! Honestly every album with bon was a great album if you set and listen to them in their entirity even the filler songs are bangers , tunes like aint no fun waiting around to be a millionaire, kicked in the teeth, and beating around the bush are all toe tapping good and best played loud ! but sadly bon passed in 1980 but with brian johnson they hit back with their magnum opus back in black with 50 million albums sold second only to michael jacksons thriller on the all time list of albums sold , that solidly cements them as no1 in my book, but im noone of credit though just my humble opinion.
 
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Opening riff to Can't you hear me knocking is just plain awesome.

A couple of other Stones tunes get my guitar juices flowing.

Both bands are truly legendary, but I gotta go with the boys from Down Under on this one.
AC/DC by a ....
 
If I were to look at this from today's point of view, I would say that the popularity of AC/DC has eclipsed that of The Rolling Stones.

However, from the standpoint of the period in question, the Rolling Stones had firmly established themselves in the 1960s and were very popular in the '70s.

AC/DC was definitely on the rise in the latter half of the decade and really getting a lot of attention. But, I think the popularity of The Rolling Stones was greater overall than that of AC/DC during this time.

Though I expect I will be on the losing side this round, I'm giving my vote to the Stones.
 
This is tough.
Both are great bands.
Both bands released a bunch of great albums in the 70s with the Stones obviously getting more radio play.
If you were to ask my wife, she would say Stones without hesitation while imitating Jagger’s duck walk perfectly…
While I respect the Stones body of work, my bias toward harder rock is the deciding factor.
My vote goes by way of Highway to Hell!
 
This is excruciating. I'm reverting to my "desert island rule" ... which catalog would I rather be stranded alone with with... I'm trying to limit my votes to how bands impacted my whole life personally, as well as pop culture/social impact during the time period...
As well artistic merit (my own limited view) and NOT by units sold.

Stones:
  • Beggars Banquet - Released: December 6, 1968
  • Let It Bleed - Released: December 5, 1969
  • Sticky Fingers - Released: April 23, 1971
  • Exile on Main St. - Released: May 12, 1972
  • Goats Head Soup - Released: August 31, 1973
  • It’s Only Rock ’n Roll - Released: October 18, 1974
  • Black and Blue - Released: April 23, 1976
  • Some Girls - Released: June 9, 1978
  • Emotional Rescue - Released: June 20, 1980
For the Accadacca
  • High Voltage (Australia only) - Released: February 17, 1975
  • T.N.T. (Australia only) - Released: December 1, 1975
  • High Voltage (International version) - Released: April 30, 1976
  • Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australia) - Released: September 20, 1976
    • Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (International version) - Released: December 17, 1976
  • Let There Be Rock - Released: March 21, 1977 (Australia), June 23, 1977 (International)
  • Powerage - Released: May 5, 1978
  • Highway to Hell - Released: July 27, 1979
  • Back in Black - Released: July 25, 1980
Powerage and Exile are my
top two Forever Rock listens. AC/DC made me pick up the guitar. The Stones made me want to write songs.

Still thinking.
 
Here's what Grok says:

Comparing the Rolling Stones and AC/DC is like pitting a finely aged whiskey against a lightning bolt. The Stones, formed in 1962, redefined rock with a gritty blues swagger, many timeless hits and Mick Jagger’s electrifying stage presence. They’ve got longevity—still touring in 2025—and a catalog that’s influenced generations.
AC/DC, born in 1973, is pure high-voltage rock ‘n’ roll: Angus Young’s schoolboy riffs, Bon Scott’s raw edge, then Brian Johnson’s screech powered anthems like "Back in Black," plus the second-best-selling album of all time. The Stones are versatile, weaving psychedelia and country into their sound, AC/DC sticks to a relentless, no-frills formula that’s unapologetically loud. Sales lean AC/DC (200M+ vs. Stones’ 100M+), but the Stones’ cultural impact and adaptability give them an edge.
Superiority? The Rolling Stones take it for their evolution and enduring vibe, though AC/DC’s raw power is unmatched when you crave a sonic punch. Pick your poison— both are absolute legends.
 
TVvoodoo said:
Here's what Grok says:

Comparing the Rolling Stones and AC/DC is like pitting a finely aged whiskey against a lightning bolt. The Stones, formed in 1962, redefined rock with a gritty blues swagger, many timeless hits and Mick Jagger’s electrifying stage presence. They’ve got longevity—still touring in 2025—and a catalog that’s influenced generations.
AC/DC, born in 1973, is pure high-voltage rock ‘n’ roll: Angus Young’s schoolboy riffs, Bon Scott’s raw edge, then Brian Johnson’s screech powered anthems like "Back in Black," plus the second-best-selling album of all time. The Stones are versatile, weaving psychedelia and country into their sound, AC/DC sticks to a relentless, no-frills formula that’s unapologetically loud. Sales lean AC/DC (200M+ vs. Stones’ 100M+), but the Stones’ cultural impact and adaptability give them an edge.
Superiority? The Rolling Stones take it for their evolution and enduring vibe, though AC/DC’s raw power is unmatched when you crave a sonic punch. Pick your poison— both are absolute legends.
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One band evolved constantly with the changing scenes, the other is a one trick pony. But in that same honesty? That one trick that they do? Cannot be replicated and hits like a ton of lead every time.

Think of it like this: The Stones would be a Marshall JVM 410 that can do almost anything you want and it's perfect. AC/DC is like a JMP 2203: single function but dammit it's the perfect function lol
 
Damn, this is too hard. So I guess will have to go with what influenced me personally more in those formative years. Although I grew up hearing the stones, at the time I hated them and really never got over that until I was older. AC/DC on the other hand came along right when music was becoming important to me. And our school theme my 7th grade year was back in black. Also seen em a couple times, never interest in seeing the stones until it was just too damn expensive to do so. AC/DC for the win and for those about to rock , we salute you.
 
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