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AC/DC: Live
30/04/10 || InquisitorGeneralis
When AC/DC took the stage at Donnington Park on August 17th, 1991, I wonder if they knew how monstrous their performance would be. I probably should put this fucker in the Class6(66) section but I have other biscuits baking in that oven at the moment and frankly listening to this gem on my way to work this morning has got me motivated. “Live” was recording at the Monsters of Rock festival where AC/DC headlined over Metallica and Motley Crue. Not too shabby for a bar band from Australia huh? This is no ordinary greatest-hits/live compilation. “Live” captures the moment in time where AC/DC got back in the ass-kicking game after a serious commercial and creative slump in the late 80’s and they have been on-point ever since. Did you try and get a ticket for a show on the “Black Ice” tour? It’s 2010 and these blokes are still selling arenas out all over the world.
I am not going to bore you with obvious statements like Back in Black rules and “Highway to hell” is a great song. You should know that already. To me, the real winners on “Live” are the songs that get less attention then the certified classics. For example, “Who made who” is rarely if ever played live anymore but the version of it on “Live” is awesome. Something about the riff Angus plays while Brain sings the chorus is just great. “Money talks” is another personal favorite and shows how AC/DC’s simple riff-powered formula for songs fits perfectly in the arena setting. I dare you to find a better concert opener than “Thunderstruck”. Oh, and I double fucken dare you to find a better concert closer than “For those about to rock (we salute you)”. Fuck me, that song is incredible. No live album has ever made me want to be there more than AC/DC’s “Live”. What better praise can you give a live album?
The classics are… well classic. “Back in black”, “Highway to hell”, “Heatseaker”, “Dirty Deeds”, “TNT”, and “Shoot to thrill”, and “Hells Bells” are all done to perfection. This is as close as you going to get to a greatest hits album without buying one of AC/DC’s many boxed sets. If you are a Bon Scott disciple than “Live” may not be for you. However, there is a reason the band has gone into the popularity stratosphere with Brian on the mic: the guy is an incredible front man and has carried on Bon’s legacy with gusto. Just listen to his banter with the massive crowd. Is Johnson as amazing a front man and audience worker as Freddy Mercury or David Lee Roth? Not quite, but he’s damn close and his voice holds up throughout the whole album too: All in all, a great performance. He does Bonzo maximum justice on “Whole lotta Rosie”. Remember guys: big girls need that sweet, sweet lovin’ too. And the Global D staff are the just the people to give it to them.
The only original member (besides Scott) absent on “Live” is drummer Phil Rudd. Big, bald, King Kong Bundy on a diet look-a-like Chris Slade does drum duties and adds a little extra zip here and there. Overall, the band is on-point and I can not highlight and major screw-ups or particular weak performances. Angus, as expected, shreds and bangs heads like no other. Especially on the “The Jack”, which is the best song ever about banging a dirty whore and getting a special “gift” in return. “The Jack” reflects the blues foundation of Young’s playing that I feel many people forget about due to his on-stage antics and more popular, faster songs. Don’t forget about brother and rhythm guitarist Malcolm hiding the shadows. Not only does he lay down the classic riffs while Angus’ fingers fly…he co-wrote most of this shit too.
“Live” fucken rules and should be in the collection anyone who considers themselves a fan of heavy metal and hard rock. To be honest, it gets more spins from me than any studio records. The songs just have the perfect amount of extra kick and, being a huge fan of live shows, it makes me feel like I’m there: like that fucker in the peppermint patty commercial on top of the mountain. Except, I’m not on a mountain. I’m in England surrounded by thousands and thousands of smelly metalhead Brits. And it’s not a peppermint patty I’ve eaten. It’s PCP… that I’ve smoked. Ah, a boy can dream…
- Information
- Released: 1992
- Label: Epic
- Website: www.acdc.com
- Band
- Brian Johnson: lead vocals
- Angus Young: lead guitar
- Malcolm YoungP: rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Cliff Williams: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Slade: drums, percussion
- Tracklist
- 01.Thunderstruck
- 02. Shoot to Thrill
- 03. Back in Black
- 04. Who Made Who
- 05. Heatseeker
- 06. The Jack
- 07. Moneytalks
- 08. Hells Bells
- 09. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
- 10. Whole Lotta Rosie
- 11. You Shook Me All Night Long
- 12. Highway to Hell
- 13. T.N.T.
- 14. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
