AC/DC – Western Springs Stadium December 15, 2015

 

The last time I saw AC/DC it was 1978. They were playing in upstate New York, opening for Blue Oyster Cult, on their journey to the long way to the top.  37 years later, and a lot has changed both within and outside the band, but one thing remains constant, Angus Young’s connection to the primal spirit of rock and roll.

On this final show on the current leg of the Rock Or Bust Tour, there are only two band members who were also on stage 37 years ago…bassist Cliff Williams and guitarist Angus Young. Vocalist Bon Scott shuffled off to that great gig in the sky in 1980, rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young is sadly out of action because of declining health and drummer Phil Rudd is cooling his heels in Tauranga, courtesy of the local constabulary.

So Chris Slade has been pressed back into service to pound the skins while Stevie Young takes over admirably for his uncle Malcolm. Of course Brian Johnson has been fronting the group since Mr Scott’s demise. But despite the personnel changes, nothing really has changed in the AC/DC camp as they proved tonight.

30,000+ fans converged on Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium to revel in the rock and roll glory that is AC/DC. Most, including myself arrived in time to catch Shihad’s opening set. Jon Toogood and his mates gave it their best, loudly proclaiming their own love for the headliners while racing through a handful of their own tunes, concluding with a spirited version of Home Again.

Then, at 8:35, the real show began.

The three large screens on stage lit up with an animated sequence showing the moon landing, with the astronauts discovering a huge AC/DC monolith that takes off like a meteor hurtling towards Earth. It was loud, ridiculous and over-the-top, just like the band itself. Of course the “meteor” landed with a fiery explosion in Western Springs and amid the cacophony the five members of AC/DC launched into Rock Or Bust.

And off we went.

And trio of classic came next…Shoot To Thrill, Hell Ain’t A Band Place To Be and Back In Black…with Angus dressed in his red schoolboy finery, duck walking madly. It was a thrill just to be in the presence of a true rock and roll icon. But the 60-year-old guitarist did more than just strut; he played his ass off for two hours, throwing out riffs like they were lit firecrackers.

Meanwhile Brian Johnson prowled the stage like your creepy old uncle singing about Dirty Deed Done Dirt Cheap and a Whole Lotta Rosie. Even though he is the vocalist, Johnson understands who’s show it is, giving Angus centre stage, often standing off to the side, admiring his bandmate’s unstoppable energy and drive.

During it all the rhythm section acted like a three-cornered anchor…solid as a rock, holding down the beat. These guys know what they’re doing. They came here to rock and that’s just what they did…cranking out one classic after another…Thunderstruck, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, TNT.

The giant inflatable Rosie doll made an appearance, looking like she might reside somewhere on K Road and Angus played guitar with his tie during Sin City, but the theatrics were kept to a minimum during most of the show, with the focus squarely on the music.

That is until the end.

During Whole Lotta Rosie the portion of the stage that jutted out into the crowd rose up and Angus was soon among us, spraying out riffs. Then, during set closer Let There Be Rock, he really went overboard, playing an extended solo that found him eventually up on top of the back line of the stage, all the while giving a masterclass on rock and roll guitar.

The encore featured a much-anticipated Highway To Hell and the night wrapped with For Those About To Rock, which included a dozen cannons aimed at the crowd, firing off at Johnson’s command and then finally a stunning display of fireworks the set the night sky ablaze.

Not only did AC/DC rock Western Springs, they rocked the entire city of Auckland.

They’ve come a long way in the 37 years since I first saw them, but they’ve never forgotten what got them there…an unshakable dedication to the spirit of rock and roll. God bless ‘em!

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

AC/DC set list:

1. Rock Or Bust
2. Shoot To Thrill
3. Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be
4. Back IN Black
5. Play Ball
6. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
7. Thunderstruck
8. High Voltage
9. Rock & Roll Train
10. Hells Bells
11. Baptism By Fire
12. You Shook Me All Night Long
13. Sin City
14. Shot Down In Flames
15. Have A Drink On Me
16. TNT
17. Whole Lotta Rosie
18. Let There Be Rock
19. Highway To Hell
20. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)