The Ultimate AC/DC Blog

1,111 (bye-bye)

Das ist mein 1.111ter Beitrag hier beim ULTIMATE AC/DC BLOG. Ich habe den Blog im Mai 2006 ins Leben gerufen und es war der erste und einzige Blog, der ausschließlich AC/DC News sammelte und publizierte. 2006 war es ziemlich ruhig an der AC/DC Front - kein neues Album, die letzte Tour und selbst die Clubgigs in 2003 lagen Jahre zurück. Als langjähriger AC/DC Fan wollte ich mir und anderen die Wartezeit auf ein neues Album verkürzen und suchte das Web nach allem ab, was mit AC/DC zu tun hatte.

Seitdem ist viel passiert und endlich gibt es ein neues Album. Über acht Jahre haben wir alle darauf gewartet und zweieinhalb Jahre war der Blog mir ein liebgewonnenes Hobby.

Inzwischen gibt es zahlreiche weitere AC/DC News Blogs und es zeigte sich schnell ein Phänomen, das ich bisher unter AC/DC Fans nicht kannte: Konkurrenzdenken.

Die Welt funktioniert so, alles entwickelt sich weiter, altes stirbt und neues entsteht. Und damit ist der 1.111te Beitrag auch mein letzter - ich habe täglich sehr viel Zeit in den Blog investiert, das sollen jetzt andere übernehmen (und das müssen sie auch, da es hier nichts mehr zum Kopieren für die eigenen Seiten geben wird).

Danke für die gemeinsame Zeit und vor allem Eure Kommentare, Beiträge und Mithilfe während der 1.111 Postings.

Ich wünsche euch eine tolle AC/DC-Zeit während der "Black Ice" Tour. Man sieht sich!

As there's no AC/DC song that would fit, I chose The Doors - The End

Photos of Angus and Brian ...

... taken in New York City on September 9th.

Copyright: AP Photo by Jim Cooper.

For a larger view of the pictures go to AP Photo's section over at Daylife*.

*Daylife features and lists articles of THE ULTIMATE AC/DC BLOG since January 2007.

Harmonix To Release "Rock Band: AC/DC"?

There is speculation doing the rounds that EA might be following in Activision's footsteps with its "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" title and releasing an AC/DC themed version of Rock Band. Even though the Aerosmith title wasn't that popular by most accounts, the fact that its AC/DC might be enough to make a dedicated game based on their music a real hit.

From Kotaku: We've today heard that the developers are at work on "Rock Band: AC/DC". And not just at work on the game, but a massive marketing exercise to go along with it, featuring t-shirts, branded guitar controllers and even branded pickguards (ie faceplates).

To be honest, I can see a lot more people wanting to rock out to Highway to Hell than to Dude Looks Like a Lady. But I suppose for Australian gamers, this could be somewhat of a moot point given that we are still yet to see Rock Band released here.

Source: 3FL

New AC/DC Competition

You'll find a new contest over at AC/DCrocks - you can win a trip to New York to an AC/DC show!Here's what to do:

Show us your AC/DC

As you already know, AC/DC has one of the most recognizable logos ever. It's iconic.
Now that AC/DC is BACK with their first new album in 8 years, we want to welcome them home by plastering their logo everywhere.

This contest is simple. We want you to show us how creative you can be with the logo and how well you can place it in the public eye. Whether it be mowing the logo into your lawn, shaving it into your head, creating an AC/DC crop circle, or drawing it on your drunk, passed out friend, we want to see it. As long as its visible, looks cool, and no laws are broken, the sky’s the limit!

Once you've done your thing, take a picture of your artistry and upload it to this site. We'll pick our favorite 3 pictures and send the winners to a secret AC/DC show. We're talking airfare for you and a friend and two nights in a NYC hotel. We'll then bus you from NYC to the show.

So give it all you got and show us your AC/DC!

Download the logo here.
Enter the competiton here.

Source: ACDCrocks.com

A Day with AC/DC

Eddie Trunk caught up with AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Angus Young in NYC to tape a segment for his upcoming show on VH1 Classic "That Metal Show." The guys talked about the new album, tour and much more with Eddie and co-host Jim Florentine. Look for the debut of "That Metal Show" soon. Exact date and time TBA.

Eddie's Report:
Jim Florentine and I had a great day yesterday in NYC with Angus and Brian from AC/DC (photo on the home page!). Shot an interview with the guys and it was a blast. This is the second time I have done TV with them. They were actually my first ever interview at VH1 Classic just before they went into the rock hall. These guys are two of the nicest, down to earth people you will ever meet. Brian has been on the radio show many times and is always hysterical. The guys talked about the new CD, the deal with Wallmart, the upcoming tour, and more. They seem real excited to be together and get back in action. First tour date in the US is expected to happen in Wilkes Barre PA in October. The segment we shot with them will be seen inside an episode of my upcoming new series on VH1 Classic "That Metal Show". I'll have info about the premiere episode and also how you can attend tapings of the new show in NYC very soon. Total honor to hang with the guys in AC/DC who are always so cool with me. They are simply one of the biggest bands in the world with demand for tickets and the new CD at an amazing level, but they are just regular guys, and that says so much! Look for Brian to be on the radio show closer to the new CDs release. [...]

Source: Eddie Trunk's website

Bits & Pieces

- The tourdates published this morning (Billboard) have been confirmed on AC/DC's official website today.

- The video for "Rock 'N' Roll Train" will debut on September 19th on www.acdc.com and www.vh1.com.(according to AC/DC's MySpace page).

- You can now download the Howard Stern interview here if your bandwidth is too low for the web player.

- AC/DC is on Australia's rich list again - this year at #8 with $12 million AUS-$.

- According to Undercover News original AC/DC singer Dave Evans will release his new album, "Judgement Day", in the UK in October — one week before AC/DC's new CD, "Black Ice", is scheduled to arrive. I wonder which CD will be a greater success ;-)

- In one of his latest articles, Bob Lefsetz has encouraged Axl Rose to kill himself. "Most music is still acquired in the CD format. But that’s paid for music. It’s dwarfed by stolen/traded music. AC/CD was kept alive by P2P. Pink Floyd too. Kids discovered this music and then told all their friends all about it. Are you as good as AC/DC? AC/DC is so good, they don’t even sell their music at the iTunes Store. They haven’t played live since the turn of the millennium. The music itself is keeping the band alive. Is your music good enough?" he is asking Axl.“At least John Lennon was smart enough to get shot just when his new album was released. Elvis croaked between album cycles … Hell, what would happen if AC/DC died in a plane crash' Everybody would be wanting to click and buy at iTunes” he says in his column.

There you go. The tour date announcement is great news! Made you look like this, right?

AC/DC's Catalog Blows Away Competition

According to Hits Daily Double, Australian hard-rock legends AC/DC have sold 7 million physical albums in the US between 2004 and 2007, more than the combined physical and digital totals of PINK FLOYD (6 million), THE EAGLES (5.1 million), THE ROLLING STONES (4.9 million) or LED ZEPPELIN (4.7 million). By comparison, THE BEATLES have sold 8 million CDs during the same period. Like THE BEATLES, AC/DC has yet to make its catalog available online, leading to the unanswerable question of how much, if it all, the iTunes boycott has benefited the band’s overall sales.

The AC/DC catalog, owned by the band, moved with them from WMG to its present home at Sony. [...]

Source: Bravewords / Hits Daily Double

AC/DC Reveals Fall Tour Plans

In support of its forthcoming studio album, AC/DC will launch its Black Ice World Tour on Oct. 28 at the Wachovia Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The 24-date North American leg of the arena jaunt is scheduled to wrap Dec. 18 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.

The worldwide trek follows closely behind the Oct. 20 release of "Black Ice," which will be sold exclusively in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores as well as ACDC.com. AC/DC's first new single in eight years, "Rock'n'Roll Train," rockets 15-5 this week on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Tickets for the North American dates will go on sale during the weekend of Sept. 20 via Ticketmaster and ACDC.com. Specific on-sale dates and ticket prices have not yet been announced.

Following the North American run, AC/DC will visit South America, Europe and Asia, with dates to be announced. The Black Ice World Tour will be AC/DC's first outing since 2001.

Here are AC/DC's North American tour dates:

Oct. 28: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Wachovia Arena)
Oct. 30: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Nov. 3: Indianapolis (Conseco Fieldhouse)
Nov. 5: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)
Nov. 7: Toronto (Rogers Centre)
Nov. 9: Boston (TD Banknorth Garden)
Nov. 12-13: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Nov. 15: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
Nov. 17: Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)
Nov. 19: East Rutherford, N.J. (IZOD Center)
Nov. 21: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)
Nov. 23: Minneapolis (Xcel Energy Center)
Nov. 25: Denver (Pepsi Center)
Nov. 28: Vancouver (General Motors Place)
Nov. 29: Seattle (KeyArena)
Nov. 30: Tacoma, Wash. (Tacoma Dome)
Dec. 2: Oakland, Calif. (Oracle Arena)
Dec. 6: Los Angeles (The Forum)
Dec. 10: Phoenix (US Airways Center)
Dec. 12: San Antonio (AT&T Center)
Dec. 14: Houston (Toyota Center)
Dec. 16: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Dec. 18: Charlotte, N.C. (Time Warner Cable Arena)

Source: Billboard

AC/DC Launches Online Fan Club

The latest news from ACDC.com:

So, you've rummaged each and every last corner of ACDC.com countless times, devoured every last morsel of AC/DC we have given you, and you still want more. When the band finished their new record, Black Ice, you heard the first song, "Rock 'N Roll Train," first at ACDC.com. We have given you signed instruments, first looks at new releases and an unfolding, unsurpassed career retrospective. Yet you still want more AC/DC.

Well, if you want more AC/DC, you've got it!

Today, AC/DC launches their on-line Fan Club at ACDC.com. Members of ACDC.com can look forward to:

- Access to new, members-only areas of ACDC.com, including message boards, members-only contests and more.
- Special access to concert tickets in ACDC.com's Fan Club on-sales.
- An exclusive AC/DC gift available nowhere else.
- A discount in the AC/DC North America & Rest Of World store.*

And that's not all. If, for some reason, a Fan Club member is unsatisfied with his or her Fan Club membership, that member is guaranteed his or her membership money back. Click here for details of our money-back guarantee.

Stand up and be counted! Click here to learn more about the Fan Club or to join today.

Source: AC/DC Official Website

Price is 40 US-Dollar btw. No merchandise discounts for UK & Europe!

Listen to AC/DC @ Howard Stern

As reported this morning, Angus und Brian have been on Howard Stern's radio show.

Click this button

to listen to the interview.

It's about 50 minutes long. Enjoy.

First AC/DC Single A Hit

Fans have really been craving some AC/DC.

The band’s first single in eight years, “Rock N’ Roll Train”, is the first song to ever debut at number one on the Broadcast Data Systems (Nielsen) rock chart. The chart, which has been around since 1997, ranks songs by how many times they’re getting played on the radio.

The track is also the first AC/DC song to reach number one on the chart. Black Ice, the group’s upcoming record that includes “Rock N’ Roll Train,” comes out on October 20th.

Source: 92.3 K-Rock

More on AC/DC radio

From Sirius' official AC/DC Radio website:

The High Voltage sounds of AC/DC, exclusive band interviews and Dirty Deeds 24/7

That's right, starting September 15 at 6 pm AC/DC will be getting their own SIRIUS channel. AC/DC Radio will celebrate the band's awesome career and also preview their upcoming album Black Ice, their first studio album in eight years. You'll hear AC/DC's music 24/7, plus band members Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd talking about their incredible career. Listeners will also have the chance to vote for their favorite AC/DC song — the votes will be tallied and played back during the "Ultimate AC/DC Countdown."

Click here to check out the site and listen to an audio commercial.

Talking Metal talks AC/DC

The latest episode (#226) of Talking Metal podcast features an interview with Exodus bassist Michael Butler. Topics in this interview are "The Rock and Roll Geek Show," podcasting, Rocklahoma, Angel, Starz, Exodus, Jetboy, and AC/DC (of course). If you want to find out why it was raining shoes (!) at an AC/DC concert click here to enter their website and listen or download the podcast. The interview starts at about 27:00 min., the AC/DC part follows around 35:00 min.

Why AC/DC needs Wal-Mart to rock

When AC/DC fans want the group's newest album next month, iTunes is not going to rock their world.
Instead they can take the highway to… their local brick-and-mortar Wal-Mart (or surf its Web site).That is because these 70s-era rockers are releasing Black Ice exclusively through Wal-Mart, following a small, but growing list of top-shelf acts that are releasing their music in non-traditional, exclusive ways.

Are you OK with having to go to Wal-Mart to get an album?

Other boomer rockers including the Eagles and Journey, as well as country legend Garth Brooks chose Wal-Mart to exclusively deal their CDs. The Eagles Long Road Out of Eden sold 700,000 in its first week, more than this week's top 4 albums combined.

Still Wal-Mart, and its more than 2,500 Wal-Mart stores across the nation, are not bringing back the album's golden age. Last year, album sales plunged more than 9%, meanwhile digital tracks were up 45%. But, like the real estate market, was the music industry simply correcting itself? [...]

Read the entire here at WalletPop.

AC/DC are rich as hell

Angus and Brian have recently been interviewed by Howard Stern, here's the report:

Angus Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC stopped by to promote their new album and, when asked about the previous guests, Brian remarked that “Every man who gets married pays for sex, man.” Howard wondered if the pair hangs out together when they're not on tour, but they said they live too far apart. Brian told the crew that he hangs out around his home in Sarasota most of the time and races vintage cars: “I don't like fishin' and I don't like golf.” Angus said he lives in Holland, London and New York.

Howard asked the guys how their deal with Wal-Mart came together, so Angus explained: “We're not snobs. Wal-Mart’s are everywhere, man.” Howard marveled at the deal – especially Wal-Mart agreeing to pre-purchase three million copies of the band's new album – and asked just how rich they were. Angus said they were rich enough for Brian's “beater” (vintage) race cars. Howard also wondered why Angus married his wife without a pre-nup, so he claimed that he only had “the boots on my feet” at the time.

Source: Howard Stern

AC/DC Radio

Legendary Australian hard rock band, AC/DC, whose popular Back in Black album sold over 42 million copies worldwide, will host their own limited run satellite radio channel Sirius Satellite Radio beginning next Monday.

