AC/DC: lighter close-ups on rock monsters

AC/DC are the greatest Australian export as far as rock bands go. Well, when you look at their places of birth, four of them were born in – the UK!? Thus, how about the greatest Aussie-naturalized band in the world? Anyhow, one of the true Rock legends toured with The Rolling Stones and played several solo shows, one of them being the re-launch of London’s Hammersmith Apollo as the standing venue. And, before the show the Young bros (and the supporting cast) spoke on number of topics.

Angus Young: “Place like Apollo, then Odeon, has always felt like a home-away-from-home to us. It is the first place we played in England, back in 1976 but we haven’t been back since 1981. Apart from the seats being removed, it hasn’t changed much. It has special memories for us.”

Any specific episodes tied to this place?

Malcolm Young: “Oh, yeah; actually, the first time we ever played here, Bon [Ronald Scott, original singer who died on 20 Feb. 1980] decided to take the tube to the venue instead of a car. He was with all the fans on the train, talking and joking, but once he got here he couldn’t get in. We had some people taking pictures of the front of the house because it was the first time we were playing here and you could see Bon walking in front of the venue!? He had to buy a ticket to get in, ha, ha!”

“Seriously! He had to do that a couple of times: once, he took Angus around the Apollo in Glasgow, on his shoulders, and after dropping Angus off, he couldn’t get back in so had to go to the front of the house but the bouncers held him back! He was outside and had to buy the ticket to get back in and finish the show!”

Overdrive spectacle

‘AC/DC Live At Donington’ DVD comes out on 03 November and it is a document of the Monsters Of Rock show that took place on 17 August 1991. The package blasts all the best-known tracks by the band plus many more added features, including ‘Angus-cam’ option on three tracks (plus two more personal- cams on several more cuts) and commentary by the band members. What memories did it bring back when you watched the footage again?

Angus Young: “How loud it was, how very, very noisy. It was the third time we were at Donington but this was the loudest. I think it was one of those days when a lot more had gone into it than before. There were so many cameras, 24 I think, so many mikes to catch the atmosphere and I think it is much better document than it is usually the case. Everything came together on that day, we were playing well, there were no problems, and the weather was kind to us… It really was special.”

When you look back, how does your legacy appear to you?

AY: “We’ve been making albums since the Crucifixion and when you add it all up there is plenty of material to choose from. We usually have a problem what to play [live], try to mix’n’match and hope we get it right. We try to keep all members’ favourites on the list because they all play better then!”

You are yet to write a ballad? Also, are there going to be more subjects than the testosterone-saturated lyrics driven by steamrolling riffs?

AY: “Listen, the name of this band is AC/DC and we come up with slogans like ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’… That’s pretty much what we are and the only thing that is expensive, probably, is the school-suits! We’ve never been about economy or anything else but Rock’n’Roll.”

Maximum edge

Obsessive fans include horror writer Stephen King, among their friends is the California’s Governor-elect Arnie Schwartzenegger (whom Angus taught to ‘duck-walk’ on the set of ‘Last Action Hero’, its soundtrack including the band’s ‘Big Gun’), there is a street in Madrid named after them… AC/DC were rightfully inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2003.

What do you invest your spare time in?

MY: We don’t get much of it and it is usually boringly normal. What we are always doing is thinking music. We have a home studio, we call it The Box, and we are being send there very often.”

AY: When we get out of that box, we go into another box, the media one, then another box – touring, and then another box…”

Let’s box it, then; what are the individual member’s favourite ‘DC tracks?

MY: “’Highway To Hell’, it is such a great song because even when it sounds crap it sounds great!” [Title track of 1979 LP.]

Cliff Williams: “‘Gone Shootin’.” [‘Powerage’, 1978]

Phil Rudd: “‘Rock’n’ Roll Damnation’.” [single, 1978]

Angus Young: “‘Whole Lotta Rosie’.” [‘Let There Be Rock’, 1977]

Brian Johnson: “‘If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It’).” [‘Highway To Hell’, 1979]