AC/DC / Wembley Stadium, London 4th July 2015 Concert Review

AC/DC /  Wembley Stadium, London 4th July 2015 Concert Review

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If you look up the definition of rock and roll, the image of these UK/Aussie rock titans is all you really need to see. Veins bulging, mouths stretched around screeched out vocals, instruments made to deliver riff after riff to within an inch of their lives.

The only concert in the UK, all 72,500 tickets sold out in under an hour, and there is little doubt they could have filled this stadium many times over, for what could very well be their last tour. The build-up has been far from ideal, and not particularly rock and roll, which is at odds with a band that have lived breathed and drank rock and roll for more than 40 years. Malcolm Young was forced to retire last year after being diagnosed with dementia, while drummer Rudd is still facing legal issues in New Zealand. Yes, they will be missed – Young particularly, but nephew Stevie on rhythm guitar, and one time band member Chris Slade on skins were more than adequate replacements, and if they kept in the shadows slightly more, it only meant it gave more of the spotlight to lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young, who were more than happy and capable to take it. Looking like he’d just come off a building site, the ever-present hat pulled tightly over his sweating head, Johnson’s unorthodox, but somehow perfect vocals tore through the North West London night.

If his singer looked like he’d just finished construction work, the star of the night, Angus looked like he was on his way to a Halloween party. Pale legs sticking out from his trademark school uniform, looking like a nightmare version of Jimmy Krankie, his guitar playing was nothing short of superb. He may not be the most technically perfect axeman on the planet, but no one else could produce the sounds he does, and the 10 minute solo on “Let there be Rock”, was not far from perfect, and sent the already delirious crowd up to number 11 on the frenzied scale.

There is something about AC/DC that just makes you want to pick up a guitar, a mic, or drum stick and be like them. It’s like watching a group of mates getting drunk, telling tall tales of conquests and adventures, but doing it to a pounding drum beat, squealing guitar riffs and raucous vocals. There is something very real, very pure about an AC/DC record, and even more so one of their concerts. This is 110% unadulterated rock and roll, and from the moment they came onstage they had all 72,500 grinning, head banging, devil horn wearing members of the audience in the palm of their hands.

You know what you are going to get from an AC/DC gig, but why should they change? There is no need for them to break any rules – they wrote most of them in the first place.

If you look up the definition of rock and roll, the image of these UK/Aussie rock titans is all you really need to see. Veins bulging, mouths stretched around screeched out vocals, instruments made to deliver riff after riff to within an inch of their lives.

The only concert in the UK, all 72,500 tickets sold out in under an hour, and there is little doubt they could have filled this stadium many times over, for what could very well be their last tour. The build-up has been far from ideal, and not particularly rock and roll, which is at odds with a band that have lived breathed and drank rock and roll for more than 40 years. Malcolm Young was forced to retire last year after being diagnosed with dementia, while drummer Rudd is still facing legal issues in New Zealand. Yes, they will be missed – Young particularly, but nephew Stevie on rhythm guitar, and one time band member Chris Slade on skins were more than adequate replacements, and if they kept in the shadows slightly more, it only meant it gave more of the spotlight to lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young, who were more than happy and capable to take it. Looking like he’d just come off a building site, the ever-present hat pulled tightly over his sweating head, Johnson’s unorthodox, but somehow perfect vocals tore through the North West London night.

If his singer looked like he’d just finished construction work, the star of the night, Angus looked like he was on his way to a Halloween party. Pale legs sticking out from his trademark school uniform, looking like a nightmare version of Jimmy Krankie, his guitar playing was nothing short of superb. He may not be the most technically perfect axeman on the planet, but no one else could produce the sounds he does, and the 10 minute solo on “Let there be Rock”, was not far from perfect, and sent the already delirious crowd up to number 11 on the frenzied scale.

There is something about AC/DC that just makes you want to pick up a guitar, a mic, or drum stick and be like them. It’s like watching a group of mates getting drunk, telling tall tales of conquests and adventures, but doing it to a pounding drum beat, squealing guitar riffs and raucous vocals. There is something very real, very pure about an AC/DC record, and even more so one of their concerts. This is 110% unadulterated rock and roll, and from the moment they came onstage they had all 72,500 grinning, head banging, devil horn wearing members of the audience in the palm of their hands.

You know what you are going to get from an AC/DC gig, but why should they change? There is no need for them to break any rules – they wrote most of them in the first place.

There is something about Ac/Dc that just makes you want to pick up a guitar, a mic, or drum stick and be like them

The set included 3 songs from their most recent and 16th album, including set opener ‘Rock or Bust’, but the real show stealers were the classics, and there are a lot of them. Played with the swagger of a band that have sold 200 million albums, ‘Back in Black’, ‘Thunderstruck’ and ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ were flawless, while ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ saw their famous giant inflatable woman join them on stage for what could be her last time in the UK. Also included were a number of Bon Scott tunes including “High Voltage” and “Have a Drink on Me”.

Just when everyone thought it couldn’t get any better – or louder, the encore consisted of perennial favourites ‘Highway to Hell’ complete with pyrotechnics and ‘For Those About to Rock’, which concluded with the cry of ”FIRE” from Johnson, as cannons blasted out confetti over more than 72,000 raised fists, and prompted a heartfelt standing ovation.

Whether this really is their last tour, they are going out as only they can. With a gloriously loud, ear splitting bang. 

AC/DC /  Wembley Stadium, London 4th July 2015 Concert Review If you look up the definition of rock and roll, the image of these UK/Aussie rock titans is all you really need to see. Veins bulging, mouths stretched around screeched out vocals, instruments made to deliver riff after riff to within an inch of their lives. The only concert in the UK, all 72,500 tickets sold out in under an hour, and there is little doubt they could have filled this stadium many times over, for what could very well be their last tour. The build-up has been far from…

Review Overview

Ear Splitting Bang!

Summary : Just when everyone thought it couldn’t get any better - or louder, the encore consisted of perennial favourites ‘Highway to Hell’ complete with pyrotechnics and ‘For Those About to Rock’, which concluded with the cry of ”FIRE” from Johnson, as cannons blasted out confetti over more than 72,000 raised fists, and prompted a heartfelt standing ovation.

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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 ‘n’ 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. T.N.T.
  17. Whole Lotta Rosie
  18. Let There Be Rock
  19. Encore:
  20. Highway to Hell
  21. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

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