This night may have been the most fun I have ever had to AC/DC's music. In company of regulars from acdcfans.net and some new faces we warmed up nicely in the Tap House and miraculously got to the stadium in time to be there when the doors opened. Even Azel. Terro flagged me in with his cap and we all hooked up halfway down the runway on Stevie's side. Rocker and The Wizard popped off to the bar and returned with enough beers for the entire inner circle. Which was kind of them. Later Azel and I would surprise and delight the crowd around us by filling the empty pint pots with our own filtered home made beverage before knocking them over and dancing in the resulting puddles. So impressed were the boys behind us that they shared their Jack Daniels with us. Kindness is contagious apparently. Belle may not have been quite so impressed. Although she did still let me have a patch of carpet to sleep on and thus save me from another random park bench. For which I am and will remain eternally grateful!
The gig is really a massive blur punctuated with moments of clarity. For the first few songs it was the usual mayhem and all rather tasty where we were, with a pit forming seconds into STT. Rather than commit wholesale slaughter I spotted The Wizard and dived forward to join him a couple of squashed bodies from the front barrier. Flag firmly planted here we stayed for the remainder of the gig. The overall feeling I have taken from the gig despite several near death experiences is one of complete fun. Utterly drenched in sweat, wearing Azel's armpit for a hat for about three songs mid gig, my face in pain from smiling so much. Being so close I could see how much of a blast the boys on stage were having. The whole band fed off the reaction from the crowd. Angus played phenomenally, never missing a note, revelling in what he and his guitar were emitting. Granted my hearing may have been affected by the assorted body parts inserted into my ears at various points during the show. Axl prowled the edges of the stage a smile plastered across his face. His between song chat perfectly done, at one point he even asked Stevie if he was having a good time, unfortunately I missed the answer due to a toe in one ear and a boob in the other.
Angus and Axl are really having a good time together. I think my highlight of the gig was the third verse of Sin City watching Angus doing that foot stamping back arching stomp prior to duck walking across the stage before seeing Axl high kick his way into the chorus. It was funny as fuck and rocked like hell. This was a gig that I will not forget easily it was like something from years ago. Being part of a singing, sweaty, heaving, bouncing mass of mayhem down the front. Arms around each other, leaning on your mate next door to catch a breath before the next ripper roared over you. I’m smiling now and I was smiling then. It was that kind of night.
The above picture can now be found in place of the original definition for joy in the Oxford English Dictionary.
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.
First off thank you to Tony for being a true fan and helping another fan out with his ticket.
I'll skip all of the bits and pieces and cut to the real business of the day. A new AC/DC song and a new AC/DC video. The first listen to Rock Or Bust was via a PA in a big hall. Not perfect listening conditions but it was enough to get some immediate impressions. The opening sounded rough and raw and reminded me instantly of a FOTW sound in terms of guitar tone. Brian's vocals are as high as hell, the man is fucking wailing, with a trademark "Are you ready?" Prior to the verse beginning. The chorus came across as a big gang vocal style and was repeated three times. Two solos from Ang but very hard to say anything about them on one listen.
About 30 minutes after this first playback we were ushered into the studio. The set consisted of a small circular stage with five banked rows of terraced standing all around the stage. At last count the 12 members of this site present were spread around the set. On the top ring were two bars as part of the set. The stage was no more than five metres in diameter and the front row of fans were no more than one metre from the stage. The edge of the stage was ringed with small lights, think of the TTWIWRnR video. Lots of strong lighting above the stage and five major cameras plus still photographers.
After a few minutes of stage setting and technical facing the boys made their entrance. Angus in a green velvet suit with a brown cap, Brian looking supremely fit and happy, Cliff looking like he hadn't aged a day. Stevie stood in on the left hand side, and Bob Richards was sat where The Rudd should be. It had been explained earlier in the day that Phil had had to drop out due to a family emergency, no further information was given other than Brian restating this in a little speech to the assembled fans. Brian mentioned Mal and his illness and that Mal had wanted the band to continue, Brian welcomed Stevie into the band and described him as a member of the band. This was a clear difference from when Brian introduced Bob Richards on drums. Both received a rousing reception.
The first run playback through the main PA on the set was much clearer. There is a real roar, a real edge to the opening riff. The tone was heavier than anything on Black Ice. BO'B seems to have toughened up the sound. A great fat drum sound brings some enormous bounce to the track and Cliff's bass is really pumping through the verse, I mean really pumping. The lyrics were displayed on two screens behind us so that Brian didn't miss any, by his own confession, it also meant that I could get a good look at them. The first thing to say is that they make perfect coherent sense and it will be possible to sing along without risking a drop in IQ. The song is about 'being in a guitar band ...playing across the land ... Keeping you up all night...turning the amps up high'. It's about rock and rocking. Obviously. The chorus is fucking massive and everything I want in a fucking rock and roll song.
In rock we trust
It's Rock or Bust
In rock we trust
It's Rock or Bust
In rock we trust
It's Ro-ock or bust
In rock and roll we trust
It's Rock or Bust!
Brian is wailing his arse off in this song, high as hell and genuinely pushing himself. He sounds amazing. Really. Big gang vocals to back him up in the chorus. Stevie was also belting out the chorus. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus and Ang's first solo. Very hard to pick anything out, certainly it is a proper solo not just a few notes strung together, certainly seems to take you right up into the third chorus. Following which Ang breaks out another solo to close the song.
Within two run through every fan in the place had the chorus down and you could see the delight on the boys faces, Brian was cooking with it all and clearly having a ball. He and Angus seemed really close throughout the shoot and it was Brian who was with Stevie making sure he was good. Brian and Ang sloped off for a fag after the second playback. At this point I managed speak to Brian very briefly and meet Stevie and shake his hand and welcome him back into the band,he said a very sincere thank you. Stevie rocked his fucking arse off on stage, the man is going to be great.
Two more play backs with the whole band before a final playback without Brian and Mal and we were basically done. Slightly uncomfortably for me at the end David Mallet's right hand man Ian got the crowd to chant for Malcolm.
Angus seemed a little subdued during the shoot but thanked the fans at the end. He looked well but I have to say I really felt for him up there 'on his own', I hope that everyone can help share the load.
Final thoughts on the video. It is going to look great. Every fan on the set will be in video.
Final thoughts on the song. I can see this being the set opener. I can see Ang walking on and letting that riff out. It has a great big singalong life affirming, rock affirming chorus. At exactly 3 minutes long it is short and punchy, and the chorus melody gets into your head. It's a good song. It maybe be even better than that.
The greatest rock and roll band are back and they sound and look ready to go. Not only that but they may well have a cracking album under their arms.
But the very best thing about this shoot came a few weeks later when the album was released, after a mate tips me, off I find a picture of me on page 15 of the LP booklet. Which basically means I'm on the record, right?
