Michael Chugg

The Melbourne promoter who saw past the glam and booked AC/DC's future.

Michael Chugg is a real person, not a fictional character. He was a veteran Melbourne promoter who booked AC/DC to play at his club, the Hard Rock Cafe, during 1974. He was not pleased with their glam rock image and felt that Dave Evans was the wrong singer, but he was impressed by the Young brothers' guitar playing. Weeks after the Hard Rock gig, Malcolm called him: their manager Denis Loughlin had quit and they were stuck in Adelaide with no money. Chugg then hired them as their manager in November 1974, with the cooperation of George Young and Harry Vanda.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Michael Glenn Chugg
Born: 15 June 1947
Birthplace: Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation: Tour promoter, entrepreneur
Years active: 1964–present
Spouse: Liselotte Reisner (1970–1983); Lisa Slattery (1987–1993)
Partner: Chutimon Yensai
Children: 3

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

In 1974, on the recommendation of Michael Chugg, veteran Melbourne promoter Michael Browning booked AC/DC to play at his club, the Hard Rock Cafe. Chugg was not pleased with their glam rock image and felt that Evans was the wrong singer, but he was impressed by the Young brothers' guitar playing. Browning then received a call weeks after the Hard Rock gig from Malcolm: Loughlin had quit and they were stuck in Adelaide with no money. They hired Browning as their manager in November 1974, with the cooperation of George and Vanda. The Young brothers decided to abandon their glam rock image; instead, they pursued a pub rock sound. To this end, they agreed that Evans was no longer a suitable frontman.

Reader's Guide

Michael Chugg is the veteran Melbourne promoter who recommended AC/DC to Michael Browning for a booking at the Hard Rock Cafe in 1974. Weeks after the Hard Rock gig, Malcolm called Browning: their manager Denis Loughlin had quit and they were stuck in Adelaide with no money.