ACDC If you want Blood, Youve got it

AC/DC 'If you want Blood, You've got it' (Atlantic 1978)

If you only get to see one live band in your life, you should try and make it AC/DC. I had the pleasure of seeing them at Hampden Park in 2009 on the 'Black Ice' tour and it was an amazing gig. Unlike the other stadium gigs I'd gone to there was still a hint of punk rock about the event. Yes, they had a massive stage set and it was part of the third biggest grossing tour of all time, but the fans were there to ROCK!

Nobody was there to pose, or chin stoke or complain about people standing up to go to the bar - everybody was having a beer, laughing, joking and having a great day in the Glasgow sun. At least 90% of attendees appeared to be genuine fans, a rarity at such events, and it felt good to be in the company of whole families, seriously there were three generations of some clans there, which seemed bizarre, but somehow right.

So the gig commenced with the band appearing on a huge steam train themed set, to tie in with the opening track 'Runaway Train', and the next two and a half hours, including inflatable Rosie, Angus striptease and exploding cannons just flew by.
The fact that this album was recorded in 1978, at Glasgow Apollo, and has four tracks they were still playing 31 years later speaks volumes for the longevity of the band and the timelessness of their hard rocking take on the blues. This isn't metal despite what some people will tell you. They may have beefed up their production in the 80s a bit, but they always had the Bad Boy Boogie rather than the cold steely power of metal.

Every single track on this album is a bona fide classic of VB and Bundaberg soaked Rock n' Roll Damnation. Unfortunately, lead vocalist Bon Scott, portrayed on the cover beside Angus Young impaled on his iconic SG, would die in 1980 after choking on his own vomit so I never had the chance to see the man in action. A real shame as he's on fine form on this electrifying live recording as is the amazing Angus, Angus, ANGUS!

Bon was short for 'Bonnie', the nickname given to him by his Aussie mates when he arrived in Melbourne from Kirriemuir, because he was from Bonnie Scotland. He later moved to Fremantle where they have erected a statue to him and where I visited his cell in the famous prison. In addition, the Young brothers were Glasgow born so this obviously adds to the special atmosphere on the LP. The band even came on stage for their encore in Scotland football strips.

AC/DC is a megabrand when it comes to music, the logo is unmistakable and has been appropriated so often it's the Apple of rock and they are one of those bands that you know all their songs even if you don't own their records. It's perfect party music, best enjoyed live. Very much like Daniel O'Donnell!

RIP Polly Emmerson 24/05/1911 - 15/03/2012 I love you, Gran.

Peace