AC/DC has had to conquer storm after storm in a short time. From a death to a conviction for drug possession: the Australian rock dream bursted like a bubble not so long ago. But: never underestimate the power of rock ‘n roll. AC/DC is – with the necessary kinks and ailments – back in black and, after a messy start, will convince the Johan Cruijff Arena on Wednesday with a show full of power, nostalgia and of course raw hard rock.
Returning to the Arena after fifteen years (!), even Angus Young would have thought you were crazy. His apparently immortal rock machine was on the edge of the abyss after the show in the GelreDome (in 2016). A singer who suddenly became deaf, a drummer who was convicted of drugs, a bassist who suddenly retired. And then also the fairly early death of one of the band’s founders.
Angus Young was left stunned, and AC/DC seemed finished. At his age, no one would have blamed him if he had completely withdrawn and spent his last years quietly in the Achterhoek. None of that. Young miraculously got his group back together, including Brian Johnson who miraculously regained his hearing.
For the return of AC/DC, fans will have to spend more money than ever (170 euros for a regular standing room), but they will immediately see one of the most iconic rock bands in the world at work. On the unfortunately somewhat modest extended stage – that at doesn’t even come close to the middle point – singer Brian Johnson and star guitarist Angus Young are constantly looking for contact with the fans, who cheer, clap and headbang (Thunder!).
AC/DC is and remains an experience live, but the machine clearly needs to get going. The sound in the Arena is downright bad for the first 45 minutes. Brian Johnson’s characteristic sandpaper voice is of course difficult to understand, but in the Arena you can often not even hear which song he is singing. Young’s tight riffs also disappear into a mixture of mainly thundering loud sounds.
After a truly fantastic Shoot to Thrill, things pick up and the AC/DC train picks up steam. Although the show has a sober decoration and is therefore less spectacular and visual than normal, the rock show still stands proud. Angus Young in particular remains a phenomenon to behold. That ridiculous blue school uniform, those exaggeratedly high white socks, that aged face, that white head of hair and of course that recognizable duck walk: Young is 69 but would effortlessly conquer all 70,000 hearts if he were Harry Styles.
Although they are approaching old age (Johnson turns 77 this year), there is no shortage of energy. During the truly dizzying solo of Let There Be Rock, Angus struggles in a shower of confetti on a stage piece that goes several meters into the air. With the exception of a few mistakes (with Thunderstruck Angus makes a mistake at the beginning), his playing is mainly a blessing for all the senses. In fact, every time he strums his guitar it feels as if the Arena is electrified by 100,000 volts. High voltage, rock and roll!
After a break of 7 years, AC/DC may show a few more creaks and groans – every now and then they even seem to slow down – but the act is still rock solid. They have been doing the same thing for decades and in the Arena they do not deviate an inch from the planned course. The big bell at Hells Bells, the flames at Highway to Hell, the cannons at the finale For Those About To Rock: it’s all there again, including classics like Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, T.N.T. and Back In Black. Only the inflatable doll at Whole Lotta Rosie was conspicuous by its absence and Hell Ain’t No Bad Place to Be was even missing altogether. Shame!
In the finale, when Johnson gives the signal for the deafening cannons of For Those About To Rock (We Salute You), everyone has already forgotten those little blemishes and the band leaves no doubt about it; After more than 50 years they are still one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll stars still walking the planet. If this is indeed their very last show – and we think there is a good chance – Angus and the men will have said goodbye to the Netherlands in style.
