AC/DC: Classic or Dud

ANYway, I zapped an e-mail to my New Yorker editor with the flimsiest of hopes that he might be able to hook us up. I don't generally like to exploit this particular avenue, as my connection with the magazine seems TENUOUS at best, and I don't want to ask for extra favours or rock the boat. But, to my considerable surprise, John wrote back (the subject header read: "YOU RAWK TONIGHT!") and all was a go! Trouble is, being that this gig was at the Roseland Ballroom (a large-sized venue for mid-level bands, but tiny for AC/DC), the tix were being distributed in a scalper-defying voucher system. Once I heard from John that there would be two tix in my name at the box office, I trucked on up to Roseland and waited
for a chilly HOUR in the cold with a gaggle of other middle-aged,
leather-clad mooks, only to be turned away when I finally got in with the news that: "Press tickets won't be available `til this evening!"

I went back at 6:00, and the street was crawling with scalpers, mounted police, crestfallen metalheads and grown men with paunches and thinning hair dressed like pre-adolescent Australian schoolboys. After unspooling a giant ball of red tape, I finally got my envelope of two tickets (thank god, I was expecting to get stiffed with only one, and having to explain that to Rob would've been unpleasant and awkward). I jogged over to Ye Olde Tripple Inn on 54th street and celebrated with a few pints of Yuengling while I waited for Rob to show up. Huzzah!

After a quick bite, we repaired back over to Roseland where the mob scene was in full swing. We'd heard rumours that the opening "mystery band" was going to be some sort've R'n'R Hall of Fame amalgam featuring members of the Clash and the Police, but suffice to say.....I didn't really expect as much (can you imagine Paul Simonon and Sting playing at an AC/DC show? Me neither.) It wasn't. Instead it was some nobody band called, I think, Momento, who insisted on chiding the capacity crowd with taunts of "old people" and "how come there are so many old fat guys here tonight?" What did they expect? This is AC/DC, not fuckin' Linkin Park. They left the stage to a smattering of indifferent applause.

The floor was packed like a massive cannister of hirsute sardines. Our press tix got us, however, up to the Mezzanine level, which afforded a bit more elbow room and comparitively unobstructed views (although we were still behind the VIP section, which featured little tables on the balcony.) We settled in, grabbed a few more beers and readied ourselves for rock. I spotted Rick Rubin, but no other notables. The crowd was peppered with a truly diverse cross-section. Aging metalheads, guys in business suits, a few hipsters who could've been Strokes roadies wearing "ironic" shirts featuring bygone luminaries like Rainbow and Dio, a couple of legit Hell's Angels, a few mohicans, a mixed bag.....though no hip hop kids. Surprise.

Promptly on-time, the band hit the stage, opening with "Hell Ain't A Bad Place to Be." Bassist Cliff Williams hasn't aged a day. Malcolm is
significantly trimmer and less goblinesque than before. Phil Rudd on the drums is the *SPITTING IMAGE* of Iggy Pop...it's bizarre. Brian Johnson -- complete with signature cap and indecipherable Geordie accent -- still has the pipes, and comes across as possibly the most grounded, nicest guy in rock. And then, of course, there's Angus.....Australia's finest embodiment, now almost fully bald save a friar tuck ring and a thinning widow's peak. His trademark "dance" while playing (massive, gleaming guitar at trunk-level, left knee-raised, shoulders back phasing into shoulders forward, head down, right-knee raised, full-on rocktastic grimace all the while) is a bit less feverish than in years past...but, y'know, the man's fuckin' in his fifties, for god's sakes, and still rocking absolutely furiously. Majesty.

The set list was a bit soft on momentum. Lots of older numbers, like "Gone Shootin'," "The Jack", "Rock'n'Roll Damnation", "If You Want Blood". They, of course, did do stand-bys like "T.N.T.", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "Thunderstruck," "Back in Black" (the second number of the evening), "Shoot to Thrill", "Hells Bells" (the track that got me into them way back in Eighth Grade), "Highway to Hell" and "Whole Lotta Rosie." I was somewhat struck by the absence of "Who Made Who", "Let There Be Rock" and "For Those About to Rock", yet they insisted on playing "Stiff Upper Lip" from their most recent album. After a to-the-minute hour and a half set, they only did one encore (knowing full well that no one paid to get in, save the poor slobs who paid ridiculous scalper fees...I was offered three hundred for my pair) with "You Shook Me All Night Long". To be honest, I've never really liked that song. It's kind of their "Whip It," y'know? Their one "hit single."

