122 of 123 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Saturday that changed my life forever, January 29, 2003
This review is from: Rock Masters - AC/DC (DVD)
This is the one, the concert that changed my life. And I wasn't even there...
It was a Saturday evening in late 1977 and I was settling down in front of the family TV to watch the Sensational Alex Harvey Band live in concert on the BBC, only to find that Alex Harvey had died two days previously. So, instead, they put on a concert by this obscure band from Australia of all places (remember this was 25 years ago and I was a quiet 14 year old growing up in sleepy Worcestershire in England) who noone had ever heard of, let alone seen live.
And there they were: a bare torsoed Bon leering at the crowd, a manic schoolboy Angus foaming at the mouth, strutting and duckwalking and sweating and sweating and, well you know the picture so well. Then there were the back three, Malcolm, Phil and Cliff who just got on and did their jobs...and if you look at the instruments they played on the Stiff Upper Lip tour last year...yes, those are the same beaten up guitar and bass that they used in 1977. (Well OK, Cliff had just joined so I think he was playing a Fender rather than a Musicman Stingray, but Malcolm's guitar is definitely the same...you get the picture)
And what did this band do? They played songs the like of which I had never heard, with a power and intensity that I had never seen (and have never seen anyone equal since) As I write, I'm shaking just remembering it all now.
Angus didn't have a wireless rig at that time, but just marvel at how he moves around the stage...and is walked through the audience on Bon's shoulders playing an outrageous guitar solo on an incredibly long version of "Rocker".
"Problem Child", "Whole Lotta Rosie", Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be": we're so familiar with these songs now and they still give me that shiver down the spine when I hear them today. Do you remember the first time you heard these songs?
Exactly, and then... "In the beginning, back in 1955, man didn't know 'bout the Rock 'n' Roll show, and nobody jived..." Yes, they played "Let There Be Rock"... and then they finished with "TNT" with Angus punching the air in time with the title...
This concert is my Dallas 1pm. I remember it like it was yesterday, not 25 years ago.
I haven't seen this concert since that first (and only?) showing on TV 25 years ago, but because the BBC put it out at the same time on FM radio I was able to tape it, and that is what has probably helped me remember so much about it. I played that tape to death.
The irony is that this is a Zone 1 DVD, so I can't play it on my European Zone 2 DVD player, and there don't seem to be any plans to release this DVD in the UK any time soon: You Americans are very, very lucky.
I guess I'll have to spend the $75 to get my player chipped. That's expensive, but for this DVD, it will be the best $75 I'll ever spend.
To all of you reading this review, I urge you to buy this DVD. And when you watch it for the first time, remember where you were when you first saw or heard AC/DC.
This DVD is a precious record of what was their finest hour - at the height of their abilities, at the height of their passion, and at the height of their desire to conquer the world.
The World's Greatest Band
Ride On
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't wait for this DVD!, January 4, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Rock Masters - AC/DC (DVD)
I have this on video and the band smokes! I think they replaced The Sensational Alex Harvey Band at the last-minute, and blew-out the doors. One guy in the crowd is dressed like Angus and gong nuts, while the rest of the audience seems in shock as Angus walks(runs) up the aisles and into women's laps as he plays. This show is AC/DC at their ... best, and a MUST for the average AC/DC fan,but a MUST HAVE for Bon Scott fanatics! Bon is in his element and his voice sounds cool as (heck)! The whole band gives the whole crowd the proverbial middle-finger,while playing for them with a passion. If you want blood, check-out this DVD!
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