ONE OF Melbourne's most famous street signs has also become its most stolen one.

In a little over two years, six have gone missing.

Lord Major John So put up the first sign in AC/DC Lane, off Flinders Lane, sign in October 2004, to the sound of bagpipes playing It's Long Way to the Top. But since then there have been many replacements, and with much less fanfare.

The value of the signs to the thieves is probably far greater than the $120 it costs to replace each one.

The AC/DC signs have become a much photographed Melbourne tourist attraction, and the Melbourne City Council is struggling to continually replace them. Acting Lord Mayor Gary Singer it was disappointing.

"We all love rock'n'roll, but these people are stealing from the City of Melbourne community," he said.

"Melbourne's ratepayers are footing the bill for each stolen sign — it is both selfish and illegal."

And it is not only AC/DC signs disappearing from the city's lanes and streets. A total of 523 signs — at a cost of more than $60,000 — have been replaced by the Melbourne City Council in the past three years because they have been damaged or gone missing.

Senior Constable Adam West said stealing a street sign was outright theft, and offenders faced court and possible imprisonment.

Source www.theage.com.au

Click on the picture to view an archive scan of a news report report of ACDC Lane

A Melbourne artist called "Knifeyard" has apparently used his artistic skills to add a lightning bolt to the sign at ACDC Lane in Melbourne.
As Legislation had prohibited the band's iconic lightning bolt or a slash from separating the AC from the DC. Knifeyard decided to take the matter the into his own hands and made a massive lightning bolt out of the same metal used in street signs and bolted it above and below the ACDC street sign with a hammer drill.

It’s official – the City of Melbourne has voted to name a city laneway after rock band AC/DC and will erect a street sign honouring the band on site at 12.15pm today.

However, the distinctive slash or lightening bolt used to separate the AC from the DC breaches Office of the Registrar of Geographic Names policies and will not be used on the street sign. Instead the four letters will run hard up against each other – ACDC Lane.

The idea of honouring the band with a street name has grasped immediate national and international interest – almost all of it positive.

The Council received about 30 submissions in favour of the renaming proposal and four against it. Those against included nearby businesses that believed the lane should have another name that better reflected the area’s heritage.

There is no doubt Australians, Melburnians included, are enormously proud of the phenomenal success of AC/DC, which has sold 20 million copies of its Back in Black album and was recently inducted in the US Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

The band has strong links to Melbourne having lived here during their early years in the 1970’s. AC/DC have also made Melbourne recognisable to rock fans around the world through their Long Way to the Top video-clip which was filmed in Swanston St.

WHAT: The changing over of the Corporation Lane sign to ACDC Lane.

WHEN: 12.15pm, Friday 1 Rocktober 2004

WHO: City of Melbourne representatives & Bagpipe players

WHERE: Corner of ACDC Lane (formerly Corporation Lane) and Flinders Lane (between Exhibition St and Russell St), Melbourne.

Shane Waktins (L) and Ki Wone (R) from heavy metal band Osterberg ham it up in front a new road sign named ACDC Lane, to honour famous heavy metal band AC/DC who hail from Melbourne.

AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" becomes a lane

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia hard rock band AC/DC may have angrily sang they were on the "Highway to Hell", but now a winding, cobblestone lane in Melbourne has been named after the band that boasts more than 140 million album sales.

"Welcome to the Highway to Hell," said AC/DC guitarist Angus Young in a statement issued on Friday to commemorate Corporation Lane changing its name to AC/DC Lane.

In their famous song "Highway to Hell", AC/DC sang: "No stop signs, speed limit. Nobody's gonna slow me down...Hey Satan, payin' my dues. Playin' in a rocking band".

But you'd be hard pressed to break the speed limit driving down AC/DC Lane or meeting Satan or hard rockers like the late lead singer Bon Scott, who died in 1980 after a drinking binge.

The AC/DC Lane is a short, cobblestone lane which winds gently down to a nightclub called the "Cherry Bar", a retro dance club more suited to Nick Cave tunes and some old Johnny Cash. The tiny lane eventually branches off a busy retail sector.