AC/DC Radio will be broadcast on Sirius channel 29 and will debut on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 6 pm ET and run through to January 15th of next year.

The channel will play all the classic AC/DC rock recordings such as "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)," "You Shook Me All Night Long," and "Back in Black" as well as new songs from their Brendan O'Brien produced album, Black Ice , the band's first studio album in eight years.

The channel will also feature AC/DC band members Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd describing their rock & roll career spanning more than 30 years and sharing their personal insights into their music.

AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide including Back in Black which is the fifth highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003.

Source: Digital Home Canada

Additional information from FMQB:

AC/DC Radio will be broadcast on Sirius channel 29 and on XM channel 53 from September 15 through January 15. The channel will air AC/DC music 24/7, including classic tunes and new songs from Black Ice. The channel will also feature band members Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd discussing their career and sharing personal insights into their music. The group will guide listeners through an exclusive preview of every track on Black Ice, and AC/DC Radio listeners will even have the opportunity to vote on their favorite AC/DC songs, with the results being played back during the "Ultimate AC/DC Countdown."

AC/DC Gets Back To Basics

There's no denying that AC/DC always brings the Rock with every album, but 2000's Stiff Upper Lip and 1995's Ballbreaker leaned toward the bluesier side of the band. This time around, AC/DC decided to get back to basics and simply rock again. Therefore, they entered a Vancouver studio with producer Brendan O'Brien and banged out 15 new songs in just two months for the latest album, Black Ice.

"I was hoping the songs would lend themselves to more of a — 'pop' is the wrong word, but hooky sort of treatment," O'Brien told Rolling Stone. "Like 'Back in Black' or 'Highway to Hell' and even 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.' I was trying to just make people remember, 'This is the same band. I have missed this band. I love this band. Where have they been?' "

As usual, the songwriting team of Angus and Malcolm Young hammered out the bulk of the new material. O'Brien said their demos had a very unique sound. "If it's Angus' song, he's doing a guitar riff or the drum machine or a drum sort of thing, and he'll sing this very mumbly melody, very superlow, three octaves down," he explained.

Black Ice will be exclusively released in Walmart stores on October 20, and AC/DC will kick off a major world tour in October. Fans can rest assured that despite being 53-years-old, Angus Young will stay true to his live show and still wear the schoolboy suit. "At first, when I think about 'Hey, I haven't worn it in a while,' it takes me a little bit of psychology to get into it," he told Rolling Stone. "But I promised myself I'm not gonna think — I'll just put it on."

Source: FMQB

AC/DC rocks up the charts

There may be a spike in chiropractor appointments this week after a headbanging Fathers' Day CD spree propelled six classic AC/DC albums into the top 50.

Acca Dacca created ARIA chart history yesterday as the only act to have six records in the top 50 as the Aussie rockers prepare to release Black Ice, their first record in eight years, on October 18.
The band's catalogue has been discounted to allow fans to update their collections.
Which is the best AC/DC album? Tell us here (@ Daily Telegraph).

Leading the chart charge was the 1975 record, TNT, which leapt into the No. 20 spot. The band's 1990 album The Razors Edge is No. 26, 1979's Highway To Hell at No. 27, 1976's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap at No. 28, 1986's Who Made Who at No. 30 and 2000's Stiff Upper Lip at No. 45.
U2, Elvis and Bon Jovi have steamrolled the charts with multiple releases before, but that was across the top 100.

Listen to AC/DC's new single

The band also dominate ARIA's music DVD chart with their No Bull DVD came in at No. 1 and Stiff Upper Live re-entered the chart at No. 2.

Source: Daily Telegraph

AC/DC on RockBand 2 Trailer

AC/DC six pack outsells number one

This has been reported before, but Undercover updated the news:

AC/DC has 6 albums in the Australian Top 50 this week, including one in the top 20 with collective sales that out sold the number one album this week.

With the news of a new album on the way, (Black Ice is the first for the band in 8 years), Australian fans have been doing a cram sessions of the old albums.
The six albums sold 10,871 units. Compare that to the number one album by Slipknot that sold 7500 units this week.

AC/DC positions in this weeks chart are:
20. TNT (1975)
26. The Razors Edge (1990)
27. Highway To Hell (1979)
28. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
30. Who Made Who (1986)
45. Stiff Upper Lip (2000)

TNT is not surprising. While it was the band’s second album it Australia, it contained the signature songs ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock and Roll’ and ‘High Voltage’.
The Razors Edge had just one hit, but what a hit it was. This 1990 album contained ‘Thunderstruck’.
Highway To Hell was Bon Scott’s final album. The title track is another AC/DC classic.
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was the follow-up to TNT. The title track and ‘Jailbreak’ make this one of the essential Acca Dacca albums.

Who Made Who was a strange one. Sure the title track merges everything you love about Brian’s vocal and Angus’ guitar, but it was a Frankenstein of a release. Only three tracks were new. The album was the soundtrack to Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive movie.

Stiff Upper Lip was their last album 8 years ago. Again, the title track has earned its place as an Acca Dacca classic. The album had its moments, but is not considered one of their greatest works.
But wait, there’s more. When we flip over to the DVD chart, AC/DC has the number 1 and 2 spots with No Bull and Stuff Upper Lip Live. As well as Plug Me In at 28.

The new album Black Ice will be released on October 18 in Australia and October 20 worldwide.

Source: Undercover

Bring them back ...

This Day in Music recently asked "which dead rockstar would you bring back to life for one gig" - the poll results:

1. John Bonham
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Elvis Presley
4. John Lennon
5. Jimi Hendrix
....
16. Bon Scott

Of course it would be Bon Scott on #1 for me. I agree with Elvis and Jimi Hendrix but would add Jim Morrisson and Frank Zappa in my Top 5.

The only female artist on the list is Janis Joplin at #15.

View the entire Top 20 here.

Source: This Day in Music

Exclusive BW&BK: Producer Mike Fraser Talks About New AC/DC Album

“I Think It’s Back More In The Direction Of The Razor’s Edge”
Special report by "Metal" Tim Henderson:

BW&BK had the opportunity recently to speak to a true icon in the Canadian music business, one that “hangs out” in circles we can only dream of, populated by the likes of METALLICA, JIMMY PAGE, AEROSMITH, VAN HALEN, RUSH, WHITESNAKE, MOTLEY CRUE and THE CULT. Well, maybe not actually hanging out, but his magical hands have been on the boards, mixing, mastering and producing these giants. And that’s just the hard rock/heavy metal portion of his career. Some of his recent clients include ELVIS COSTELLO and NORAH JONES. And we can’t forget some of his Canadian content - LOVERBOY, KIM MITCHELL, TOM COCHRANE, CHILLIWACK and of course BRYAN ADAMS’ monster, Reckless.

At this juncture, Vancouver-based Mike Fraser - who calls home Warehouse Studio - is being talked about in AC/DC circles, as he’s one of the masterminds behind the sonics of the Aussie band’s more than eagerly anticipated new album, Black Ice, due out on October 20th. You may recall he’s worked with the boys before on 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip, 1995’s Ballbreaker and 1990’s The Razor’s Edge, as well as having remastered the band’s entire catalog in 2003.
Here are a few excerpts from the chat - more will be online soon!

BW&BK: It’s been pretty quiet in the AC/DC camp since the spring. As news slowly trickles out to the masses, how far into this process are you? Fraser: “Well, Black Ice has been done since April. So it’s been sitting there waiting to hit the airwaves since then.”

BW&BK: How much pressure is there knowing that Black Ice is easily one of the most anticipated rock/hard rock records over the past few years? Do you guys feel it inside? Fraser: “Oh sure, I do. I’m not sure if the band does. They are pretty low-key, easy-going guys. They don’t think about any of this kind of stuff. They just come in and get it done. As Malcolm (Young) says, when they are writing songs, if you can thump your foot to it, it’s worth a go. I don’t think they think in terms of that. For sure Brendan (O’Brien) and I did. It’s been nine years since Stiff Upper Lip and at one point there I was thinking, is there ever going to be another AC/DC record, because that’s a long time. Finally they gave me a call. We started March 3rd on the record and I was like, ‘Somebody pinch me; we’re actually sitting here listening to new AC/DC!’”

BW&BK: Is there any particular reason for the nine years? You take a look at any number of high profile artists - it may be years between records due to touring commitments, label delays, marketing set-up etc. But why did it take nearly a decade to return? Fraser: “I think it’s a combination of things, and you’re right, so much of the world has opened up for touring, they are often out on the road for three years almost solid. So that’s gotta take a pretty heavy toll on things, including your personal lives. And once they’re done with that, they want to take some time off. Time seems to go fast - they probably took a couple of years until they started writing again. I know the writing process for this took quite a while. They have a little studio in London, so Malcolm and Angus (Young) are holed up there for quite a while, sitting there going through ideas. At one point Malcolm had told me that they had about 60 or 70 song ideas on the back-burner. Then they had to sort through all those and pick the best ones. I think they took their time on this - they aren’t in any rush. I’m sure the world is waiting for AC/DC, but they don’t necessarily need to be making more money! I’m sure they have everything they want and they’ve sorta ‘been-there-done-that’ several times. So where is the inspiration to get out there? I know they love playing and they love getting out in front of people, but really, what’s their rush? They like to wait until it’s right. And now was the time it felt right... ‘Let’s go do it.’”
BW&BK: Over the past week, the entire world has only heard the first single. You’ve been listening to and building this record for almost half a year! What is your opinion? Obviously you are a fan and you’ve leaned pretty heavy music-wise in your career. And AC/DC must rank pretty high as one of your favourites with all the work you’ve done with them in the past. Fraser: “I think it’s back more in the direction of The Razor’s Edge. The band only does records that they want to do, and what they’re into. For instance, on Stiff Upper Lip, what they wanted was a really dry, bluesy-type record - not so rip in your face rock. And that’s what they did and delivered. This one they wanted to kick it up another notch and rock. And I would say as a fan, it’s back towards The Razor’s Edge era, a little bit more up-tempo stuff.”
ultimateacdc.blogspot.com salutes you!
BW&BK (joking): Aren’t these guys too old to be up-tempo?! Fraser: “(Laughs) You tell them that! They are never going to get back to that Flick Of The Switch or High Voltage sound, because they aren’t the 20-year-old kids anymore either. Your whole persona kind of changes. How do you write about getting laid and drunk every night if you’re not doing it, if you know what I mean (laughs). There are a lot of bands that have been around for a while, and I think they have a harder and harder time to stay street-connected with the kids, when you aren’t really a kid yourself. I have kids that are teenagers now, but I keep in the loop through them, and not through my own personal experiences anymore. I think a band that has such a long life like ‘DC, Metallica, Aerosmith, it’s really hard to keep coming up with those cool things that are now going to connect with kids that could almost be your grandkids.”

BW&BK: Very few bands can say they have such a wide demographic... Fraser: “The cool thing about AC/DC - everybody has got their genre of music that they love, but no matter what genre you are talking about, everybody loves AC/DC. They seem to cross over so many boundaries. You go to their shows and you see grandparents with dusted-off leather jackets and they are there with their grandkids in leather jackets. It’s just amazing that they appeal to such a broad range of people. It’s a testament to their hard work.”
ultimateacdc.blogspot.com salutes you!
Source: Bravewords

DVD Review: AC/DC "No Bull" (The Director’s Cut)

Another "No Bull" review, this one is from RealRockNews:

During July of 1996, Aussie hard rockers AC/DC rocked the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid, and this forthcoming re-mastered edition DVD was more entertaining than I had expected.
I have never been a major AC/DC fan, and for me they were one of those bands that I would continue listening to if they happened to come on the radio, but was not quite into them enough to actually buy an album, or attend one of their concerts.

In my younger days of cruising around with the FM radio blasting, there were certain groups or songs that I thought of as “station changers.” Recognized within just a few notes, my fingers would quickly rescue my ears from something I would rather not hear. I never thought of AC/DC as a “station changer,” and I have no trouble remembering well their hits like “Hell’s Bells,” “Back In Black” and “Highway To Hell.

As those who may have read some of my past reviews of live CDs or DVDs may know, I’ve never been a big fan of audio recorded live. In this case, however, I found the audio quality quite acceptable, although lead singer Brian Johnson’s voice did seem to be a little buried under his hard-rocking band mates at times. Whether that can be blamed on the sound crew or a failure of Johnson’s pipes is something I will not speculate about.

There’s little doubt about where most eyes are when AC/DC takes the stage. Although I’ve always been a little freaked out by Angus Young’s “British Schoolboy” attire, there is no doubt that the man can put on a show, and he deserves some additional credit for losing most of the well-worn costume as the show heated up.

I recently heard about a study where it was determined that rock drummers are quite similar to top athletes when it comes to stamina and physical fitness. I dare say that I would have to select Angus Young as the guitarist who comes as close as I have seen to one that might have the stamina of a top athlete. No offense to Phil Rudd intended!

Young appears to be nothing short of a perpetual motion machine onstage, and at the same time, I actually found him quite entertaining. I also must give credit to whatever manufacturer made the wireless transmitter that was affixed to the back of his guitar strap during the show for producing such a sturdy device. I do not know how many times he threw himself on the floor and spun around on his back a few times — an act that was reminiscent of the signature move pioneered by “Curly” of the Three Stooges many years ago.

The crowd in Madrid was as enthusiastic as one might imagine. The venue reportedly accommodates approximately 20,000, and had I been an AC/DC fan in attendance, I would certainly not have felt short-changed. There was no shortage of unusual props added to the performance, including a wrecking ball and a giant, well-endowed blow-up doll, who we can safely assume was named “Rosie.” Unfortunately for her, she was unceremoniously and rather rapidly deflated when her approximately four minutes of fame had expired.

Some reviews I read about an earlier version of this show that was released on DVD in 2001 were critical of the sound, as well as the short length of time between camera shots, which someone likened to an effect that might trigger an epileptic seizure.

Apparently, the director himself was never pleased with the earlier release either. On the rear cover of the DVD is reads, “Ultimately rushed for release in 1996 for the home video market, [director David] Mallet was always unhappy with the results of the final product. Until Now.”

