New York – THEY’VE sung about “dirty deeds” for decades, but with a younger online audience hardcore headbangers AC/DC are cleaning up their act.
For years the domain name acdc.com was held by a porn site with metal fans perhaps getting more than they bargained for every time they clicked.

But after years of wry tolerance the band’s management in New York has finished negotiations to reclaim the name and launch the brand at its rightful place online.

AC/DC label manager Sam Horsburgh from Albert Productions in Sydney said with fans as young as 10 or 11 turning to the site something had to be done.

“The demographic of the band has shifted a lot,” Mr Horsburgh said.

“The push to get it back came predominantly because they knew there were a lot of younger fans coming through.

“The young fans are so net savvy it’s the first thing they do. And there was some interesting viewing up there for some time.”

In announcing the reclaimed site the band made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the original domain: “Feel free to visit us from work, school or, for long-time visitors to the site, from the usual privacy of your basement.”

As long ago as 2002 AC/DC fans were discussing their surprise at the extreme content on acdc.com on threads like: “Was ACDC.com hacked?”

“You should post a warning with that kind of thing (turn off your sound and don’t open it at work!!!),” one fan posted.

“I just happed to check that link out about a week ago on my own. I am not
going there again!”

The move comes as AC/DC prepares to release a five DVD collection of live concert footage.

More than 500,000 copies of the set Plug Me In have already been ordered worldwide.