But it was in Melbourne, just around the corner from AC/DC Lane, that the band filmed their breakthrough rock anthem "It's A Long Way To The Top", which started their journey to become one of the world's biggest rock bands.

Formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scotland-born brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC later enlisted Scotland-born lead singer Bon Scott. Two band members were born in Melbourne.

On Friday, Melbourne Lord Mayor John So unveiled AC/DC Lane before a crowd of about 100 fans, including teenagers and forty-somethings who sipped beer and wore faded black T-shirts.

The city council decided on the name change last month despite fears of "undesirable behaviour" in the lane.

"As the song says, this is a highway to hell, but I say this is a lane to heaven -- let us rock," declared So in officially opening AC/DC Lane.

AC/DC can boast fan websites in more than 20 countries including Japan, Brazil, Italy and Scotland.

Melbourne celebrated the first of Rocktober by naming a city laneway after veteran rockers AC/DC.

Lord Mayor John So erected the sign for ACDC Lane today to cheers and bagpipes playing their classic "Long Way to the Top".

Cr So called Melburnians to pump their collective fists in the air in honour of the new thoroughfare, formerly known as Corporation Lane.

"As the song says, this is a highway to hell. But I say this is a lane to heaven. Let us rock," Cr So said.

Members of Australia's music scene were present to honour the rock legends who made Melbourne their home in the 1970s.

"I think the whole band would be blown away," Music guru Ian "Molly" Meldrum said.

"I'm sure if (singer) Bon (Scott) was still alive he would be very proud. If Bon was still alive he would definitely be here because he'd be a very proud man."

ACDC Lane is parallel with Swanston Street, where the video clip to Long Way to the Top was filmed, and Spring Street, near the site of the band's Melbourne musical home, Berties.

The City of Melbourne has had copies of the laneway's sign made, in anticipation fans might steal it.

"We expect businesses to protect their address, so we don't expect there will be too many problems," Cr Kimberley Kitching said.

"We would expect it would be pretty hard to get it off though, you'd have to come with some pretty good equipment."

Pedestrians in Australia's second city Melbourne can now walk down an alleyway named after heavy-metal band AC/DC.

The Australian band attended a ceremony held by the mayor to rename the former Corporation Lane in their honour.

AC/DC Lane runs parallel to Swanston Street, where the band filmed the video to their 1975 hit Long Way To The Top.

AC/DC guitarist Angus Young told those at the ceremony "Welcome to the Highway to Hell" - a reference to another of the band's hits in the 1970s.

AC/DC, an Australian group that won international fame in 1975 for its hit "Long Way To The Top", now finds its name plastered over a well-trodden alleyway, previously known by the sedate title of Corporation Lane.

At a public ceremony the band's guitarist and founding member, Angus Young, responded to the honour by telling pedestrians, "Welcome to the Highway to Hell", a reference to another AC/DC hit.

Melbourne Lord Mayor John So preferred describing the newly dubbed street as "a laneway to heaven" and urging the fans present to pump their fists in the air -- just as AC/DC concert-goers did in the band's 1970s heyday.

The new AC/DC Lane runs parallel to Swanston Street, a major Melbourne thoroughfare where the band filmed the video-clip for "Long Way To The Top" while riding on the back of a truck.

AC/DC also called Melbourne home during the 1970s and two of its members were born in the city.

The city council was initially nervous about the proposal to rename the laneway and, for a while, dropped the plan after local shopowners protested that it would not reflect the commercial character and history of the street.

Instead, it considered a proposal to erect a series of plaques along Swanston Street recognising famous Australian musicians.

But late last month city officials revived the idea after more than 50 submissions from AC/DC fans. The plan also attracted five objections, including one from a Queensland church.

The city council has made several replicas of the new sign in the expectation that fans will try to, and perhaps succeed in, stealing the street's new nameplate.