Having in my possession just a review copy of the latest version of No Bull, I do not know if the criticisms of the earlier version are accurate, but the fact that director David Mallet was himself not satisfied with the earlier release lends credibility to those fans who were not happy with it.
The criticisms of the earlier version do not seem valid while judging this latest release, which is good news for AC/DC fans who might want a higher quality version of this performance for their collection.
For those that are not fond of the relatively quick scene changes that are common to rock videos in general, there are four songs on this new release that were shot with the “Angus Cam,” which does not feature much more than continuous footage of the energetic guitarist as he visits just about every corner of the stage, much to the delight of the fans in Madrid.

There are also two bonus videos from that same Ballbreaker tour, one shot in Goteborg, Sweden and the other in Daytona, Florida.

Overall, I found this to be a well-produced and entertaining DVD, and I suspect AC/DC fans will appreciate it even more than I did. As a self-confessed audio snob, I often serve up a healthy dose of criticism for the sound quality that one may get with CDs or DVDs recorded live, a point I mentioned earlier. In this case, I found it quite satisfactory for a live performance.

No Bull (The Director’s Cut) is scheduled for release on September 9, and it will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores and at AC/DC’s official website.

AC/DC’s brand-new studio album, Black Ice, is expected to be released on October 20, and will also be available at Wal-Mart stores and on the band’s website.

Source: Real Rock News

AC/DC's New Single 'Rock 'N Roll Train' Storms Radio

AC/DC's first new single in eight years, "Rock 'N Roll Train", is the first song to debut at No. 1 on the Rock (spins) chart in the BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) Canada era (beginning 1997) and the first AC/DC song in the BDS era to reach No. 1.

Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) is the world's leading provider of airplay tracking for the entertainment industry. Nielsen BDS captures in excess of 100 million song detections annually on more than 1,600 radio stations, satellite radio and cable music channels in over 140 markets in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and 30 Canadian markets. Nielsen BDS information is utilized exclusively by Billboard, and R&R (Radio & Records) in determining their radio airplay music charts.

"Rock 'N' Roll Train" hit the band's web site and radio stations on August 28. A video for the song was shot in London and will premiere later this month. "Rock 'N' Roll Train" is classic AC/DC from start to finish, with bluesy riffs, a rock-solid tempo and a scorching solo from Angus Young. [...]

Source: Blabbermouth

AC/DC Rock Band DLC On the Way?

Live version of 'Shoot to Thrill' rumored as an upcoming download for the rhythm game.

AC/DC fans left underwhelmed by developer Harmonix's choice of "Let There be Rock" for Rock Band 2's setlist may have other options soon enough. Originally posted on Darkest of the Hillside Thickets singer Toren Atkinson's blog, the screenshot above was intended to showcase the in-game presence of the costumed, H.P. Lovecraft-themed band's recently released "Shhh....". What caught the attention of eagle-eyed Rock Band addicts, however, was the song immediately below that one: "Shoot to Thrill" from AC/DC's legendary 1991 show at Castle Donington. While it's become quite clear that nothing is certain when it comes to these sort of things, the fact that the image has since been pulled from Atkinson's blog lends it a little credence. It also wouldn't be the first time upcoming Rock Band tracks were unintentionally leaked by third parties in screenshots.

If this does prove legit, then this will mark the second band -- after The Who's Live at Leeds DLC -- to have music from live performances featured in Rock Band. With The Who it was a case of master recordings that had gone missing, rendering live recordings as the only available option. Considering how long AC/DC have been around, there's a pretty good chance they've lost more than their fair share of priceless rock artifacts -- the master to "Shoot to Thrill" included.

Source: 1up.com

AC/DC Plan Big Comeback

This past spring, eight years after AC/DC released their last album, the five band members entered a recording studio with producer Brendan O'Brien — and banged out 15 new songs in just two months. "We just wanted something like, 'Hey, this is gonna be rock & roll,' " says guitarist and bandleader Angus Young — who emphasized the point by using the word "rock" in the titles of four different tracks. The resulting disc, Black Ice, is set to be released exclusively in Wal-Mart stores on October 20th, with more fanfare than any release from the band in decades. "AC/DC defines rock & roll," says Columbia Records co-chairman, Steve Barnett, who promises an "unprecedented worldwide marketing campaign."

AC/DC's last two albums, 2000's Stiff Upper Lip and 1995's Ballbreaker, leaned toward the bluesier side of the band, but O'Brien was determined to focus on another aspect of their sound. "I was hoping the songs would lend themselves to more of a — 'pop' is the wrong word, but hooky sort of treatment. Like, 'Back in Black' or 'Highway to Hell' and even 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,' " he says. "I was trying to just make people remember, 'This is the same band. I have missed this band. I love this band. Where have they been?' "

Even during its time off, the band managed to reach a new generation. "There's not a lot of bands out there anymore that have the legend of AC/DC," says Wal-Mart's head of music and movies, Jeff Maas. Over the past year, record buyers under 25 accounted for nearly a quarter of AC/DC sales, according to the research firm NPD Group — and five percent of their listeners were age 12 or younger. "People tell me a lot of the young ones like it," says Young. "As my brother Malcolm used to say, 'We get 'em in the beginning.' Me and Malcolm grew up with cartoons, and a lot of our stuff, we took from things like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. 'TNT' — we got that from the Road Runner: He was always getting blown up!"

The band's long break was partially due to a serious hand injury suffered by bassist Cliff Williams. But the group's songwriting team — Angus and Malcolm Young — spent much of the time off perfecting the new songs. The demos they made in that process are hardly recognizable as AC/DC: "If it's Angus' song, he's doing a guitar riff or the drum machine or a drum sort of thing, and he'll sing this very mumbly melody, very superlow, three octaves down," says O'Brien.

There's no denying that Black Ice re-creates the classic AC/DC sound, from Phil Rudd's fat, swinging backbeat to the Youngs' interlocking guitars. Hooks abound, including rich backing vocals on the single "Rock & Roll Train" and a "Big Balls"-style chant on "She Likes Rock & Roll." There are some surprises too: the slide guitar on "Stormy May Day," the twisting, Zep-like riff of "Money Made." Frontman Brian Johnson shines, singing the kind of banshee high notes some fans wondered if he could still hit — although his vocal style is so physically demanding that he could only manage about an hour a day of top-notch singing in the studio. "He's struggled making these records in the past," O'Brien says. "So we figured the right time of day where he was in his prime and had him superprepared every day."

The band is also planning a major world tour, beginning in the U.S. in October. And despite hitting 53 years old, Angus is ready to put that schoolboy suit back on. "At first, when I think about 'Hey, I haven't worn it in a while,' it takes me a little bit of psychology to get into it," he says. "But I promised myself I'm not gonna think — I'll just put it on."

Source: Rolling Stone

AC/DC nominated for EMA 2008

MTV's European Music Award (EMA) will be presented on November 6th in Liverpool. AC/DC is nominated for the category "Best Act Ever" - other nominees in this category are Britney Spears and Amy Whinehouse (and others). You better vote for AC/DC at EMA's website here!

Source: ema.tv.co.uk

Sarnia's Bayfest Looks To Sign AC/DC

According to Sarnia's Theobserver.ca, organizer Michele Stokley has confirmed Bayfest is trying to sign AC/DC for next summer's outdoor music festival.

The Australian rockers announced last week they will tour for the first time in eight years in support of their new album, Black Ice, which hits stores in October.

"The agency we've always worked with represents (AC/ DC)," she said. "They're one of the larger bands we're going after. They're definitely on the wish list. The feelers are already out there."
Landing the rock 'n roll hall-of- famers depends on money, tour dates and whether they'll agree to an outdoor venue.

Stokley said if the band's tour takes them halfway across the world during next July it would prove to be a challenge. But some bands do make the flight back.
"AEROSMITH, they were over and played Russia, had five days off and then came to us in Sarnia," she said. "And they loved it here. They hated it in Russia."

Plans for next year's festival are progressing quickly. Booking agents have been contacting Stokley about securing a space on the bill, something that usually doesn't happen until late September or October. And it's usually the Stokleys trying to arrange meetings, not the other way around.
Read more here.

Source: Bravewords

What is "Sarnia's Bayfest" btw? *g*

Get schooled

Don't forget to get schooled again over at ACDC101! They've updated the website, it's time for the Eighties!

Just as they were prepared to finally capitalise on all of their years of hard work and long nights on the road, AC/DC experienced tragedy with the sudden death of their singer Bon Scott on 22 February 1980. The shattering news brought with it the possibility that the band would stop in its tracks, but in honor of the man who would have wanted them to continue, they decided to soldier on with Bon in mind.[...]

Old Sounds - Marcus Hook Roll Band

Tales of Old Grand-daddy

Originally released: 1973 AC/DC is a band that has always worked from a relatively small palette of rock ‘n’ roll sounds, showing an impressive focus in sound right out of the gate. It’s as though the Malcolm and Angus Young, the brothers at the core of the group, knew exactly the sound that they were after when they put AC/DC together. And maybe they did, if their first recording, with the Marcus Hook Roll Band in 1973, is any indication.

The Marcus Hook Roll Band was a studio project helmed by an older Young brother, George, and his production partner Harry Vanda. The resulting record, Tales of Old Grand-daddy, demonstrates that the biggest influence on Malcolm and Angus was the songwriting of Vanda and George Young. The approach to the songs is immediately familiar, even though there is far more of a heart of soul to this recording than what lay in the future of the younger Young brothers. On “Shot in the Head,” the hard left and right guitars are there, similar in approach but not quite the same as chords join and individual notes are picked out by one guitar around the other. Even the song itself is familiar—it seems obvious that Angus and Malcolm snatched one of the song’s chord riffs for use in their own “Rock and Roll Singer.” There are glimpses of the future found throughout the record, mixing an economical style of songwriting that the Youngs would keep with a soulful, eclectic approach that they would abandon when they took the wheel of their own group. The best moments here, though, are those in which the Marcus Hook Roll Band sounds like something unto itself, rather than a studio-built lark that Angus and Malcolm used as a training ground. A highlight of the record is “The People and the Power,” a devastating soul number with a refrain of “The People don’t have the power to change things anymore.” Even better is “Silver Shoes and Strawberry Wine,” a cryptic tune that burns slowly and seems tailormade for a trip of some sort—real, metaphorical, chemically induced. Beyond these songs, much of what is here comes across as uncomfortably structured, but it’s still an interesting listen as the starting point for AC/DC. When the smoke has cleared, in the big scheme of things and despite a few detours through a landscape more soulful than heavy, it turns out that if you’ve heard the Marcus Hook Roll Band then you’ve heard every AC/DC album—or at least the sounds that the younger Young brothers would appropriate for their own purposes, adding a little volume and turning them into that characteristic AC/DC sound along the way.

Source: VueWeekly

O/T: Metallica's Death Magnetic leaked online

Oh yes, it did. And Lars is still happy. Now that's what I call a change of mind! Welcome to the 21st century, Metallica! This might even change my mind and I'll buy one of their CDs again. Oh and yes, the album's very good! Starpulse reports:

Rockers Metallica have been dealt a devastating blow - their long-awaited album Death Magnetic has been leaked online, more than a week before its scheduled release date.
The heavy rockers have been gearing up for the release on September 12 of what will be their first studio album for five years.

But their new songs have already emerged online after the disc was sold early to fans in a French record shop, reports Blabbermouth.net.

However, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich insists the band is unfazed by the move, because they aren't too concerned about losing CD sales.

Speaking to radio station Live 105 on Tuesday, he says, "Listen, we're 10 days from release. I mean, from here, we're golden.

"If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. Happy days. Trust me. Ten days out and it hasn't quote-unquote fallen off the truck yet? Everybody's happy. It's 2008 and it's part of how it is these days, so it's fine. We're happy."

Source: starpulse

AC/DC has shook us all life long, but what now

The prevailing question fielded by music industry pundits at the office, the barbecue and any venue since the last time they were here has been: When are AC/DC touring?

It used to be, "Are AC/DC headlining the Big Day Out?"

That impassioned plea petered out after it was known that a bunch of mischief makers - who may or may not have included yours truly - used to start that rumour every August to see how long it would take radio or magazines to report it as fact. About three hours is the record.

Of course there was also the unofficial response from those in Team Acca Dacca that the Australian rock institution doesn't want, or need, to share a stage with anyone.

However, the power of AC/DC's enduring rock'n'roll legacy is such that the desire to see them perform live remains insatiable. As it is to hear their first new song in eight years.

They're back in black

The premiere of Acca Dacca's Rock 'N' Roll Train on radio stations and websites last Thursday was one of the biggest international music events - ever.
Every radio station which played the track fielded countless requests to play it again and again while websites hosting the single enjoyed a spike in traffic.

"It's almost unAustralian not to be excited about a new AC/DC single," said an astute industry observer.

But there's more than just our loyalty to a band born and steeled in the Sydney suburbs that is at work here.

Homebake sold out its 20,000-plus tickets in 10 minutes featuring a bill headlined by the ultimate masters of the audience choir, Crowded House.

The worst kept secret for 2009 is Neil Young will headline Big Day Out. The 62-year-old singer, songwriter and member of such legendary bands as Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and occasional guest of Pearl Jam is as revered as Dylan and Springsteen.

Say Neil Young's name and songwriters turn into gibbering fans.

It is logical that generations of fans stretching from parents to their children would be thrilled to see AC/DC, Crowded House and Neil Young in action.

But the fact they are the biggest drawcards to stages considered the playground of youth begs a scary question: Where is the next AC/DC?

The answer is obvious. There will never be another AC/DC. The chances of there even being another Silverchair or Powderfinger are equally as unlikely.

And the reasons are simple. Straight ahead, four-on-the-floor, meat and potato rock with a dash of melody is no longer the staple diet of the Australian music fan.

Our only hope is that Angus and Malcolm and the boys have sold their soul to the devil and will be rockin' on the highway to hell for a few more decades yet.

Source: Daily Telegraph

The Shape of an AC/DC Song

What does music look like?

The Shape of Song is an attempt to answer this seemingly paradoxical question. The custom software (written in JAVA) in this work draws musical patterns in the form of translucent arches, allowing viewers to see--literally--the shape of any composition available on the Web. The resulting images reflect the full range of musical forms, from the deep structure of Bach to the crystalline beauty of Philip Glass.

