CHARTS ANALYSIS: AC/DC don't mind the gap after 28 years.

Solo acts need not apply for a number one album at the moment, as veteran hard rock band AC/DC are elevated to the summit to extend to nine the number of consecutive chart-toppers by groups, in a sequence stretching back 14 weeks. That's the longest sequence ever without a solo summit snatcher.

Black Ice is AC/DC's 15th studio album since their 1975 debut and their first for eight years. Tipped to top the chart in several other countries, it bows emphatically at number one here, with first-week sales of 110,978 copies. It makes a much bigger impression than their last album, Stiff Upper Lip, which debuted and peaked at number 12 in 2000 on sales of 14,280 copies.

AC/DC have charted 14 albums prior to Black Ice but only one - 1980's Back In Black - got to number one. The gap of 28 years between number one albums is the longest of any act, eclipsing the 25-year hiatus between Elvis Presley's 40 Greatest Hits (1977) and Elv!s - 30 Number One Hits (2002).

The Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Frank Ifield, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Billy Thorpe, John Paul Young and Peter Andre are among a plethora of acts born in the UK but widely regarded as Australian. Some 80% of AC/DC fit that bill too - guitarists Angus Young and brother Malcolm originally hail from Glasgow, bassist Cliff Williams is from Romford, and lead singer Brian Johnson is from Gateshead. Only drummer Phil Rudd is a native Aussie. And they're pretty elderly for a number one group too - average age is 56, three years younger than the record of 59 set by The Eagles last year.

The Kaiser Chiefs' third album, Off With Their Heads, debuts at number two on sales of 46,235 copies a fortnight after introductory single Never Miss A Beat peaked at number five. The Kaiser Chiefs' last album Yours Truly, Angry Mob debuted at number one on sales of 151,139 in 2007. Their 2005 debut album Employment debuted at number three on sales of 75,021 and peaked at number two 49 weeks later.

Crazy, the first single from the new Sugababes album Catfights And Spotlights reached number three a couple of weeks ago, and the album debuts at number eight on sales of 23,123 copies, taking their total album sales to more than 4m. It is a year and two weeks since their last album, Change debuted at number one on sales of 53,540 copies. Sugababes' sixth album, it was their second slowest starter, despite its number one placing, and has thus far sold 494,485 copies. Predecessors One Touch, Angels With Dirty Faces, Three, Taller In More Ways and Overloaded: The Singles Collection, opened at 77, two, three, one and three respectively, with first-week sales of 5,510, 64,772, 63,118, 65,781 and 57,284 and eventual sales of 220,461, 916,562, 855,120, 885,887 and 597,983.

With second single Don't Call This Love diving 3-11 on its second week in the chart, reigning X Factor champion Leon Jackson's debut album, Right Now, arrives at number four on sales of 37,197 copies. Jackson is the first winner of The X Factor not to open at number one. First season winner Steve Brookstein's Heart And Soul, second series winner Shayne Ward's self-titled set and Leona Lewis' Spirit all shot to number one on first-week sales of 50,989, 201,266 and 375,872, respectively.