Free AC/DC exhibition at WA Museum to leave fans thunderstruck

The State Government will tonight officially open the AC/DC: Australia's Family Jewels exhibition - which traces the history of the enduringly popular band that formed just under four decades ago - at the Western Australian Museum.

Acting Minister for Culture and the Arts Troy Buswell said the exhibition was expected to draw strong interest from fans across the State, as well as overseas and interstate visitors.

"AC/DC: Australia's Family Jewels has been endorsed by the band and it is packed with more than 400 exhibits, including photographs; instruments; gig posters; programs; lyrics; personal memorabilia; and costumes, as well as hours of concert footage and video clips," Mr Buswell said.

"It is an outstanding collaboration between the Melbourne Arts Centre, the WA Museum, Albert Music and Sony Music and will have a special meaning for the legion of WA fans that are proud to call the band's lead singer, the late Bon Scott, one of their own.

"He was a Fremantle boy and his family remain a Fremantle family to this day.

"AC/DC: Australia's Family Jewels follows on from the hugely successful A Day in Pompeii, which last year drew an audience of more than 113,000 people when it was on show at the WA Museum.

"These two exhibitions couldn't be more diverse, which serves to highlight the museum's capacity to reach a broad audience with a wide range of interests.

"The quality of the exhibitions both here and at the WA Art Gallery are a key element of the work being supported by the State Government at the Perth Cultural Centre in the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October this year."

The free exhibition will be officially launched on behalf of the State Government by Joe Francis MLA tonight; it opens tomorrow and will be on display until August 7.