The vintage hard rock band has had numerous hits that are still staples on classic rock radio worldwide, including Back in Black, Highway to Hell and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

ACDC electrifies Melbourne lane

Melbourne City Council has voted to rename a city lane after rock band, ACDC.

Corporation Lane, which runs off Flinders Lane, will have its sign changed tomorrow.

Councillor Kimberley Kitching says the council received hundreds of letters supporting the proposal, which outweighed objections from local businesses.

She believes the new name will attract tourists from around the world.

"We thought it was a way of paying tribute to a band that has rocked the world," she said.

"We're hoping that ACDC Lane will attract music lovers and other visitors to the city, particularly this part of the city, which is home to bars and music venues."

AC/DC gets lane

IT seemed the plan to name a central Melbourne lane after Australian rock band AC/DC had headed down the Highway to Hell.NCE

But after an avalanche of support from fans of the hard rockers, it seems the proposal is Back in Black.

AC/DC fans last night convinced Melbourne City councillors to revive the proposal to rename Corporation Lane, off Flinders Lane, ACDC (ACDC) Lane.

It dropped the proposal last month in the face of opposition from businesses in the lane concerned the name change did not reflect the lane's character or history.

Instead, it agreed to consider an alternative plan for a Hollywood Boulevard-style strip of plaques recognising top Australian musicians along nearby Swanston Street.

AC/DC filmed a video for its 1975 classic It's a Long Way to the Top on the back of a truck rolling down Swanston Street. Two members of the band were also born in Melbourne.

But at a council meeting last night, the councillors switched their support back to renaming the lane after more than 50 submissions from fans, and five objections.

One objection was from a church in Queensland, a council spokesman said.

The renaming proposal will face its final hurdle at another council meeting on September 29.

September 10, 2004

IT seemed the plan to name a central Melbourne lane after Australian rock band AC/DC had headed down the Highway to Hell.

But after an avalanche of support from fans of the hard rockers, it seems the proposal is Back in Black.

AC/DC fans last night convinced Melbourne City councillors to revive the proposal to rename Corporation Lane, off Flinders Lane, ACDC Lane.

It dropped the proposal last month in the face of opposition from businesses in the lane concerned the name change did not reflect the lane's character or history.

Instead, it agreed to consider an alternative plan for a Hollywood Boulevard-style strip of plaques recognising top Australian musicians along nearby Swanston Street.

AC/DC filmed a video for its 1975 classic It's a Long Way to the Top on the back of a truck rolling down Swanston Street. Two members of the band were also born in Melbourne.

But at a council meeting last night, the councillors switched their support back to renaming the lane after more than 50 submissions from fans, and five objections.

One objection was from a church in Queensland, a council spokesman said.

The renaming proposal will face its final hurdle at another council meeting on September 29.

www.theaustralian.news.com.au

It's still a long way, but the Aussie rockers AC/DC may yet be honoured with a street name, even though the Melbourne City Council this week stepped back from the idea.

In July, the council proposed renaming Corporation Lane, off Flinders Lane, after the band. The plan was not welcomed by some nearby businesses and property owners.

Planning committee chairwoman Catherine Ng confirmed that the council was now having another look, and considering other options, including a plaque on the footpath in Swanston Street.

She said AC/DC could be the first entry on an "honour roll" of renowned musicians with strong links to Melbourne.

But yesterday Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross said that if Melbourne decided against renaming the lane, his council could take up the idea.

Between 1974 and 1976 band members lived in a house in East St Kilda, where they wrote the material for their debut album.

Cr Gross said that under new guidelines for naming roads and lanes in Port Phillip, the band could qualify.

"Absolutely, but death is important, it's part of the tradition," he said. "If it could be said they pass the death test, we could consider it, and maybe AC/DC do qualify on the death issue, given that their lead singer is, in fact, irretrievably dead."

Cr Gross said most streets in Port Phillip were named between 1835 and 1920 after "dead white males from Britain", and any new street names should reflect diversity.

www.theage.com.au

Planning committee chairwoman Catherine Ng confirmed last night the council would consider other options next week, including a plaque on the footpath in Swanston Street.

