AC/DC: Let There Be Rock

On the highway to hard-rock world domination, AC/DC were captured at their staunchin' best in this live video footage. Includes interviews with band members and the late singer Bon Scott, whom the whole movie is dedicated (Bon died in strange circumstances for alcohol poisoning a couple of months later). Simply great.

This gig in Paris is a crash course in what rock music is all about. A lot of music goes by the name 'rock' nowadays, but THIS is the real thing. Do not accept cheap imitations! Plug in, crank it all the way up and play 'till you drop (which Angus does repeatedly). Live registrations don't always capture the excitement and energy of a concert, but this one does.

The late but great Bon Scott gives one of his last performances. A lot of material is from the 'Highway to Hell' album, arguably the best Bon did with AC/DC. This line-up was responsible for true rock-classics such as the title-song, 'High Voltage', 'TNT', 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and the song that sums it all up : 'Rocker'. This stuff is so essential. If you've seen the movie 'School of Rock', you know why.

...i'm satisfaction guaranteed.." Bon Scott screams out on "Live Wire"...and i think these words are just perfect to describe this piece of music history...yes music history! I saw this movie 100 times or maybe 120...and every time it is better and better,rocker and rocker.. AC/DC are the best band!and they proved it all that night back in 1980..if it was needed. So if you want to be part of music history u must see this movie. BEWARE!!!!!!! YOU WON'T BE THE SAME AFTER THIS VISION.

The film captures one of the loudest rock n' roll bands on the planet onstage and off. Personal interviews with lead guitarist Angus Young, vocalist Bon Scott, and other bandmates, Malcolm Young (rhythm guitarist), Cliff Williams (bassist), and Phil Rudd (drummer), are seen within a 12 song set. 'High Voltage', 'Whole Lotta Rosie','Let There Be Rock',and 'Highway to Hell' are featured.

The film, shot in Paris during the last leg of the band's 1979 'Highway To Hell' tour, shows one of the final few performances of late-lead singer Bon Scott, as the movie itself is dedicated to him.

Shot in France during the Highway to Hell tour of Europe, this has finally been restored and released to DVD. Why it took so long only a few can really say, but thank goodness it has arrived! If you want to see why AC/DC were cooking hotter than an 1000-ton engine on steroids, this performance shows what was up: energy and even charisma from Scott and Angus Young (not to mention the latter's quintessential strip dance, here in Bad Boy Boogie). It also features some interviews with the group - things about how Scott joined the group (he was originally their chauffeur of all things), writing vs performing, the Young brothers and how they think of one another (good overall, and booze of course comes up), and only a tiny bit of footage put outside of the concert.

One might wonder if this will go into Song Remains the Same territory at a scene like that, if their live songs will be put to the band doing this that and the other thing. Nope - this is 90% on stage, and because of that you see them doing what they do best: rocking hard, pushing the crowd into a frenzy (watch as Young goes in the audience during 'Rocker'), and it help that the songs are all 70's era - not a filler in the bunch; 'Girls Got Rhythm', 'Highway to Hell', 'Walk All Over You', 'Live Wire', and the cream of the crop comes at the end with 'Let There be Rock', which, maybe just from not being played as much as some of their songs on rock radio, has a fresh quality and brazen force that is perfect.

The camera-work doesn't get too crazy throughout - it doesn't have to, and it fits for the music that's being made on stage: show this band working their butts off and show what Scott and the Youngs and everyone else could do when on all cylinders. It's probably not the best rock documentary, but as far as just plain rock *concerts* go caught on film, it's in the top 5.