Brothers Angus (l) and Malcolm Young of the hard rock group AC/DC help Mayor Jose Luis Perez unveil the new name for a road in Leganes, 29 kms from central Madrid. It is the first street in the world bearing the group's name.
Madrid: The Australian hard-rock group AC/DC has reached a milestone as Madrid's southern suburb Leganes renamed a street in its honor.
Two of the group's members, leader Angus Young and his brother Malcolm, were on hand for the ceremony, which took place at the entrance to a festival park that is to be inaugurated this summer.
"Rock and roll ain't noise pollution, rock 'n roll is here to stay," the group predicted as it got rolling in the early '80s.
"It's a good thing, it's an honor for us," said Angus Young, who wore his trademark bermuda shorts and English school cap.
"Rock'n roll is the music of the people, of the masses," he declared after unveiling a street sign which read 'Calle de AC/DC.'
Around 300 enthusiastic fans showed up for the event, in a neighborhood known for supporting struggling bands.
On red brick walls that run along the small street, some posters advertised the Australian group's latest album, while others advertised a boxing match between Goyo 'Aspirina' Perez and Jorge 'El Salvage' Sendra.
Leganes Socialist Mayor Jose Luis Perez Raez said the idea for AC/DC street started in 1999 as the festival park was being planned.
"Leganes and the southern suburbs are popular neighborhoods that have always supported young rock groups and where lots of concerts are held. We contacted the record company, the group agreed, and that was it," explained the mayor.
He later received the Young brothers in the town's marriage hall as a joke to seal 'the union of Leganes and AC/DC'.
Fans who waited several hours only got a glimpse of the rock stars, but were thrilled at the idea of having a street named for them.
"It's a great idea. There should be others. All of the streets should be named for rock groups," said Javier Redondo, a 43-year-old stereo repairman.
"Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin also deserve their own streets."
His 18-year-old son, Javier Junior, forcefully added Metallica to the list.
Angus Young, who justifies being on most of the group's covers 'because I'm more photogenic,' jokingly took the inauguration one step farther.
"Later on, they might have to rename Madrid," he said.