After that, following a bit of a tease, the house lights went up, and that was it. Personally, I could've standed a few more tunes, but hey.....I can't complain.

What the heck is with these new reissues? I guess they sold the rights to Sony or something? Ok fine, great, an opportunity to finally put the catalog in order. But no, they're re-releasing the same stupid American versions! So we're going to once again end up with "Problem Child" stupidly on both Let There Be Rock and Dirty Deeds Done Done Dirt Cheap, and a half-assed Jailbreak EP, while great Australia only cuts like "R.I.P", "Stick Around", and "Carry Me Home" languish. How idiotic.

me: do you like AC/DC?
coworker: duh. i'm a guy.

Good lord, so do I.

a drummer friend often says that phil rudd is his favorite drummer. he plays the same beat on every song but he's tight as hell and doesn't try to steal the spotlight or do anything flashy.

(Oh, yeah, classic, btw.)

There's no need for any more than that.

This is so true. I'm glad they got him back in the fold after the years with "the bald guy from the Firm" (as everyone used to call him).

If I had to OPO it would probably be Let There Be Rock. Which sort of a weird choice because it probably has the least amount of Bon's signature humor. Which is of course one of the main reasons I love the band so much. That side is best featured on Dirty Deeds and Highway to Hell.

But Let There Be Rock - it's just so relentlessly heavy. The production is weird, the guitars just crackle with electricity. The album really shows off the way the twin guitars play off each other to create those glorious riffs. Like on "Overdose" which has the long intro w/ the arpeggios and the crashing drums. Then one guitar picks up the riff, then the next one locks in. It just becomes this churning monolith. Like space-rock or something. Yet for all of that there is still space in the music; they don't let the chords ring too long, they clip them off. This sound is nothing like the happier music, still tethered to the blues, on earlier records like High Voltage.

But yeah, every Bon Scott era record is a classic, and a decent number of the Brian Johnson ones as well (I'll take everything up to and including Flick of the Switch, and I actually really liked Ballbreaker).

Also, they played "What's Next to the Moon"!

http://www.dromo.com/fusionanomaly/flow.gif

However, isn't it possible for you to express your opinion about the band without directly insulting the vast majority of the people who have posted to this thread?

AC/DC is, other than Zep, the only hard rock band that every single woman I know —and probably many, many I don't— likes, if not loves.

so Black Ice is now out there, any fans?

http://i33.tinypic.com/2q0rn8k.jpg

official release date it October 18, 2008.

1. Rock N' Roll Train (4:21)
2. Skies On Fire (3:34)
3. Big Jack (3:57)
4. Anything Goes (3:22)
5. War Machine (3:09)
6. Smash N' Grab (4:06)
7. Spoilin' For A Fight (3:17)
8. Wheels (3:28)
9. Decibel (3:33)
10. Stormy May Day (3:10)
11. She Likes Rock N' Roll (3:53)
12. Money Made (4:15)
13. Rock N' Roll Dream (4:41)
14. Rocking All The Way (3:22)
15. Black Ice (3:25)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7792166.stm
AC/DC are about to be paid a glowing tribute at Holyrood in recognition of the rock band's Scottish roots.

South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame has lodged a parliamentary motion calling for the achievements of the group to be acknowledged.

Founding members Angus and Malcolm Young were born in Glasgow before the family moved to Australia in 1963.

And former frontman Bon Scott was born in Kirriemuir, where there is a memorial plaque in his honour.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45313000/jpg/_45313762_41646570.jpg
AC/DC were formed in 1973 and have sold more than 150 million records worldwide, with songs such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black and For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).

In 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Glasgow gig

They recently released a new album called Black Ice and will play Hampden Park in Glasgow next year as part of a world tour.

Ms Grahame's motion - entitled AC/DC, We Salute You - calls on the Scottish Parliament to recognise the band's Scottish roots; note that their popularity continues to grow and welcome their forthcoming performance in Scotland; and to acknowledge the musical inspiration the band has provided to thousands of Scottish musicians.

Ms Grahame said: "It is clear Scott had a strong sense of his identity, from the 'Scotland forever' tattoo he had on his arm to his playing the bagpipes on the AC/DC track It's a long way to the top.

"When they played Glasgow in 1978 the whole band wore the Scotland national football strip as their concert took place just ahead of the World Cup finals and it would be fitting if they were to do the same when the band play Hampden national football stadium next June.

"After 35 years AC/DC are still contributing to music and giving fans enjoyment worldwide.