This is what AC/DC's T.N.T. looks like:

Visit The Shape Of Song's Website and check out what other AC/DC songs look like (there are 6 AC/DC songs: apart from TNT there are diagrams for BiB, HTH, YSMANL, LTBR and Who Made Who). There are lots of other artists as well and you can even add any MIDI file from the WWW.

Enjoy.

AC/DC guitar

Loved the article on Angus over at iFingers Guitar Experience, here are some excerpts:

Angus McKinnon Young, only made it to number 96 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. He made it to number 3 in my list. I don’t think the Rolling Stone’s list is a true measure of just how influential Angus has been as a guitarist. Maybe, my list swings too far the other way, but it’s my list!

Forgetting about Angus’s stage presence, which alone, makes him one of the most entertaining performers ever to rock a stage. What is it that makes him so special as a guitar player?
That Angus soundThe true signature of the Angus Young sound is one that has stood the test of rock n roll time. Forget your phasers, delays and fuzz boxes. The essence of his sound is his fingers. Not diluted by racks of effects. This is the ‘true’ sound of rock and roll. His sound owes as much to Chuck Berry rather than the million other of his contemporaries. In essence Angus uses the same sort of guitar rig as Chuck.[...]

He is the master of the volume, but without using master volume. With the release of Rock N Roll Train, from the forthcoming Black Ice album. YouTube has been alight with guitarists showing us how to play like Angus. Some have got close, but many somehow miss the boat. Technically they have the chops, but what works for Joe Satriani is not the secret to the sound of Angus. Back off on the distortion and your getting close. Back off to the point of getting a clean sound, then when you dig in you get glass like distortion. Try playing an open G chord, can you hear every string? Angus can. For solo’s the volume goes up, but it is the rhythm that excites me so much about AC/DC.

The Rock and Roll RhythmThere is one special effect, that you just can’t buy for your guitar rig. Money talks, but Malcolm Young swings. When ever you look at Angus, his older brother is not far behind. In fact, you could argue that Angus wouldn’t be Angus without Malcolm. These brothers in arms, are a perfect example of what it means to play in a band. They play together, as a team. United in their goal to rock the audience. Many young players miss this point, so focused on showing off, wanking all over their axes, leaving the audience cold. The Young brothers however, strip it down to the primordial funk that is rock and blues. [...]

Today, at a party you can play thousands of different songs from your iPod. Put Highway to Hell on, and something magical happens. Those in the know will grin inanely at each other. The production cuts through better than many other songs you could play. Many are just slightly over produced, that long reverb may sound great in the studio, but it is just another mask to the true vibrancy of blues and rock. At full volume there is no space for twaddle or padding. AC/DC have no other settings to dial in. The interplay between Angus and Malcolm allows no waffle. Just pure rock, hard as you like.
How to sound like AngusDitch the effects pedals. Just plug straight in. Dial in to the point of distortion, then back off a turn. Grab a thick pick and let your fingers do the talking. At first, you might feel naked, suddenly exposed without the cover of fuzz. Yet, as you get used to it, you’ll realise that there is a whole world of tone available to your fingertips. Dig in harder it gets nastier, but all the while remember that the most important thing is how you play, not how fast or how many different scales or modes you can fit in. [...]

If you want to listen to how much I sound like the Young Brothers, have a listen to Old School which is my tongue in cheek tribute to the band. After listening, then put on an AC/DC track and see just how it really should be done! Let there be rock!

Read the entire article here at iFingers.

Get fit with Back in Black

In The Scotsman's list of "Best tune to get fit to" you'll find AC/DC on #2 with Back in Black ("A pumping tune from the off. Sometimes I find myself singing along out loud."). View the full list here (the rest is sh*t).

AC/DC: No Bull Directors Cut Review

Give AC/DC credit for one thing – or actually, make that a couple of things. They’ve got longevity. No doubt about that.

But what you’ve really got to respect about Angus and the boys is not just that they’ve stayed on top for more than three decades now, but that they’ve done so without really changing a thing.
Their formula is a deceptively simple one. Simple, crunchy sounding power chords set to a primal 4/4 beat that doesn’t really change one bit from song to song or album to album. AC/DC’s stock in trade is songs like “Girls Got Rhythm” and “Whole Lotta Rosie” that are for the most part really just barely disguised metaphors for doin’ the nasty. They are also played very, very loud.

Putting Angus and his devil horns, and album titles like Highway To Hell aside for just a moment, the bible thumpers back in the eighties who swore these guys really were literally agents of old scratch (remember all that nonsense about AC/DC standing for “Anti Christ Devil Crusade”), had it all wrong. There’s just no way you can miss the fact that like all great rock and roll, what these guys are really about is sex, sex, and more sex. Well okay, maybe that and a little good old fashioned youthful rebellion.

Anyway, in the time honored rock and roll tradition, you can’t go wrong with that right? It may not have a lot of depth to it, but it’ll definitely get you out of your chair and on up on your feet shaking your ass. AC/DC haven’t changed this formula by a single note from day one. The fact that it has kept them on top only proves they are either fooling us all and are really mensa level geniuses, or the luckiest sumbitches alive.

But even a band of notorious bad boys like AC/DC has to eventually make some concessions to the economic reality of todays music business. To that end, their new re-release of the live DVD No Bull: The Directors Cut, like their upcoming new album Black Ice, will be a WalMart exclusive – meaning that’s the only place you will be able to buy it.

Not only is it a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll, it apparently is an equally long way from independent record stores to the shelves of a mega-retailer with more than a few ties to the religious right. Which makes me wonder if the Walton family has actually listened to AC/DC songs like “The Jack.”

Irony there aside, No Bull: The Directors Cut is an updated version of a 1996 AC/DC concert that was filmed by David Mallet at the Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas, which is a bullfighting arena in Madrid, Spain. The new version has been re-edited in high definition and given a fresh new Dolby 5.1 remix job.

For their part, Angus, Malcolm and the rest of the guys sound tight as a thirteen year old virgin here, and the video is equally crisp and clean. It’s everything you’d expect from a AC/DC concert. Angus Young wears his schoolboy outfit and does his modified Chuck Berry duckwalks when he’s not otherwise running all over the stage. Brian Johnson screeches his lungs out and continues to prove why he’s the only guy alive who could have replaced original vocalist, the late Bon Scott, and gotten away with it.

The hits are also all here – from “Highway To Hell” to “Back In Black” to “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You).” If you close your eyes for a second, you could easily be right back there at the Monsters Of Rock stadium show back in the eighties.

What AC/DC do, simple though it may be, is something that they are better at than anybody. And No Bull: The Directors Cut is as good a video document of that as you are likely to find. You’ll find it at your nearest WalMart on September 9.

Source: BlendMusic

Rock your Laptop with AC/DC

You can buy AC/DC laptop sleeves over at RockSoxx. Check them out!

Sleeves come in different sizes so they'll fit every Mac or PC laptop and can even be ordered with a custom design. Prices from 21.95 $ to 34.95 $.

Although they have a Highway To Hell sleeve on the main page that looks absolutely cool there's only a different logo available at their online shop (which I think looks stupid). HTH seems to be a custom design.

By entering your data you have the chance to win one of these sleeves, so head over to
http://www.rocksoxx.com. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing, David!

Rock 'N' Train to Austria

Really enjoyed reading today's article on train names in Austria from Presse.com where they make a connection to AC/DC's Rock 'N' Roll Train. Read it the entire article here (German only):

[...]Dass man doch nicht ganz so bieder ist, könnten die ÖBB bei der nächsten Namensvergabe beweisen: Dieser Tage erscheint das neue Album der australischen Hardrock-Veteranen AC/DC – inklusive der Single „Rock 'n' Roll Train“. Und in irgendeiner Schublade der Plattenfirma soll schon das Konzept einer Patenschaft liegen. Schon haben wir die Vision, wie der müde Pendler headbangend in den Waggon steigt, wo der Krawattenträger plötzlich eine Schuluniform trägt und im Mittelgang die Luftgitarre würgt. Während der Lokführer den Kragen seiner Lederjacke aufstellt, ertönt aus dem Lautsprecher Chris Lohners Stimme: „Sehr geehrte Fahrgäste, Intercity Rock'n'Roll Train in Richtung Highway to Hell fährt Bahnsteig 666 ab. Bitte Vorsicht.“

Source: Die Presse

More for the German speaking community: check out LAUT.de's "Black Ice" review:
- AC/DC: "Black Ice" im laut.de-Test

AC/DC + Music Industry I

Fall album releases raise new questions for the music industry

Associated Press reported on five upcoming albums this fall in an article, raising new questions about the music industry and the success these albums may enjoy. The big news are the number of comeback albums being released in the next few months, notably from Metallica and Australian band AC/DC. Both albums come after lapses of five years or more from the artists, a time period that has seen major upheaval and change in the industry, and the AP cites reports that both return the bands to their roots.

Nevertheless if Metallica and AC/DC are returning with new material, the music industry is simple not a safe place for anyone involved with it: artists, managers, investors, and vital customers. In fact, both Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) and Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE), which owns Sony Music Entertainment Inc., have seen declining prices throughout the summer. None of this is any different from the declines the industry has been seeing in recent years, but digital sales and excitement over new albums in the summer might have pointed in the opposite direction. [...]

Source: BloggingStocks

AC/DC + Music Industry II

Want to increase profits? Avoid iTunes.Altough CD sales are declining, they are more profitable for some bands than selling tracks.

Kid Rock's album Rock'n'Roll Jesus isn't on iTunes and has sold 1.7 million copies in the US alone, which is very profitable business. [...]

Maybe there is more money to be made from selling albums than selling individual tracks online, even though that's what consumers seem to prefer. [...]

Other groups have benefited from avoiding iTunes, and the WSJ cites AC/DC and the Beatles as examples:

The Australian hard rockers sold an estimated 2.7 million CDs world-wide last year, up from 2.55 million in 2003. The band has consistently sold more than one million CDs in the US alone, year after year. Overall US album sales -- of both CDs and digital downloads -- declined 21% to 500 million copies in 2007 from 2003, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Since the beginning of 2006, only the Beatles have sold more "catalog" albums in the US than AC/DC -- also without licensing their music to iTunes. Among the six best-selling catalog artists during that period, the act that sold the most individual songs digitally -- the Rolling Stones -- sold the fewest albums, digital or physical. That is important because while the Stones' six million single tracks sold may seem impressive, they represent low-cost, low-profit transactions.

Source: Guardian (Blog)

Read more at WSJ's original article here.

AC/DC on Criminal Minds: Trailer

CBS has unveiled its first promo for the new season of Criminal Minds. Helping deliver the message with style are veteran rockers AC/DC, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively [...]

Laying the pulse-pounding foundation for the promo is AC/DC’s “Rock ‘N’ Roll Train,” from the band’s first studio album in eight years, Black Ice (streeting Oct. 21). Minds exec producer Ed Bernero, having been afforded an advance listen to the track a while back, seized the chance to edit the promo himself. “We love AC/DC,” he tells me, “and just wanted to play with our images and this amazing piece of music.” [...]

Source: TVGuide

3 Hours of AC/DC

Just checked my emails, hope this is not too late:

Go to this website www.ifitrocks.com or do a google search on "The Allan handelman show".Allan will be airing a special 3 hr show of past interviews that he has done with AC/DC which includes bon scott.
It airs Sunday 8/31/08 At 10:00pm eastern standard time and can be heard live over the internet.

Thanks for sharing, Mike!

AC/DC jam: Breuer & Brian

Here's a little gem my buddy Kurt (thank you!) found on YouTube:

Going Back To AC/DC In Concert

The next big AC/DC announcement will most likely be the unveiling of the world tour.
We know it will start in Wilkes Barre, PA in October.

AC/DC will lap the map pretty much across 2009, with Australian dates expected to be announced for early 2009.

Every AC/DC show is expected to be greatest hits plus a few new ones.

Although it is the greatest hits, it is amazing how many classic songs AC/DC can leave out of a setlist and still have a show where you know every song. ‘Jailbreak’ and ‘It's a Long Way To The Top’ were all interesting omissions last time around. Maybe they will sneak back in for this tour.

Just for the hell of it, let’s revisit the setlist from the band’s 2001 Australian tour. The current album of the day was ‘Stiff Upper Lip’, but only the title track made the setlist.

Here is how it looked at Rod Laver Arena in February 11, 2001. In 2008, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was pretty much the same songs in a different order with ‘Rock N Roll Train’ plus one or two more from ‘Black Ice’ added.

By the way, the support band for this show was The Living End.

Source: Undercover

Rock 'N' Roll Train Lyrics

The lyrics of RNR Train have been posted on various sites, some of them not very accurate ("One hard reng a ale" ????), but SweetsLyrics got the correct words:

One hot angel
One cool devil
Your mind on a fantasy
Livin' on the ecstasy
Give it all, give it
Give it what you got
Come on, give it all a lot
Pick it up, move it
Give it to the spot
Your mind on a fantasy
Livin' on ecstasy

Runaway train
(Running right off the track) ...

One hot ringin' bell
Old school rebel
A ten for the revelry
Diamond of the agency
Shake it, shake it
Take it to the spot
You know she make it really hot
Get it on, get it up
Come on, give it all you got
Your mind on a fantasy
Livin' on the ecstasy

Runaway train
(Running right off the track) ...

(Angus Guitar Solo)

One hot southern belle
Son of a devil
A school boy spelling bee
A school girl with a fantasy
One hot ringin' bell
Old school rebel
The ten for the revelry
A diamond of the agency
Shake it, shake it
Take it to the spot
You know she make it really hot, yeah
Get it on, get it up
Come on, give it what you got
You know she’s just a nightcap

Runaway train
(Running right off the track)
She’s coming off the track
Runaway train
(Running right off the track)
Get it on, get it up
Come on, give it all you got
Runaway train
(Running right off the track)
Runaway train
(Running right off the track)

Source

Dirty Deeds ...