AC/DC would be the first entry on an "honour roll" of renowned musicians with strong links to Melbourne.

Cr Ng said a Swanston Street plaque was more appropriate because AC/DC's strongest link to the CBD was the 1975 film clip for the classic track It's A Long Way To The Top, which shows the band performing on a flatbed truck travelling down Swanston Street.

She also said a roll of honour would be more sensible than finding an alternative lane and having to search for an association between the lane and the band.

The proposed renaming of Corporation Lane, off Flinders Lane, was not welcomed by some property owners and businesses in the area, who argued AC/DC did not reflect the diverse character of the area, she said. But Bill Walsh, an AC/DC fan who runs a rock 'n' roll bar, Cherry, in Corporation Lane disagreed. He said the public response to renaming the lane had been overwhelmingly positive.

"Everyone I spoke to about it thought it was a great idea... people were already coming here (to the lane) to have their photo taken," he said.

Another vocal supporter, former Triple R broadcaster James Young, said that after proposing the name change, the council's compromise was akin to "offering supporters the world and giving them an atlas".

But the renaming is not dead yet, with some councillors last night vowing to hold firm.

"To put a plaque up instead sounds fairly weak-kneed to me... it just sounds crazy," said Cr David Risstrom of the Greens.

"We've had a proper consultation and I'll still be backing AC DC Lane," he said.

In July, the council decided to rename the lane AC DC Lane, subject to public consultation and other conditions. Public submissions were eight to one in favour of honouring the Australian rockers with their own laneway.

30 jul 04

PLANS to rename a city lane as a tribute to rock band AC/DC are back on the drawing board.

Melbourne City Council last night voted to defer its decision on the issue after opposition from the RSL, local restaurant Rosati and a church group.

The council will research other appropriate CBD lanes for a name change.

ACDC Lane had been proposed for Corporation Lane, off Flinders St.

But Piero Gesualdi, owner of nearby restaurant Rosati, said the plan was inappropriate and did not reflect the heritage nature of the precinct.

The RSL also opposed the name, and Pine Glen Ministries said the band was not an appropriate role model for the young.

Councillor Catherine Ng said the council needed to listen to what the people had to say.

Cr Ng said the council still wanted to honour the band and would revisit the issue in September.

"We have to address some of their concerns and identify any further lanes that may be used for the name," she said.

But Cr David Risstrom labelled the decision a backflip. "I thought it was a good move. Certainly AC/DC has given a lot to Australia," he said.

Cr Kimberley Kitching said local businesses may have benefited from the new name.

Kate Uebergang, urban affairs reporter

Herald Sun

30TH July 04

A COUNCIL decision on renaming a Melbourne CBD laneway in honour of legendary band AC/DC has been deferred until later in the year.

Melbourne City Council said last month it was considering changing the name of Corporation Lane, a narrow alley which runs off Flinders Lane, to AC/DC Lane as a tribute to the band. A decision had been expected last night.

But Lord Mayor John So said the council last night deferred making a decision on the renaming to allow the council to consider public submissions.

He said the council had received 30 submissions in favour of the proposed renaming and four against it.

"Some of the businesses in the area believe the bars around Corporation Lane, Flinders Lane and Duckboard Place do not reflect AC/DC music and any renaming should acknowledge the area's other characteristics," he said.

"Tonight's council meeting decided to defer the issue until September's planning committee meeting when all the submissions can be considered."

www.heraldsun.news.com.au

A LANEWAY tribute to rock band AC/DC has detoured down a highway to hell.

Merv Williams, secretary of the Melbourne RSL sub-branch, will oppose a Melbourne City Council recommendation to rename Corporation Lane ACDC Lane. The council has asked Mr Williams to float the proposed street name change with RSL members.

