From a report in Rocklegend magazine;
I honestly thought the day would never come when I would see the
legendary AC/DC in person. They haven’t been my way in years. But,
like a message from God (or Satan), I received the news that indeed
the duck-walking schoolboy would be visiting my town. My worn-out
copy of AC/DC Live at Donington gave me high hopes of an incredible
show that I prayed (to Satan) the aging men could still pull off.
They not only equaled the spectacle, but far exceeded it, and it
was one of the most energetic, loud and stunning shows I’ve ever
seen.
The opening band was The Answer from Northern Ireland. The
singer had a voice reminiscent of Sebastian Bach mixed with Axl
Rose and had the hair to match. He danced and screamed while the
band pumped out classic hard rock with a glam feel. Promoting their
new album "Everyday Demons", they played fist-pumpers and ballads
that had so much of a Southern feel that I couldn’t believe they
were from another country, especially the North of their
country.
The lights suddenly shut off and we all knew what that meant.
The blinking red devil horns were like red stars across the arena.
Waiting in the darkness with great anticipation that we were all
finally going to see our heroes, we stood at full attention. A
cartoon started to play on the jumbo screen; a runaway train being
fed coals by a devil in a schoolboy outfit. Two women burst into
the engine room and seduce the devil boy, until they punch him out
and try to stop the train. The devil boy gets up and tries to
thwart their actions, but the train crashes through the screen on
to the stage with fire and sparks flying off everywhere. Then the
show starts as AC/DC walk on the stage and launch into “Runaway
Train” off their new album “Black Ice.” Great song after great
song, the band rocked the crowd, playing old favorites which had
the whole arena singing along and new hits that are sure to become
classics. Just a few of those being “Shoot to Thrill,” “You Shook
Me All Night Long” and “War Machine.” One of my favorites was
“Whole ‘Lotta Rosie” complete with a blow-up, dancing Rosie that
straddled the crashed train. But the highlight of the show for many
was during the song “The Jack.” During the interlude, Angus Young
put on a strip tease. Everyone in the arena wailed for the man in
his fifties to take his clothes off, which he did slowly. The
pinnacle comes when he shows the crowd what boxers he is wearing,
but I’ll leave that detail out so you may one day see it for
yourself. Unfortunately, the show ended. But it wasn’t really over
yet. Concert novices started to leave their seats, but the wise
stayed put and just kept cheering. Suddenly, a hole in the stage
opened revealing smoke and fire; the doorway to hell. Angus,
wearing devil horns, came up through the hole and played a riff
that we all know. “Highway to Hell.” Which was followed by “For
Those About to Rock” with the twenty one cannon salute.
This show made me feel like I did when I was just learning about
rock n’ roll music, when I would nearly faint at the thought of
being in the same town as these guys. I was singing every word
until my voice was hoarse and dancing for two hours straight. I was
in awe like a child when they pulled out the theatrics. However,
years of shows and then the opportunity that the owner of this site
gave me to meet bands through interviews (which I can’t thank him
enough for) have made that feeling of extreme excitement fade a
bit. But I know that that excitement can be revitalized when I’m
completely absorbed in the band. I still have my Angus poster on
the wall, I still watch my Donington concert on dvd and I can’t
help but get excited when I hear “Jailbreak.” But being able to see
them onstage and do things that they’ve been doing since they were
kids was an incredible experience. I wish that Bon Scott was still
around; not only to sing, but to see what his band has created
since he left this world.