AC/DC has released ”Rock ‘N Roll Train,” a stomping new riff off their 4,177th studio album, “Black Ice,” which will be released exclusively at Wal-mart, Sam’s Club and the group's Web site on Oct. 20. The song isn’t bad at all, as long as you don’t make the mistake of listening to the three classic tracks that stream after it on their MySpace page. In that case, it resembles leftover filler from “Flick of the Switch” or something. OK, maybe not quite. I’m biased. I love AC/DC, but I gotta admit: The last thing I crave is a new album. Like, I’m already totally satisfied, Angus. No need for anything else. You’re golden. Go smoke cigarettes and relax with Malcolm. (OK, fine, it’s their 15th studio album.)

by Michael Deeds/IdahoStatesman.com

Dirty, Mr Deeds! Done very dirt cheap ...

Australia Prepares For AC/DC Set

AC/DC fans in Australia seem to be overly impatient about waiting seven weeks for the Australian band's first set in eight years.

The 15-track "Black Ice" is out Oct. 18 in Australia through Albert Productions/SonyBMG followed by an international release (Oct. 20) and North American release (Oct. 21) through Columbia.

This week, five AC/DC albums returned to the Australian Recording Industry Assn. (ARIA) chart. They were 1975's "TNT" at No. 47, 1979's "Highway To Hell" at No. 61, 1976's "Dirty Deeds Don't Dirt Cheap" at No. 62, 1986's "Who Made Who" at No. 74 and 1990's "Razor's Edge" at No. 92.
Albert Productions, which signed the hard rock act in 1974, had run a retail promotion of AC/DC catalog aimed at new fans in advance of the new set.

The label also held listening sessions for "Black Ice" at its in-house recording studio in Sydney. "Radio seemed very thrilled with what they heard and have promised support," said Albert Production's Sydney-based CEO Tim Prescott.

AC/DC will also feature heavily at the second Adelaide International Guitar Festival, which runs Nov. 29 Nov to Dec. 7. It will start with an attempt to set a new world record with 1,800 guitarists simultaneously playing the riff to the act's signature tune "It's a Long Way to the Top".

The festival ends with a star studded concert tribute to AC/DC featuring the Hoodoo Gurus; former AC/DC members, bassist Mark Evans and original singer Dave Evans; Angry Anderson of Rose Tattoo; the Party Boys; crooner Jimmy Little, Stevie Wright of the Easybeats, who was considered as a replacement when Bon Scott died; Adrian Belew of British band King Crimson; Adalita Srsen of Magic Dirt; and a team-up of country singers Troy Cassar-Daley and Sara Storer.

Source: Billboard

Is it AC/DC or Midnight Oil?

What a stupid question, Daily Telegraph!

It's an age-old question (well, one that's been posed for the past few years anyway). Which band is better: AC/DC or Midnight Oil?

ACCA DACCA by Peter Brown:

HOW can I sleep while the beds are burning? Well, pretty easily, after sipping on a drink or three and being shook all night long by the ripping three-chord guitar hero Angus Young, the late piercing Bon Scott (now screamin' Brian Johnson), with rhythm man Malcolm and the king of bass Cliff Williams.

AC/DC are rock-god pioneers who have refused to get caught up in the I'm-a-celebrity/rock-star-so-my-worldly-political-opinion-is-valid guff. They are a rock band, nothing more, nothing less, they have no agenda. Their music is unapologetically raw and primal. And good.
Did the Oils ever pack a stadium in Europe or the US? And, besides, Angus would be a better Environment Minister than the other bloke. [... skipping the oil stuff]

Read the entire article at Daily Telegraph.

O/T: Man Accused Of Leaking Guns N' Roses Tracks Arrested By FBI

Blogger allegedly admitted to posting the songs online when questioned by agents.

The man accused of leaking nine previously unreleased Guns N' Roses songs — believed to be tracks taken from the band's oft-delayed LP Chinese Democracy — was arrested by FBI agents Wednesday (August 27) at his Culver City, California, home, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Kevin Cogill, 27, was charged on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws and has been accused of posting the unreleased material online via the Antiquiet blog. The tracks were posted on the site back in June, and the leak generated so much traffic that the site crashed. The song files have since been removed. [more]

Source: VH1

hmm, thought the FBI had more important things to deal with ...

The verdict on AC/DC's new album

Australian rockers AC/DC have delivered their best album in decades, based on a sample of tracks from the upcoming album Black Ice. NEWS.com.au today heard seven tracks from the new album in the studios of the band’s Sydney headquarters, Albert Music.

The songs – Anything Goes, War Machine, Stormy May Day, She Likes Rock N Roll, Money Made and Black Ice, along with the current single Rock N’ Roll Train – suggest the band has made a remarkable return to form after a series of fan-only albums in recent years.

Judging by these songs, the 15-track album is the band’s most consistent and accessible release since Back in Black.

Anything Goes has the potential to be the band’s biggest hit since You Shook Me All Night Long if released - under one plan - as a second single.

Opening with a guitar sound that recalls Bon Scott’s bagpipes in Long Way to the Top, Anything Goes is a delicious 1970s tune with blood-pumping, 2008 production values.

The Young brothers would disagree, but it is the closest thing to a pop song the band has done and will pull in many new fans.

The songs heard today draw from periods throughout the band’s career.
Black Ice is a head-banging anthem from the For Those About to Rock era, with a riff as good as any the Youngs have written.

War Machine is a hard and fast affair reminiscent of Back in Black’s Given The Dog a Bone.
Money Made is a bass-heavy boogie with guitar chords that seem to hang back, teasing, before sling-shotting into a chorus from the Blow Up Your Video era.

Stormy May Day offers something new - a huge over-driven slide guitar hook that is a favourite in the Alberts studio.

Producer Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, The Offspring) and long-time AC/DC mixer Mike Fraser should take a major credit for the album, delivering a very contemporary sound -- probably the best production value of any AC/DC album to date.

The vocals are one of the big surprises of the album. In a modern medical miracle, front man Brian Johnson’s vocal chords have patched themselves up to deliver his best vocal performance since the 1980s.

O’Brien has also worked hard on the back-up vocals, which makes a tremendous difference in the choruses.

This is not Back in Black. It won’t sell the 45 million copies of the 1980 classic.
But on a first listen it is by far the best thing AC/DC has produced in a quarter of a century.
* Black Ice is due out in Australia on October 18 and around the world on October 20.

Source: David Higgins/NEWS.com.au

[from the comment section:]

david higgins said...
Something I didn't add into that review, but was said at the Albert studio: there will be no Black Ice bonus tracks. Contrary to all those rumours in recent years, the band apparently only recorded 15 songs and figured it's been so long they would just go ahead and put them all out at the same time. Albert also said there was no indication this would be the last AC/DC album -- all other things being equal they thought the band would continue to record albums and tour as long as they could because "that's what they do". Best, David

Thank you for this additional information, David!

AC/DC is favourite for next year's concert

[...]Everywhere you go, people are talking about the concert and speculating on who might come here next year.

According to a poll by the Times & Transcript's website, Canadaeast.com, Australian power rockers AC/DC are the crowd's favourite choice for next year.

Our website posted the question "Who would you like to see headline the Magnetic Hill Music Festival next year?", and over 37 per cent of the 2,000 who responded voted for AC/DC. Other favourites were U2 (23 per cent), the Dave Matthews Band (13 per cent), Madonna (9.8 per cent) and "other" with 16.5 per cent.

The day before the Eagles concert, Donald K. Donald president André Hudon asked me -- as a journalist with his ear to the ground in this city -- who I thought people would like to see. I told him AC/DC was probably the crowd favourite, along with U2 or Metallica or some other big name act that would be guaranteed to present a really big show at the hill, complete with big sound, big lights and big effects.

Coincidentally, both U2 and AC/DC are releasing new albums this fall which will likely be followed by world tours. My radio buddies Ernie and the Taiter have been playing songs from the new AC/DC album on the morning show this week. And a Facebook page called "Bring AC/DC to Magnetic Hill in 2009" is gaining momentum among Metro Moncton's musical online crowd. [...]

Source: Times & Transcripts

Something feels familiar about the new AC/DC album

So the new AC/DC single, “Rock N’ Roll Train,” has been unleashed upon the world, and, shocking though it may be, it sounds more or less like every other song AC/DC has released since Back in Black (I tend to feel like the Bon Scott years had some more variance in them; I’m sure someone out there disagrees).

For some reason, the fact that Angus Young has been recycling his own riffs for years has never really bothered me. I very much doubt I’ll purchase or even listen to AC/DC’s new album, Black Ice - but I’ll sure as fuck go see them in concert when they come to town. I tend to think of AC/DC as what Vince has referred to as a “legacy act” - a band that basically releases new music as an excuse to tour - which may be why I’m not as invested in a discussion of whether or not the new album is any good as I am when it comes to, say, Metallica (it may also help that the AC/DC hype machine isn’t as obnoxious, in terms of trying to tell the world that it’s shit doesn’t stink, as Metallica’s). Or maybe it’s just because rehashed AC/DC is still better than most other bands’ music, period.

Source: MetalSucks

AC/DC to rock Wal-Mart

Call me crazy, but I could have sworn the whole point of rock 'n' roll was to rebel against the establishment and status quo.

I guess AC/DC didn't get that memo.

The Aussie metal-heads -- a long-standing staple of classic rock radio -- have always come off as a loud, raunchy pub band that could kick mine and anyone else's butt in a barroom brawl in about three seconds flat.

Its music has always been as tough and in-your-face as the band. The proof is in rowdy anthems like "Highway to Hell," "Back in Black" and "You Shook Me All Night Long."

I never pictured them as the glossy, suit-wearing, minions of corporate rock-type.

So you can say I was little shocked and a whole lot of disappointed when I found out the band will be exclusively selling its new album "Black Ice" exclusively through Wal-Mart.

They join The Eagles, Journey and Garth Brooks as the latest casualties of the retail-exclusive craze.

Maybe it's me but throwing a band like AC/DC in with the rest of those acts just seems wrong.
Even scarier are rumblings from the Guns N' Roses camp that the band will follow suit with its long-awaited "Chinese Democracy" disc. Best Buy is also being thrown around as possibility of having exclusive retail rights to the record.

Seriously, what is going on? [more]

Source: Dustin Schoof

AC/DC on Criminal Minds

Billboard.com reports today:

"Rock'n'Roll Train" will be utilized in promo ads for the CBS show "Criminal Minds" beginning Sept. 1. It will also appear in the Oct. 22 installment of the series.

All Aboard: AC/DC.com updated

All Aboard: You're Listening To AC/DC's New Song, 'Rock 'N Roll Train'

We know you, you're an AC/DC fan. And as an AC/DC fan, we know you've been scouring the internet for information about Black Ice, watching every fan-made video on YouTube with "Rock," "Roll," and "Train" in the tags and visiting ACDC.com daily looking for more. Well, it's here.

Fans can now listen to "Rock 'N' Roll Train," the band's first new song in eight years, at ACDC.com.
"Rock 'N' Roll Train" is just the first page in the latest chapter in AC/DC history. Don't fear!

ACDC.com's got you covered with the entire history book. Check out our new feature, AC/DC 101, for an interactive, in-depth look at each decade of the Acca Dacca annals.

First up is the 1970s. Click here to watch, read and listen as AC/DC grows from humble beginnings in the nightclubs of Sydney to riding down the highway to hell of fame in just a few short years.

You might have heard the tale before, but it's never been told quite like this. With vintage video footage, recovered photos and a new spin on an age-old story, AC/DC 101 is a crash course in the history of the world's most electrifying rock & roll band.

So, go get your schoolboy uniform starched and pressed because class is now in session. Don't be tardy!

Source: ACDC.com

AC/DC Black Ice Deluxe Edition

Check out AC/DC online shop for yet another version of AC/DC's upcoming album (this one's blue):

Description:

This limited edition hardcover deluxe package features a 30-page expanded booklet with exclusive new illustrations, studio and live photographs of AC/DC.

Note:
Limit 10 Black Ice CDs per order. Orders exceding this limit are subject to cancellation at any time.

Same tracklist as "standard" edition. Price: 14.99 $

A booklet? That's all? No bonus tracks or bonus DVD? Price is only 3 $ higher but what sense does this make? That makes four different CD versions now - sorry, but this stinks, Sony $$$$$

AC/DC RNR Train Review Snippets

Here's a collection of today's short reviews of Rock 'N' Roll Train.

>>The bone-crunching track, which takes the band's sound back to its 1970s Highway To Hell heyday, can be heard in the multimedia player below.<< Adelaide Now

>>The track - 'Rock 'N' Roll Train' - proves that even 35 years down the line the metal-titans continue to pack in punches with commanding gravel-voiced melodies and rough-and-tumble guitar riffs.<< NME

>>"Rock 'n' Roll Train," the first single from AC/DC's new album "Black Ice," has hit the Web. And it sounds like pretty much every other AC/DC tune. Not that there's anything wrong with that.The Aussie rockers have made no bones about playing loud, hard-driving rock music in the past. It's the group's bread and butter and what has sustained them as rock icons for more than three decades.What's surprising is that front-man Brian Johnson's familiar howl sounds like it hasn't aged a bit and the band appears to be as tight as ever.<< lehighvalleylive.com

>>All I can say is that if you put "Rock N' Roll Train" on for a friend, and told him that it was actually a recently unearthed old b-side from the Australian hard-rock outfit, that person would probably believe you. "Train" has chunky chords, a howl-along chorus, and lyrics about hot chicks; it even sounds a little more messy than current rock productions, perhaps to give the whole enterprise that "back in the good old days" feel. << Idolator

>>The song begins with a classic Angus riff, followed by steady drums and bass, which cues up the Brian Johnson growl. It is a basic rock n roll blues song with a sing along chorus. The Angus guitar solo is a little weaker than usual; I figured after waiting 8 long years he’d unleash more fury. Overall, true fans of AC/DC will not be disappointed with this track. 7/10<< Gears of Rock Blog

>>Lyrical mastery: AC/DC does, after all, have it right. While I bemoan their lyric machine and it's fifty-five word vocabulary, it ensures one thing. The songs that are spit out by this gigantic Batmanesque Lyricometer are going to rock. When the only words you can choose from are "fight", "fire", "balls", "rock N roll", "power", "the", "and", "is" and "ain't", you have no choice but to come up with a rockin' good time. AC/DC understands that simplicity is the key to kicking ass through music.<< Life as an intern Blog

>>From just one listen, it's clear the band have made good on their promise to return to the no fuss, no muss, down-and-dirty rock of the Back In Black era: The riff is instantly infectious, Angus Young's solos are of the barnstorming variety (he literally bursts in early on the first run - the guy can't wait to play!), and Brian Johnson's voice is both rough and massive.Which just might explain why it takes AC/DC sometimes eight years between albums: that's how long it takes Johnson to get his vocal cords back in shape.<< Musicradar

Walmart website updated

You can listen to the full RNR Train track at Walmart's website now as well. By now you can pre-order only the "standard" (red logo) version of Black Ice at Walmart.

