Wine, Wizards and Song: AC/DC Live In Lisbon 2016

The weeks leading up to the Lisbon gig had been the strangest I could remember in more than three decades as a fan.  The sudden departure of Brian from the band to "prevent further hearing loss" had shocked the fanbase. A rumour mill that was swirling in full effect, whispers from here, there and everywhere.  Then a statement from the record company that guest singers would help to finish the tour.  Cue even more rumours of singers, auditions and writing sessions.  A photograph of Axl Rose in Atlanta provoked a massive reaction.  Really? Axl Rose? Fronting the greatest rock and roll band in history?

By now there were splits in the fan community.  Some felt that Brian had not been shown anywhere near near the respect he was due, some wondered how things could even continue without him, all wanted to hear from Angus.  However after the first couple of days following Brian's exit and the stories which came out, loose lips were firmly zipped and things returned to the way they always had been, absolute silence.

Photographs of Axl leaving the same studio as the band were also seen and passed by without comment.  Brian posted his own statement in an effort to set the record straight, which helped some fans to rationalise what had happened.  And then Axl Rose was confirmed as the guest singer for the 2016 European Tour.  My overwhelming feeling at the time was one of relief.  Like you all I love AC/DC, over the years they have become part of me, I felt the 'Rock Or Bust' tour was the last time the boys would be on the road, I didn't want this goodbye to be tarnished, I needed whoever was going to step in to be able to do these songs, these great and mighty songs, justice.  I thought Axl had a shot at doing this, maybe this could work and Angus and Cliff would be able to bow out with dignity.

The recordings of the rehearsals in Lisbon certainly suggested that this might be the case and so I got my stuff together and headed down to the airport more anxious and excited for an AC/DC gig than I had been in for over thirty years.

The Friday night before the gig hundreds of fans from Sweden, Germany, Scotland, Holland, England, Austria, Ireland, Norway and even Panama collected in the bars, squares and side streets of Lisbon.  Flat caps were in full effect and a tribute to Brian and despite the mess of the last few weeks it seemed everybody was there to do what we always do when AC/DC are in town, have a bloody good time.  So drink was drunk, songs were sung and new friends became old friends. 

Rain had started to fall as we made our way to bed in the early hours of Saturday morning and by the time we woke the rain had become an absolute downpour.  So much for sunshine and partying on the beach.  As it was we ran through the streets and hopped from bar to bar working our way closer to the site of the concert.  The weather continued to worsen and by mid-afternoon there was even talk that the show would have to be cancelled.  The roads were rivers. We delayed our departure until the last minute in the hope that the storm might blow itself out.  Wreathed in our cheap plastic ponchos we queued up in our thousands and finally reached the 'beach' or more accurately the part concrete part construction site slurry.  Ten minutes after the support band finished the sun broke through behind the stage and the clouds drew away.  We took off our first four layers of plastic and basked.  The sky darkened for a second time but this time it was only night that was falling.

The familiar film started up although my eyes were fixed firmly on the stage and the chair. That was the first major difference of the night. My eyes weren't searching for Ang, they were waiting to see whether Axl was mobile. As it was he strolled onto the stage sat down in his chair and the main man ran out front and centre. The riff roared and we dropped into Rock Or Bust. Talk about an apposite song. In seconds I would know if this was going to work in any way at all. The first thing I noticed about the sound was that all treble had been removed from drum sound, there was hardly any at all, Stevie was well up in the mix just like Cliff, Ang had some serious edge to his guitar but I was waiting for the first line. For the first time ever I was studying the band, I’d come to RTFO but I was waiting before I put out. By the end of RoB I was all in. Axl sang it easy, with inflection and power. 

Shoot To Thrill ripped out and it was on. A track I had been worried about, I mean this STT we are talking about, the first song I play to people who have never heard AC/DC’s music. This is important. It was easy. So easy. Angus looked really fired up. He was out there full guns blazing. HAABPTB smashed in and hit its stride straightaway, we had groove back on the table Chris seemed to be getting down a little with his badself. The first Bon song of the night and another test. I paid attention or at least as much as I could and Axl inhabited the song. He sang it right but he also sang like it himself. The music was good. 

Back In Black was fucking monstrous hard and heavy from the band, hard and high from Axl. No Mamas at all. I should have been missing Brian but I wasn’t. And I didn’t feel guilty, I was just having fun.

 Rock and Roll Thunder up next and this is a misstep and needs to go. I’m glad I heard it once but I never need to hear it again. However here was something new, the backing vocals were superb, loud and full and entirely wounded goat free. Dirty Deeds took us back up, and this may get tiresome but Axl was spot on. Despite being restricted to a chair the man is getting down, living out the lyrics, making sure you get what he means. And then it all got a bit silly. Axl started telling a story about the band releasing a single which was getting rotation on FM radio, a first for the boys. But they weren’t playing it live so at the next concert the record company hired a plane and towed a banner over the stadium with “Play Rock and Roll Damnation” on it. I’d never heard that before. What the fuck is all that about? The man isn’t just up there nailing the shit out of the songs now he is teaching me shit about a band we clearly both love. DAMNFUCKING NATION! I fucking love this song. It was perfect. 

Thunderstruck opened up next. Another examination. No sign of any issues from Stevie that I could hear, Angus seemed to get everything spot on and then I waited for Axl. He just sang it right out. Just like in ’91 the “Yeah, it’s alright! We’re doing fine! “ section carried weight. It meant something. They were. Straight into High Voltage and another key moment for me. THE breakdown. A moment I love with Brian and missed badly last time around. Axl did what he did well but I missed the “Highiiieeeehighiiiiiieeeeeehigh” bit. It was better than on the last leg but not better than ever. A shout of “All aboard!” and Rock and Roll Train came down the line. I don’t know why but I prefer this song on this tour than the BI tour. Makes no sense but there you go. Fucking BONG! This was the moment when I stopped examining every little detail and just let it all go. Axl fucking killed this track, the archetypal Brian era song and he fucking wailed. Game over. Game on.

GTDAB was a touch off at the beginning but once it was into its stride all was good. First time I’ve ever it live. A track that can go though. Sin City may well have been the high point of the gig so far. The ending was blinding. YSMANL was YSMANL. Introduced with “ Here’s a song they wrote about my life story”, even a touch of self-depreciation (Is this the monstrous cunt we have been warned about?), Shot Down In Flames was absolutely brilliant. Axl was loving this, he was having a blast and doing the songs justice and taking me along with him. I wanted this to go well. I wanted it to be a success. For Angus. “You thirsty?” You fucking bet I am. Let’s fucking go! The best performance of HADOM I have ever heard. TNT and Rosie were there usual awesome selves. LTBR felt slower than usual although Ang’s solo felt shorter. A weird pay off. 

Highway To Hell was strong and solid although by now my expectations were so fucking high that I expected the scream between the last two courses. Riff Raff and I'm gone.  It's wonderful. Truly wonderful. Hardly anyone in the crowd knows it I’m told afterwards. Couldn’t. Give. A. Fuck. The night doesn’t just end in cannonfire and fireworks, under the smoke and the blinding lights Angus comes to the front of the stage, taps his heart with his fist and salutes the crowd.

The little cunt had done it.