"I think they have long deserved official recognition from their homeland for that major musical contribution and my parliamentary motion will go some way towards recognising that."

Angus and Malcolm Young are guitarists and songwriters in AC/DC. Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in 1980, aged 33.

so Black Ice is now out there, any fans?

Yes, certainly. Was the fastest and mostest selling hard rock CD straight out of the gate this year. And it was only at Wal-Mart although I picked up mine used after someone needed cash money quick.

How do you rate it George?

Maybe this was just Easy Street in Seattle, but I think some indie stores got some copies in the same day as Walmart. I bought mine on release day.

Black Ice sounds like the superior and mature followup to Blow Up Your Video. Black Ice makes Razors Edge, Ballbreaker, and Stiff Upper Lip seem like atypical experimental albums in comparison.

And of course, Black Ice is great.

"Maybe this was just Easy Street in Seattle, but I think some indie stores got some copies in the same day as Walmart. I bought mine on release day."

I have heard stories of indie stores buying copies of AC/DC, the Eagles, Garth Brooks or whatever else Wal-Mart exclusive is being sold at loss-leader prices and then repricing them for sale at their own shops. In many cases, it's cheaper (and more profitable) than getting them direct from the major label to buy them at Wal-Mart for $9.99 and sell them for $12.99. Affects sales numbers, too, with all the indie bulk buys boosting the bottom line.

How do you rate it George?

I like it quite a bit. Beats hell out of House of Jazz. I might have said in another thread that there a bunch of things which stick on this one. Rock 'n' Roll Train is the obvious one. But my favorites off it are Wheels and Money Made. Spoilin for a Fight, too.

It's to the AC/DC classic albums list what Venus in Overdrive is to Rick Springfield's classics. It's not going to crowd Highway to Hell or Powerage, but it competes fairly easy within the Brian Johnson albums. I never listen to Thunderstruck, Blow Up Your Video, the Maximum Overdrive soundtrack or Fly On the Wall anymore. This one's best songs I can see hanging in there for awhile.

Maybe Angus looks silly in the booklet shot but he sure doesn't sound silly. Plus that rhythm guitar still has it.

The used store on Colorado, Penny Lane, also had a copy of something advertised as the opening band on the AC/DC tour. The Answer? Advertised as sounding like classic rock or old Free. Passed on that one.

I think I discussed this with da croupier, but Black Ice is the perfect album for the fan of both Jet *and* The Darkness, both of which became popular since AC/DC last released an album. It's likely the band made this with one factor in mind that was "Ah, so the kids like Jet and the Darkness, eh?"

(I stress "one factor")

(also, disclosure: I don't like Jet. I liked The Darkness)

I used to think Bon Scott sounded like a muppet with chlamydia

Or, as discussed recently on another thread, Alex Harvey!

also getting had and getting sold secondhand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwu7vKCrJWQ

they're about nothing and everything... about being

a band with the mission statement, "we stand for life at its fullest"

You know how cool AC/DC is? At least one of those times I saw them they *opened* with "You Shook Me All Night Long." What other band could *open* with its biggest hit?

AC/DC in a nutshell:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrhzX3dRRiI

ive had inject the venom on repeat for the last month or so

i almost died riding in a (homemade) convertible pickup truck down a back road with a guy who took it up to like 100 miles an hour while blasting Thunderstruck and now every time I hear that AAAAHAAuhHAAAAAHAAAA i get giddily nauseous

lol Thunderstruck may as well have been my hometown’s unofficial theme song the amount it was played for the 5 years after it came out
(my hometown = bogan central)

i am still somewhat triggered by it

i remember exactly where i was when i first heard thunderstruck. my friend josh's house - watching the video on his tv. he had trivia to tell me about the drummer which i did not really care about

what was the trivia?

that he had played for The Firm, who had done their own versions of Led Zeppelin tracks or something

meanwhile i'm getting flattened like a train and can't speak, can't think

That's a different Firm to the Star Trekkin' mob, I believe

It is. (the Star Trekkin' one is the same as the Arfur Daley E's Alright one though)

£4 today got me the remasters of this lot :

AC/DC - If You Want Blood
AC/DC - Fly On The Wall
AC/DC - The Razors Edge
AC/DC - Flick Of The Switch
AC/DC - Back In Black
AC/DC - Powerage
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
AC/DC - High Voltage

i am 53.
too old to get into this stuff ?
my neighbours wish.