AC/DC Rock'N'Roll Train - LISTEN NOW

You can listen to the full track online at ACDC.com or AC/DCs official MySpace.

Or right away via YouTube:

Enjoy!

If you want blood: you can jump on the bandwagon here.

AC/DC: RNR Train Radio Premiere tonight

AC/DC's new single, "Rock 'N Roll Train", will receive its world premiere on ww.iHeartMusic.com tonight at midnight. The track, from the group's upcoming album "Black Ice", will arrive at radio stations nationwide on Thursday (August 28). According to Billboard.com, which got an advance listen to the album, "Black Ice" is a "15-track extravaganza that frequently echoes the down-and-dirty rock 'n'roll of its iconic 1980 album 'Back in Black'." [...]

Source: Blabbermouth

I don't know if this is helpful. iHeartMusic.com hosts streams of more than 750 different radio stations in various time zones ... Which one to pick? Surely it won't get played at every single station. Can't find anything on the website right now - hope they will announce tonight where exactly to tune in .... Good luck everyone!

Otherwise: listen online here. 105.7 The X announced they're going to play it around midnight (EDT PA time (New York).

For German speaking AC/DC Fans:

Bedenkt die Zeitverschiebung, angegeben sind überall US-Zeiten und es sind nicht mal Zeitzonen angegeben (Beispiel: EDT New York 00:00 Uhr - 06:00 Uhr in Deutschland)! Nun muß aber keiner früher aufstehen, sich die Nacht gleich ganz um die Ohren hauen oder sonstwie in Panik geraten - Informationen, wo Ihr Rock N Roll Train morgen (ab 07.00 Uhr) im Radio hören könnt (oder per online stream) gibt es in der News-Rubrik bei www.daily-dirt.de. Reinklicken und schlaumachen!

Im Laufe des Tages wird das ganze sicherlich bei YouTube auftauchen - wahrscheinlich auch auf der offiziellen AC/DC MySpace Webseite. Schlaft schön, träumt süß von donnernden Zügen und bis morgen!

RNR Train Delivery ...

The new AC/DC single "Rock 'N Roll Train" from the album Black Ice will be arriving at radio stations at 12:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday night (Thursday morning) via Play MPE. A CD single will also be arriving from FedEx for 10 a.m. delivery on Thursday.

Source: FMQB

If FedEx knocks at your door tomorrow - it will not be the RNR Train single - unless you work for a radio station ... The single cannot be purchased and is only sent out for promotional use to selected radio stations.

Hint, hint

ACDCrocks.com has updated their website:

Join the Community

Are you connected to AC/DC's social networks? Stay up to date on the latest AC/DC news and get together with other fans. Check out these sites.

MySpace - Facebook - iLike - imeem - YouTube

Be sure to check these pages often as new content (hint, hint) may show up there shortly.

Source: ACDCrocks.com

3AW Breakfast Show talked about AC/DC ...

... this morning with Paul Cashmere from Undercover.com.au:

On Monday, Ross & John previewed the new ACDC song. The band’s MySpace page had a snippet of the track on its site. By Tuesday, the track was gone. This morning Undercover’s Paul Cashmere unravels the mystery of the missing riff.

Listen to the stream here.

Source: Undercover / 3AWbreakfast

In celebration of a new AC/DC album ...

A new AC/DC album “drops” on October 20th and is named “Black Ice” … the most dangerous of the types of Ice. In celebration of this momentous occasion, here is a tracklist of some really bad AC/DC remixes ... (what were you expecting?)

Source: QuarterlifeParty - check their site for the playlist.

AC/DC RNR: Radio Update!

For those who live in Pennsylvania or want to listen online - 105.7 X has updated the information on the airing time for Rock N Roll Train:

The first single "Rock 'N' Roll Train," will debut on August 28th "about" midnight, again on the People's Morning Show... and all day Thursday on 105.7 The X

Check and tune in here.

Black Ice: 3 covers

Fansite ACDC-Italia reports that AC/DC's new album will be available in three different version:

Another interesting information of the new album emerged - it will be sold with 3 different covers: one in the "classic" red design and two others with yellow and white logo. They also differ in graphics design.

Here's a picture:

Check out ACDC-Italia's news section (Italian only)

Personally I love the red version best. Love the strait jacket ;-)

AC/DC, Now You Hear It, Now You Don`t

It looks like whoever looks after AC/DC`s MySpace site was suffering from a case of premature injection on the weekend.

The 30-second sample of the ‘Rock and Roll Train’ song has disappeared from the Acca Dacca MySpace site.

From what Undercover hears, it sounds like someone with the AC/DC camp thought it would be a cool injection to the site and uploaded the song without checking.

The track was listed only as ‘R’, not the full ‘Rock and Roll Train’ title but it was definitely the song.

‘R’ disappeared as quickly as it appeared but not before radio got a chance to broadcast it. Both Christo on the Australian Radio Network’s The Night Shift and Ross and John on 3AW were quick off the mark to give their listeners a dose of the new AC/DC well before an official release.

The ‘Black Ice’ album will be released on October 18 in Australia and October 20 in the USA.

Source: Undercover

Thunder Down Under Tee

After Kurt designed the "famous" Black Ice cover (that even made it to a Swiss CD Webshop *gg*) here's his latest masterpiece: an AC/DC Lyrics T-Shirt.

In his own words:

Thunder Down Under-Shirt

Because I'm such an AC/DC nerd, I've always wanted to design an AC/DC T-shirt with the band's complete song library on it. Although we're talking a boatload of tracks here, I think I managed to squeeze them all in, and to give myself that extra challenge, I arranged them all alphabetically. See if you can find a track that I may have missed. And for the true fan, you might even find ones that were never released. You'll be sure to find the 15 brand spanking new tunes from the upcoming Black Ice as well. Can't wait.

Enjoy! Kurt

Click here and here for larger views.

Thanks, buddy!

Black Ice Wiki

Wikipedia:

Black ice is ice frozen without many air bubbles trapped inside, making it transparent. Black ice takes the color of the material it lies on top of, often wet asphalt or a darkened pond. Its difficult-to-detect nature makes it a significant hazard to drivers, pedestrians, and sailors.

Black ice (disambiguation)
Black ice may mean:
- Black ice, hazardous frozen water
- Black Ice (poet), an emcee and slam poet
- Black Ice (band), a band from Oakland California
- Black Ice (album), an upcoming album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC
- Blackice Defender, the name of a commercial network firewall
- Black ICE, lethal data protection mechanisms used in the Sprawl trilogy by William Gibson
- Land of Black Ice, an arctic wasteland in the Dungeons and Dragons World
- A Cavern of Black Ice, the first book in a series by J. V. Jones
- Black Ice, a book written by Matt Dickinson
- Black Ice (Ontario band), Ontario based band
- black ice (skating team), Ontario based National Synchronized Skating Team
- The Black Ice, a book written by Michael Connelly
- Black ice, crystal methamphetamine dyed black with food coloring

or one of these:

"R"

While the 30 second teaser of Rock 'N' Roll Train has disappeared from AC/DC's MySpace site fans are doing their best to reproduce the song:

More fan videos here and here.

Thanks, Kurt!

Don't forget to tune in ...

UPDATED Aug.26!!! Please go here for the latest information!!!

AC/DC - Black ICE:
The first single "Rock 'N' Roll Train," will debut on August 28th
e.g. at 10:00 am on 105.7 THE X ROCKS

Listen online here. Or check your local radio station, when RNR Train will air!

UPDATED Aug.26!!! Please go here for the latest information!!!

AC/DC vs. Metallica

AC/DC and Metallica are two bands that have enjoyed a rare amount of success. Both bands are huge and still have rabid fan bases. Sure, the most recent albums by both bands were less than great, but anytime the possibility of a new AC/DC or Metallica album is mentioned - people get a little crazy. People get even crazier at the talk of a tour. Now, both AC/DC and Metallica are getting ready to release new discs and a full tour supporting the material. Which tour will be bigger?

I honestly don't know who to give the edge here. Quite frankly, I'm going to both tours and I'll get both albums, too. AC/DC have been around longer but when the chips fall in place, I'm probably a bigger Metallica fan. Either way, I think both tours are going to be massive.

How massive? I'm not sure. My guess is that ticket prices for both tours will be astronomical - with AC/DC having a higher nightly guarantee and subsequently older audience. At least in North America, the tours are winter events - and that usually means pretty big venues. Metallica is coming to Ohio in November at the Schottenstein Center. For those of you not from Ohio - that is on the campus of Ohio State University. Everything at Ohio State University is absolutely huge. I am guessing that AC/DC will play two Ohio dates.

You know what this means, right? It means I'm going to be shelling out a bunch of cash for fanclub memberships to get close tickets.

So, which will be bigger? Metallica or AC/DC? Which show will you attend?
There is no doubt in my mind that both tours will be among the highest grossing of 2009 - and maybe even this year if the respective bands play enough dates. I don't expect cheap tickets. I gave that dream up a long time ago.

Source: Bring Back Glam!

Strange days have found us ...

Business
People come up with strange things - here's a video based on "AC/DC's Art of Business Longevity" by Nic Faivre: "ACDC are releasing a new album titled Black Ice in October 2008. Black Ice will be another statement for ACDC who have mastered the art of personal business branding."
Yes, you never stop learning (from AC/DC).

Little Red Dress
My god, do baby girls (or their parents) really need such a stupid and ugly looking AC/DC dress (including canon)?
Sick. Available at PsychoBaby. (nomen est omen)

Old Is New For AC/DC

The news of the release of AC/DC’s first album in 8 years has sent a lot of new fans out for an educational catch-up and some old ones for a refresher course.

On this week’s ARIA chart, AC/DC are at no. 47 with ‘TNT’, no. 61 with ‘Highway To Hell’, no. 62 with ‘Dirty Deeds Done Cheap’, no. 74 with ‘Who Made Who’ and no. 92 with ‘The Razor’s Edge’.

Collectively, the albums sold 3324 units which on this week’s chart was more than what the number 9 album did.

It was an interesting choice of titles going over the counter. Three of the albums are from the early era with Bon Scott. ‘The Razor’s Edge’ features Brian Johnson and ‘Who Made Who’ was a soundtrack featuring both Bon and Brian.

AC/DC’s new album ‘Black Ice’ will be released on October 18 in Australia and October 20 in the USA.

Source: Undercover

AC/DC: Daily Record is excited too ...

Once AC/DC confirmed Monday that it will release its new album "Black Ice" in October, I began devising ways that I can use my official position here at the Daily Record to either meet/see/stalk the band.

Everybody has a favorite music act that can be topped by no other. Tastes vary, of course. Someone might like Black Sabbath, or Metallica, or (I don't know why) the Jonas Brothers (maybe it's because I'm not 14 and not a girl). It doesn't matter.

Rock bands, much like dogs, are like cigarettes: Everybody has their favorite brand and they rarely waver from it, and mine is AC/DC. (And bullmastiffs. I don't smoke.)

"Black Ice" hits the shelves Oct. 20, and the band will begin touring soon after. This is their first disc since 2000, and it likely will sound like all of its predecessors. I don't care. The dual guitars of brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, accompanied by the booming drums of Phil Rudd, define AC/DC. You can spot one of their songs a mile away just by hearing the first few raucous licks.

Read more here (the article actually is about AC/DC female cover band Hell's Belles).

AC/DC: a hair-raising story ...

... by Stephen McGinty/Scotsman:

I would put my failure as a Heavy Metal fan down to my hair. While my peers in black leather biker jackets encouraged their follicles to grow into the most luxuriant manes, cascading rivers of black and brown hair that swept over their shoulders and dangled halfway down their back, my own barnet stubbornly refused to yield.

For some unknown reason my hair was possessed by a most recalcitrant nature, namely its refusal to touch my shoulders, preferring instead to grow to within an inch or two, then begin to curl back up towards my ears and bestow upon me the appearance oADVERTISEMENT f a little Dutch girl. [...]

The man who made me doubt that spurious figure was Angus Young, the diminutive guitarist from AC/DC. Born in Glasgow, he and his brother Malcolm emigrated to Australia with their parents and there founded, with Bon Scott, himself an export from Kirriemuir, perhaps the greatest rock band in the world. Since the early Seventies, Angus had been headbanging at such a furious rate that, if true, he would surely now be a dribbling goon, confined to a wheelchair, instead of preparing once again to embark on a world tour whose Scottish date I await with eager anticipation.

There is something about AC/DC that brings out the best in people. They are universally loved, guaranteed to sell out any tour and almost unique in the musical firmament for refusing to write songs with any political message, unless you include peons to the pleasures of having sex with large-breasted women, an anti-feminist diatribe, or a skewed celebration of femininity.
Their lyrics are woefully direct. When my wife finally succumbed to their brilliance and began singing the songs out loud, I had to stop her when she sang one lyric as: "Let me cogitate with my mind…" The very notion of Brian Johnston, the Newcastle singer who took over after Bon Scott choked on his own drunken vomit in 1980, actually using the word "cogitate" in a song is hilarious. The line, in fact, was: "Let me cut your cake with my knife".

Back in 1986 I failed in my bid to win a place with the legion of fans dressed as duplicates of Angus Young, in schoolboy uniform of shorts, blazer and satchel and armed with cardboard guitars, who got to film the band's video for Who Made Who. (The song, one of my favourites, was written especially for the soundtrack of the film Maximum Overdrive, directed by Stephen King, a turkey whose $15million budget is a price worth paying for the song.)

So I felt for the fans who this week lost out on the opportunity to appear in the band's new video for their forthcoming single, Runaway Train, but I recommend they check out the YouTube video of one lucky winner's rendition of the song, played in his bedroom, complete with wild air-guitar moves.