Mr Williams said Corporation Lane was an extension of Duckboard Place, where the RSL's Melbourne sub-branch set up offices in 1939. He will suggest the lane become part of Duckboard Place at an RSL meeting tonight. "The RSL has been around since 1916 so I think we are entitled to a bit of a say," Mr Williams said.

World War I Diggers used "duckboards" to cross French battlefields.

"We are the old boys on the block and we should have a say."

The owner of Rosati restaurant has also joined the fight.

www.heraldsun.news.com.au

July 26, 2004

THE owner of Melbourne institution Rosati will fight a move to rename Corporation Lane in a tribute to rock band AC/DC.

Piero Gesualdi said the plan being considered by Melbourne City Council to call it ACDC Lane was inappropriate.

Mr Gesualdi, whose restaurant stands close to Corporation Lane, said the group had no relevance to the street. "AC/DC, as a band, has no affiliation with this area except for being belted out at 3am from a speaker," he wrote in a letter of objection to council.

"AC/DC would have no idea where this area was unless they came to Rosati for a coffee on their way to a gig," Mr Gesualdi said.

He said neighbouring law firms, banks, architects, galleries and major corporations opposed the plan.

"We all feel this name will have a negative impact on the area, rather than reflect the general environment of the area," he said.

A council team considering the plan described Corporation Lane as being grungy.

"Aren't all laneways grungy?" Mr Gesualdi asked.

Formed in Melbourne in 1973, AC/DC is Australia's biggest ever rock export. Its hits include You Shook Me All Night Long and Highway To Hell.

Nui Te Koha Herald Sun

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian rock band AC/DC, well known for their hit "Highway to Hell", are to have a humble alleyway named in their honour.

The Australian hard rockers, one of heavy metal's top acts for more than 20 years, will be memorialised by "AC/DC Lane" in the southern city of Melbourne, the home town of drummer Phil Rudd and former bass player Mark Evans.

"The lane suggested is...one of about 1,000 City of Melbourne streets called Corporation Lane -- a default title for many un-named lanes," said Catherine Ng, who heads the city's planing and development committee.

"It's a Long Way to the Top", one of AC/DC's earliest and most famous music videos, was filmed on a flatbed truck travelling down Melbourne's Swanston Street in 1975.

AC/DC's classic album "Back in Black" has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

The City of Melbourne said it supported the lane's name change, which would likely be formally approved later this month.

www.reuters.co.uk

City council supports ACDC Lane tribute
By Martin Boulton
July 9, 2004
Corporation Lane in Melbourne's central business district will be renamed ACDC Lane as a tribute to Australia's most successful band.

Melbourne City Council last night supported the name change in a move aimed at recognising the role of music and popular culture in shaping the city. A council report said AC/DC had "strong links with Melbourne", including the 1975 film clip It's a Long Way to the Top, which the band performed on a flatbed truck travelling down Swanston Street.

Since forming in late 1973, AC/DC has sold more than 140 million albums worldwide and already has a street - Calle AC/DC in Madrid - named in their honour.

The council unanimously supported the recommendation and will investigate renaming more laneways in recognition of other worthy recipients.

Speaking from his home in England this week, AC/DC's guitarist, Angus Young, told The Age he was thrilled with the plan. "Melbourne was our stomping ground in the early years... they were the fun-packed days," he said.

Melbourne City Council are considering renaming Corporation Lane, a narrow alley which runs off Flinders Lane, AC/DC Lane as a tribute to the band.

Corporation Lane is nearby to "Swanson Street" which is the street that the band filmed the promo video to "It's a long way to the top" on the back of a truck.

View a small map of Melbourne Streets
View a large map of Melbourne Streets

A decision on the renaming of street is likely to be made in the next month.

If the street gets named in honour of the band it will be the second street to be named in honour of the band , as "Calle de AC/DC" in Legannes , Madrid was named after the band in 2000.

CNN

• Melbourne City Council
• ACDC Lane Newspaper article
• AC/DC Lane Movember 2006
• View a small map of Melbourne Streets
• View a large map of Melbourne Streets
• Calle De AC/DC Leganes Madrid Spain