I feel like one of the only people who loves Fly on the Wall. Crazy underrated album. A little clunky (Simon Wright's style is more caveman compared to Rudd's swinging groove) but it's loaded with some wicked rockers.

given the excess, not got to that one yet.
but to be fair, have listened to 4 of them, and so far, not hit a dud yet (ftr : back in black, let there be rock, high voltage, if you want blood)

I was surprised they never did a farewell tour, but perhaps one is imminent, as apparently they are playing a one-off (for now) show in California with a bunch of ol' Monsters of Rock vets.

Always loved the way that Cliff Williams essentially stays out of the way of the real rhythm section, which is Malcolm Young and Phil Rudd.

Every musician in this band is part of the rhythm section. Someone I know used to say of AC/DC, for all its no frills, no fuss, meat and potatoes philosophy, the band is always in tune, and always in time.

I think of AC/DC* as the electric equivalent of the Count Basie Orchestra, and Malcolm was their Freddie Green.

*with Phil Rudd, that is. Without Phil, they’re too stiff, they don’t swing, and the rhythm section doesn’t breathe.

Just heard Thunderstruck used as a cue on NPR, and for a second was sure that meant someone had died. :(

AC/DC were a huge band for me when I was a kid. I got into them because of Maximum Overdrive. But I was very Brian-centric and only knew the biggest hits of the Bon Scott years. Anyway, I was listening to Rose Tattoo the other day and it inspired me to dig further into 1970s AC/DC. I mean, I don't need to tell anyone that High Voltage is an amazing record, but I'm always glad when I find something awesome to catch up with.

Powerage is the 70s record I return to the most (though obv I celebrate the whole catalog) mostly cuz its light on hits but mostly cuz it's like if I told you "Oh yeah the Stones made a record between Sticky Fingers and Exile that's just as good but no one talks about it"

The early Johnson era stuff is so great and maybe a little underrated now?

The band I was in did an AC/DC covers thing for a NYE and we specifically focused on the Brian Johnson era stuff cuz it wasn't as "cool" but we did a deep dive and really practiced the material (like more then we normally would for own shit, natch) but so it gave me a renewed appreciation of those songs and Johnson is a fucking incredible singer, to sound like he does and do it LOUD is a lot harder then you'd think

we had a confetti canon on stage and sync'd up "For Those About to Rock" with the midnight countdown so "FIRE!" came right at midnight and it would have been awesome but our bass player kinda step on the touchdown call cuz he thought I was going to blown up by the confetti canon so he pulled me away and can you tell I'm still pissed about it haha?

Apparently Cliff is back, but Phil is out. :(

I guess it's kinda hard to guess where Rudd's head is at given his history

Fun fact: Rudd was the only Australian born member of the blockbuster era.

i love the Bon era the best

but overall with this band I think the joy of relistening as a longtime fan now is that there is a lot of joy in their music, and how the fun IS that it’s not really “about” anything. And lately for me on a musical level, marvelling how the whole rhythm section is *so* locked in, solid as a fucking rock, with these perfect spaces to support Bon’s showmanship, or Angus’s solos, or fuckin bagpipes or whatever

it’s a thing of beauty imo

Booming post, cosign 100%.

oowerage is so so awesome, Chris otm

There is a 2 part ABC documentary about Alberts LTD which covers from the 60s with the Easybeats through AC/DC that is on Youtube that is worth a view. It is like many of these RNR documentaries but the Australian view point is pretty novel to me, especially seeing some of the other acts covered in the show like Rose Tattoo. The part where Young and Vanda was using drum tape loops to make tracks was interesting.

oowerage is so so awesome

First tour since 2016, I guess. But just Brian and Angus as anchors. No Cliff or Phil.

Phil Rudd has not toured with them for fourteen years tbf

(four years before his meth / murder-for-hire legal complications)

(and Cliff retired from the band aged 67, so not touring at age 74 for an album that he popped back to record for a few weeks in 2018 is not much surprise)

And Malcolm is dead. I know *why*, doesn't make it much better. But Cliff did play with them at that Power Trip show back in October, so there was a possibility.

Aw man why is this thread not called "AC/DC C/D"? Someone really slipped up there.

Makes me really nervous when two separate threads about aging artists get bumped.

tbf this the rare band where it's unusual when something bad *doesn't* happen to them.

the current Mitsubishi commercial has done the impossible and actually made me dislike "Thunderstruck"

AC/DC C/D S/D

mods please rename

xpost same thing happened to me but 20+ years ago, ithere was a Holden ute commercial that played in Australia foreverrr in the late 90’s early 00’s

still cannot with that fkn song