The new AC/DC album, Black Ice, is out in October. The concert is scheduled for early next year. My trips to the barber are on hold.

Read the entire article at The Scotsman.

AC/DC: 'Rock 'N Roll Train' 30-Second Preview

A 30-second preview of the new AC/DC single, "Rock 'N Roll Train", has been posted on the band's official MySpace page.

http://www.myspace.com/acdc

AC/DC "Black Ice" short review

After an eight-year layoff from the studio, AC/DC storms back this fall with "Black Ice," a 15-track extravaganza that frequently echoes the down-and-dirty rock'n'roll of its iconic 1980 album "Back in Black."

Due Oct. 20 exclusively in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores as well as ACDC.com, the set opens with the single "Rock'n'Roll Train," a riffy blast sure to please longtime fans. The track goes to U.S. radio Aug. 28.

Elsewhere, "Big Jack" nods to the vintage major-key rocker "Who Made Who," while "Wheels" is a hands-in-the-air nod to old favorites such as "Highway to Hell" and "Givin' the Dog a Bone."
Frontman Brian Johnson is in fine form on tracks like "War Machine" ("Better watch your back and cover your tracks!," he warns), the sparse "Decibel," partially sung in his deep, natural voice, and the anthemic "Anything Goes."

"Black Ice" ends with its title track, an old-school blues rocker that finds Johnson growling, "I'll gouge your eyes out." The group will begin an extensive world tour in October, with dates to be announced.

Source: Billboard

Win a trip to see AC/DC ... not only in the UK!

As already reported you can win a trip to see one of AC/DC rehearsal shows in USA by attending Reading or Leeds festival and have your picture taken in front of an AC/DC poster wall.

If you don't attend any of these festivals, you now have the chance to enter anyway, here's what SONY BMG just published:

Welcome to the AC/DC ‘Angus’ competition page!

You and an equally rockin’ AC/DC friend could be whisked away to see the band perform their very FIRST full rehearsal in an intimate gig at a top secret location in the U.S.A! Believe me, this is a money can’t buy competition and an experience of a lifetime! If you love AC/DC this is something you simply cannot miss.

There are two ways you can enter:

If you are going to the Reading/Leeds festival 2008 (22nd -24th August) then checkout the ACDC ‘Angus’ posters all around the festival site. All you have to do is pose underneath Angus Young’s head with your most awesome air guitar pose ever! We really want to see you give it some AC/DC rock god action!

OR, if you were not lucky enough to get Reading/Leeds festival tickets – you can download the poster and fiddle about with it at your leisure – superimposing Angus’ head over your own picture of you pulling some superb rock god posturing! Then, upload the finished picture to our Rock‘N’Roll Angus wall...

AWESOME – and the prize is too.

For those about to upload – we salute you!

Source: http://www.acdccomp.co.uk/

Download the poster here and upload your picture at this location.

As there has been some confusion, here's just to state again that AC/DC are NOT playing Leeds or Reading festival!

Rock legends plot fall comeback

Delco.Times published a pretty long article on the upcoming new albums by AC/DC, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. Here are some excerpts:

This fall, three rock and roll bands will attempt to work their way back to the charts and regain the revere of music fans around the world. [...]

The line-up is impressive no matter how you cut it; AC/DC, Guns N' Roses and Metallica. It's a triple crown of legends. [...]

"Back in Black," "Appetite for Destruction" and "The Black Album" have sold nearly 100 million records combined, each a flawless masterwork in its own right.But no band is impervious to the ravages of time and the discontent or flat out tragedies that come with the trappings of fame and hopes for longevity.

AC/DC was able to rebound from the 1980 death of lead vocalist Bon Scott with "Back in Black," featuring new singer Brian Johnson. The record is full of both anthemic fist pumpers and catchy singles. "You Shook Me All Night Long" is still one of the most played songs on jukeboxes coast to coast, while the opening notes of the title track never fail to induce chills, or head bob of recognition at the very least.

No one could expect the group to replicate "Back in Black's" success each time out, but in the seven albums since, AC/DC has gone steadily downhill in terms of the quality of its recording output.
There have been some quality singles, like "Thunderstruck" from "The Razor's Edge" and the title track to "Who Made Who" - even though they share a similar guitar line.

Hidden gems exist too. "Big Gun" off the "Last Action Hero" soundtrack is classic AC/DC bravado, while the pounding "Rising Power" from "Flick of the Switch" is an unheralded jewel.

Overall though, the band hasn't released a solid record in 28 years. Part of the problem lies within the songs treading too fine a line between tongue in cheek, innuendo heavy metaphors and cheap schoolboy humor. Songs like "Caught with Your Pants Down" and "Kissin' Dynamite" don't leave much to the imagination, not only lyrically, but musically as well.

"Stiff Upper Lip," released in 2000, was the last work put out by the group, and it severely lacked in memorable hooks by guitarist Angus Young, taking a much softer approach for AC/DC in general. Johnsons' trademarked cigarette and scotch soaked voice hasn't been the best in recent years either, becoming almost a poor caricature of its former bellow.

The record hit platinum status, but was poorly received by critics and fans alike, though the latter are a loyal bunch, and filled arenas around the world for the supporting tour.

This October, AC/DC will unleash "Black Ice," and it's already been promised to be full of signature guitar licks and a rougher, tougher edge. And with a title that references the band's biggest record, it has a lot to live up to. [...]

Read the entire article here.

Higher Voltage: New AC/DC album to weigh in with a whopping 15 tracks

The wheels on the chariot of the gods of rock are finally turning again…

AC/DC have confirmed that the title of their new album will be Black Ice as widely rumoured, with the first single being Runaway Train.

Fans are being given some compensation for the eight year wait since previous album Stiff Upper Lip with the news that Black Ice will contain a whopping 15 new songs.

Reports that one of the songs includes an F minor chord cannot be confirmed at this time. (oops)

The Brendan O'Brien-produced album will be released on 20 October with Runaway Train surfacing on radio 28 August. A world tour – the band's first since 2001 – will begin in October.

Source: Guitarist

20 Easy Tips ...

...That Will Put You on the Path to Being a Guitar Hero over at website 1st-TheGuitar has a lot of good advices to improve your guitar playing, one is the following:

Buy concert DVDs
If you’ve never seen any ACDC music video or concert DVD…. then we definitely need to talk. Angus Young is an amazing guitarist and It’s just amazing to see that this scrawny little Australian guy can play like he does and with such attitude and soul. Seeing that guy rip up the fret board definitely shows us that anyone can play guitar… all it takes is practice, discipline, motivation and commitment. Concert DVDs are great because they show you up close and in really good quality what exactly a guitarist is playing, unlike music videos where bands just dance around and they add in the music later. Concert DVDs are filled with raw footage of guitar playing at its best.

To check out all 20 tips click here.

O/T: Just returned home ...

... from the cinema - watching BATMAN - THE DARK KNIGHT. Fucking brilliant. Highly recommended to everyone.

Check out the official website here.

AC/DC "Black Ice" Review

by Bob Lefsetz

I'm sitting here at Shutters listening to the new AC/DC album on Steve Barnett's MacBook Air.
To tell you the truth, I usually avoid this. What are you going to say as the label head watches you listen to his baby. But after discussing the Wal-Mart deal at lunch, hearing all about the plans for release, I was eager, the same way you are after school, when you ride your bike to the record store to buy the album the day it comes out.

You rush home, rip off the shrinkwrap, drop the platter on the turntable, lay the needle down and you hear... ANGUS' GUITAR! Now this isn't far from the master, THIS IS THE MASTER! And suddenly, my whole body starts to throb, THIS IS THE SOUND!

Oh, Phill Rudd's bass drum. You know that "Back In Black" sound, kicking you in the gut, so powerful, yet so pure!

Every AC/DC album sounds the same. Only the songs are different. "Black Ice" continues the tradition. I could sit here and digest the 55.5 minutes over and over again. But not having all day, I've played the single, "Rock N' Roll Train", a few times, and am now sampling...

I'm gripped by "Smash N' Grab".

This ain't Crocs music. This ain't made for Sephora. This is the sound that drove your parents away, that they didn't only tell you to turn down, BUT THROW OUT!

It's a rough tough tumble world we live in. Where sold-out whores tell us what to like and try to make us believe we're losers. What are we supposed to do?

Listen to AC/DC. Turn it up and nothing else seems to matter. The sound obscures the rest of the world, it's just you, equal to everyone you hate, who's got you down, your dad, your principal, the President ...

Wow, you should hear the intro to "Spoilin' For A Fight"! This is "Shoot To Thrill"!
Dressed to kill!

The groove to "Decibel" ... Like you've just stripped naked and are sauntering to the bed to stick your rod into a woman who's BEYOND FANTASY! Wow, this is too much, PURE SEX!

There's a slide on "Stormy May Day" straight off a sixties English blues record, followed by another guitar in the other ear with a stinging report. There's a FULL MINUTE INTRO!

I don't remember any other AC/DC track sounding like "Rock N' Roll Dream", it's positively SENSITIVE! Kind of like something off "Straight Shooter", the second Bad Company album... Wow, this is my favorite so far, at least until the freight train/explosive chorus. I love the intimacy, like you've stayed up all night drinking after you've been dumped.

This ain't no "Ballbreaker", no "Stiff Upper Lip"... It's like the band believes, it's the best thing they've done in EONS!

How good is it?
WHO GIVES A FUCK! I'm sitting here, with the headphones cranked, listening to NEW AC/DC!
Doesn't matter how many stars the album gets in "Rolling Stone", what the "New York Times" says, never mind Pitchfork or Stereogum. If you're a fan of a band, in this case one of the most legendary in the business, only eclipsed by the Beatles in sales, you're EAGER! It's like Moses, it's like JESUS has come back to Earth... You want to hear what he's got to say!

Maybe AC/DC is the band at the second coming. That's what it sounds like, THUNDER! Drowning out all that's irrelevant. All that matters is the music.

I'm in hog heaven.

Source

"Black Ice" lyrics not by Brian

I complained about the Black Ice song titles yesterday. But who is to blame?

I thought Brian wrote the lyrics for the songs again this time but it seems he didn't.

In an interview on June 26, 2007 Cliff told Bravewords: "There are tracks that we’re kicking around .... And Brian is finishing up some lyrics and so on." ultimateacdc.blogspot.com

My buddy Kurt (thank you once again) did some research and found out that the album credits go exclusively to Young & Young.

Check it for yourself - Kurt found this on ACDC.com under "history". Just click on each track and the credit is given to both the Young brothers for all tracks. ultimateacdc.blogspot.com

Pics from AC/DC video shoot

Some pictures from the AC/DC video shoot in London have been posted here. Check them out!

Black Ice on October 17!

As previously reported, official German AC/DC website now confirms the release date of "Black Ice" for October 17th, 2008 in Germany.

Quote of the day

"Phil Campbell and Angus Young are amongst the
most underrated guitarists of all time!"

Lemmy Kilmister (Metal Hammer Germany, 09/2008)

Sign up to Official AC/DC mailing list now!

Want to know more about the forthcoming album Black Ice? Want to know about news, offers and exclusive AC/DC competitions and preorders? We hear you! Sign up HERE.

Source: Sony BMG UK

Saluting AC/DC

Australia's News.com.au reports that a star-studded lineup of local and international artists will stage a tribute concert to AC/DC at this year's Adelaide International Guitar Festival.

The "AC/DC We Salute You" concert will close the festival on December 7 with main-stage acts performing their favorite AC/DC songs.

Two former band members will be among about 30 musicians at Elder Park to celebrate the iconic Australian rock band.

Original vocalist Dave Evans is travelling from his home in Texas, in the United States, and early bass player Mark Evans from Sydney.

Read the entire article from News.com.au.

Source: Blabbermouth / News.com.au

"Black Ice": it's your turn

Breaking news yesterday: album title, track list and cover revealed. Now, that was a busy and exciting day.

But isn't it time for some comments now, folks?

What do you think of the Black Ice cover artwork?
And what do you think of the song titles?

I like the artwork, it's a cool design, anyway I'm not 100% with it. Anyway I think "Black Ice" is much better than other AC/DC album covers.

The song titles somehow rang a bell ...

Money Made => Money Talks
Big Jack => The Jack
and a lot of Rock('n'Roll), 4 times to be precise:
-Rock ’n Roll Train
-She Likes Rock N Roll
-Rock N Roll Dream
-Rocking All The Way
other titles sound just silly to me ... Not very inventive or creative for a work of 8 years ... As long as the music itself is better than that it's fine with me.

Did I already mention that ACDCrocks.com updated the webdesign to the "Black Ice" artwork? The new Merchandise looks awesome!

P.S.: Will the schoolboy uniform be replaced by a strait jacket on the upcoming tour? Just kidding.

News.com.au confused

News.com.au was so excited about the new album, that they forgot how to spell the band's name:

They've corrected today ....

It reminds of the story of a fan at a radio show who had to spell AC/DC.

A-C-D-C ... yes, it's not easy ...

Black Ice "Review"

The first studio album from AC/DC in years sees them flexing their musical muscles in spectacular fashion. The album features darkly themed songs with lengthy intricate guitar interludes, akin to something Pink Floyd in their heyday may have offered. It’s an immensely thoughtful conceptual piece focusing on one persons search for an answer to all of life’s deep questions but ending up addicted and dying….on a train.

Brian Johnsons vocals are suburb, reminding one of the smoky bluesy efforts of a young David Coverdale, but with the power and sentiment of Frank Sinatra.

The first single from the album titled Rock ‘n’ Roll Train, is a devastating song about losing ones outlook on life and sinking into a quagmire of drugs and prostitutes. This is in fact the train upon which the hero of the album dies.

Oops, sorry I slipped into an alternate universe there for a second.

This is another crappy AC/DC album with Brian Johnson squawking like a tortured cat and Angus Young retreading all the riffs that Chuck Berry created before him.

Actually it’s a remake of every album they have made since For Those About To Rock, only this time it took them 6 years to make it.

Source

Wrong! It was 8 years, not 6! *gg* Anyway, I doubt the guy even heard the album. But it's fun to read ;-)

AC/DC to Release First New Album in Eight Years

Nothing new, but I liked it, fun to read, not one of these "copy & paste" articles.

On October 21, fans of devil horns, Gibson SGs,and bronco riding will be lining up at their local Wal-Mart to purchase Black Ice, the first album in eight years from Australian hesher pioneers AC/DC.

Recorded in Vancouver with producer Brendan O’Brien (who is currently working on upcoming material from Pearl Jam and Mastodon), the album is the first in AC/DC’s recent deal with Columbia Records.
So what does the record sound like? Well, three of the songs have the phrase “Rock n’ Roll” in their title (four if you include “Rocking All The Way”), so it’s safe to assume this isn’t their quiet album about growing old.

Even more interesting, however, is the band have chosen to release the record exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Cub in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to Black Ice, the band are re-releasing No Bull, their 1996 Madrid, Spain concert DVD, in a director’s cut for DVD and Blu-Ray. The Aussies will be touring North America in late fall.

Basically, your dad is going to have an awesome October.

Source: exclaim.ca

Wal-Mart "Black Ice" advertising

Check out Wal-Mart's Website for their advertising campaign for AC/DC's new album "Black Ice". Also keep an eye on this page for exclusive song previews (coming soon)!

Thanks for sharing, Phil!

Nacho's Round 2

"Black Ice" Release Dates (GER + CH)

Musikmarkt reports today that "Black Ice" will be released in Germany on October 17th, 2008. Read the article here (German).

Blick.ch states the same date for Switzerland (Eidgenossen klicken hier).

Over here there will be no "exclusive deal" - Black Ice will be available at amazon and all your favourite record / CD stores!

Details about 'Rock N' Roll Train' video

300 lucky AC/DC fans (including several metalhammer.co.uk competition winners) took part in the video shoot for 'Rock N' Roll Train' this past Friday (August 15th), the first single to be plucked from what is highly-tipped to be the last ever album from AC/DC, 'Black Ice'.

After taking over the outside of a pub at London Victoria railway station, coaches ferried all of the fans to a secret-location at around 6pm where the band had been filming the video since 10am. A record label representative had told 'Hammer earlier on in the afternoon that the band hadn't been asked until the morning of the shoot whether or not the fans would be allowed into the same room as the band when recording the live performance portion of the video. Needless to say, the band welcomed their fans with open arms and at around 7.30pm, the fans were treated to the first playing of 'Rock N' Roll Train'.

The track itself is classic AC/DC and, as good a record as 'Stiff Upper Lip' was, this blows anything from that record clean out of the water. With a pace that's in the same vein as 'Highway To Hell', 'Rock N' Roll Train' has a huge chorus with a refrain of 'runaway train/running right off the tracks' that the fans in attendance picked up after the very first airing. Indeed, when the band shot their first take of the song, it was visible that Brian Johnson and Angus Young were beaming at the reaction the track was receiving. The tracks other hook-line of 'give it all/give it up/come on give it all you've got' was also belted out at throat-shredding volume by the end of the shoot.

The video itself takes place with the band playing in front of an industrial factory backdrop although plenty of green screen footage was also shot during the afternoon. The sheer energy created in the room though was something to truly behold. Awe-struck at the fact that the band were literally within touching distance, both audience and band were firing on all cylinders. Angus, dressed in a navy blue school uniform, and Brian johnson in a cut off Harley Davidson shirt were particularly inspired, whipping everyone into a furious frenzy.

After finishing their final take, the band all went to the front of the stage to shake hands and sign autographs for everybody and in doing so also let slip a few details of what to expect from AC/DC in the future. 'Black Ice' will feature 15 tracks with Johnson describing them to people as "14 songs that are all as good as this one ('Rock N' Roll Train')". He also said that Europe would see the band sooner rather than later when the band tour the album.

Wrapping up filming at around 10pm, both band and audience can look back on a job well done and trust us, the energy given by both will come flying through your TV screens when the clip airs at some point in September.

Source: MetalHammer UK

MarketWatch on Wal-Mart Deal

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said rock band AC/DC will sell its new album exclusively at namesake and Sam's Club locations in the U.S. [...]

The move - which makes the veteran rockers the latest artist to sell a new album only through Wal-Mart - highlights the company's growing music-industry clout.
The AC/DC deal, however, comes at a time when the retail giant - the largest seller of compact discs in the nation - is signaling that it may rock the music world by stocking fewer CDs. Such a move is part of a trend that would further accelerate the already-steep decline of CD sales as consumers make the transition to digital music. [...]

The AC/DC arrangement aims to replicate a successful strategy recently used by fellow classic rockers the Eagles and Journey[...]. Such deals exemplify the kind of special treatment Wal-Mart increasingly seeks - and receives - from artists and record labels alike. These constituencies are willing to risk their relationships with competing retailers to keep Wal-Mart happy.
Unlike the Eagles or Journey, AC/DC is under contract to a major record label, Sony BMG's Columbia Records, which brokered the pact with Wal-Mart and also will benefit from sales there. Columbia's decision to sell a major new release at only one chain has the potential to alienate retailers left out. One competitor unlikely to complain is Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) digital iTunes store, where AC/DC never has made its music available.

Wal-Mart is expected to pull out the stops to promote the AC/DC album, the band's 16th studio release. Such a push - including prominent displays of CDs in stores and heavy advertising - could yield blockbuster sales, in an environment in which blockbusters are increasingly rare.
Wal-Mart said it will join with Columbia Records to launch "multiple activities for fans," including new product features and promotions this fall "that will bring fans closer to one of history's greatest rock bands." [...]

The announcement also comes several days after Wal-Mart bucked industry trends with reporting a 17% rise in fiscal second-quarter net income, though the world's largest retailer also warned sales gains ahead will be muted by the slow economy, soaring inflation and the end of U.S. tax-rebate checks. [...]

Wal-Mart executives, frustrated by perennially declining CD sales, have been quietly exploring changes in their approach to selling music. The company has described different versions of its potential new strategy to different players in the music industry. [...]

Read the entire article at MarketWatch

"Black Ice" tracklist revealed

Track Listing for "Black Ice"

1. Rock ’n Roll Train
2. Skies On Fire
3. Big Jack
4. Anything Goes
5. War Machine
6. Smash N Grab
7. Spoilin’ For A Fight
8. Wheels
9. Decibel
10. Stormy May Day
11. She Likes Rock N Roll
12. Money Made
13. Rock N Roll Dream
14. Rocking All The Way
15. Black Ice

Source

AC/DC's 'Black Ice' Set For Release October 20th

AC/DC's official site reports today:

Columbia Records announced today the October 20th release of AC/DC's widely-anticipated Black Ice, the band's first studio album in eight years. Black Ice features 15 new tracks from brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC.

"Rock 'N' Roll Train," the album's first single, will debut on August 28th. The video will premiere in September. And the band is set to kick off its first world tour since 2001 in late October.

Black Ice will be sold in the US exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club retail locations at the special price of $ 11.88. Online, the CD will be available with free shipping and handling via the band's website, www.acdc.com. It will also be sold at Walmart.com and Samsclub.com.

Black Ice is currently available for pre-order at www.acdc.com and Walmart.com.

Source: ACDC.com

another try on "Rock'n Roll Train"

AC/DC Announce New Album 'Black Ice' To Be Released October 18

Albert Productions and SonyBMG Australia announces the worldwide release of 'Black Ice' the long awaited new studio album from AC/DC, on Saturday, October 18. 'Black Ice', the first full-length studio album of all-new material from AC/DC since the release of 'Stiff Upper Lip' in 2000, is the band's debut album for Columbia Records, (New York Based label for SonyBMG) and their 18th for Australia's Albert Productions.

Produced by Brendan O'Brien at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC, 'Black Ice' premieres 15 new AC/DC compositions and performances including the album's first single, 'Rock 'N' Roll Train', slated to impact radio around the world on August 28 with a video debuting in September.

'No Bull: The Director's Cut,' a newly edited expanded DVD edition of AC/DC's historic performance at Madrid's Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas on July 10, 1996, will be released worldwide on August 30, 2008. 'No Bull: The Director's Cut' has been remixed in Dolby Digital Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and includes the original concert showcasing more than two hours of music as well as bonus features. AC/DC will embark on a major world tour, the group's first since 2001, beginning late October.

Source: Sony BMG

Black Ice Cover Source: Perth Now

AC/DC Catch The Train In London

AC/DC filmed their ‘Runaway Train’ video in London on Friday. The song will be the first taste of the new ‘Black Ice’ album, due in October.

There is still some confusion about the title of the song. Fans at the shoot also seem unaware of the proper song title with some talking it up as ‘Runaway Train’ and others calling it ‘Rock 'N' Roll Train’. They sing ‘Runaway Train” in the chorus but the title will be ‘Rock 'N' Roll Train’.

For the record, the Australian label told Undercover that it is ‘Runaway Train’ at the time when we were the first to publish the album title ‘Black Ice’ back on July 2nd but we later learned that the title and the chorus are two different things.

Fans in London met at a film studio around 3pm Friday and were ushered inside at around 5.30pm.
One fan at the shoot said in a posting, “We were played the new song `Rock n Roll Train` or possibly called `Runaway Train`. They ain`t decided yet apparently. It has a heavy driving drumbeat with bass being loud n hard to me. It sounded like a cross between `Hard As A Rock` and `All Screwed Up`.

The fans were told to jump and wave their arms while they were filmed for the chorus of the song which goes ‘Runaway train, running off the track”.

The set looked something like ‘Terminator’ with big cogs turning and flaming flying out.
Fans from the shoot are reporting a typical AC/DC sound.

AC/DC will begin their `Black Ice` world tour in Wilkes Barre, Pa in October, according to Billboard.

Source: Undercover

Guitar version of new AC/DC song

Can Brian do better than that?

I'm sure the guy was there, but wasn't the title Rock'N Roll Train? Maybe he wasn't really listening. I hope so, cause I don't want it to sound like this ;-) Click here for more information.

Jim Jeffries on AC/DC

The song that means the most to me may seem odd to you: it’s AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long. For the past couple of years, I have been using it as my entry music when I perform on stage, and I never get bored of it. It starts with a riff and kicks in at about the 20-second mark with what I think is the best guitar solo going, though it only uses about three notes. It comes from AC/DC’s Back in Black album, released by the Sydney band after their lead singer, Bon Scott, had died and been replaced by the Geordie Brian Johnson. They were thought to be washed up, but Back in Black became an enormous bestseller. You Shook Me All Night Long is a pumping feelgood song, and you can’t not feel happy when you hear it. But that’s not the main reason I love it.

Every time I get dumped or a tragedy happens in my life, I always turn to AC/DC. There is no need to listen to deep songs if you are depressed — nothing mends a heart like dirty rock’n’roll, and this song is certainly that. But that’s not why I love it.

My strongest memory of the song actually comes from the time of the 2006 football World Cup, which was held in Germany. My 65-year-old father had recently retired and Australia had just made it into the World Cup for the first time in my lifetime. I paid for my father to fly out from Australia to see it.

I had been living overseas for many years at this stage, and this gift was my chance to show him that I could make a living as a comic, as well as to spend some real time with him as an adult before he got too old.

Australia were playing Croatia in their third game in Stuttgart, and all they needed was a draw to get out of their group. And they did it. This was amazing, as — apart from an earlier game in this group — Australia hadn’t scored a goal in the World Cup before. As the full-time whistle went, my dad and I were standing on our chairs, with tears in our eyes. We could not believe it. We hugged. Then AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long came pumping through the speakers and all the Aussies in the crowd sang. My dad, a John Denver fan, somehow knew every single word. In that moment, I was the happiest I have ever been.

To me, this proves that music does not have to be deep or clever. It just has to come along at the perfect time and it will be with you for ever.

The comedian Jim Jeffries performs Hammered at the Edinburgh Festival until August 25; Udderbelly’s Pasture, Bristo Square, at 9pm

Source: Times Online

"Black Ice" Review, title of single revealed

As reported before, the review of "Black Ice" is now online at Rolling Stone magazine's website.
Read it here. I couldn't believe it was really the Rolling Stone, as it was so positive ;-)

This confirms that the album title definitely is "Black Ice" (and not "Dirty Rhythm" as rumoured for years). The first single to be released in September this year is titled "Rock 'N Roll Train" - this has now been confirmed by everyone who attended the video shooting in London yesterday (as they heard the song of course).

After Eagles and AC/DC: Guns 'N Roses next?

Are GNR close to a Wal-Mart deal for Chinese Democracy?

The June leak of nine allegedly "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes -- either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Source: antiMusic/Billboard

Hammett: "My Solos Sound Like Angus Young!"

Kirk Hammett reckons his solos on new Metallica record Death Magnetic sound like Angus Young's! In new fly-on-the-wall footage posted on MissionMetallica.com (view it here) the Hamster reveals his solos sound like more like the AC/DC guitarist's than anything he has ever played before.

"It doesn't like anything I've ever done," he says. "The guitar sound is a little bit more aggro. It's less creamy and my playing is way different from previous albums. It's almost like an Angus Young kind of feel...

"I'm playing with a lot of open strings. Angus does a lot of open string stuff. If I was putting a general description on it it's kinda like Angus Young type stuff. It's the sound, it's the attitude, it's the liveliness. Minus all the pentatonic stuff..."

Source: TotalGuitar

AC/DC to make 'fancy dress return' at Reading Festival

Dress up as Angus and you could win a once in a lifetime trip to see the band!

AC/DC are kicking off their comeback at Reading Festival (August 22-24) by offering fans a unique chance to see a one-off dress rehearsal from the band in the US.

However to qualify fans must dress up as the band's guitarist Angus Young.

Two giant billboards are being erected at the Reading site which fans in fancy dress must have their photo taken in front of. The snaps should be uploaded to Acdcrocks.com/uk.

The best "Angus" will win a two-person trip to the US to see the band perform the exclusive gig.
AC/DC will release a new album rumoured to be called 'Black Ice' - their first since 2000's 'Stiff Upper Lip' - later this year.

Source: NME

O/T: ROSE TATTOO Frontman Running For Australian Government

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, ROSE TATTOO frontman Gary "Angry" Anderson is one of 87 people standing for Warringah Council at the September 13 New South Wales, Australia government elections, including 12 who would like to wear the mayoral robes.

Anderson is keen to serve the community he adopted after moving from Melbourne, where he grew up in the working-class suburb of Coburg.

"I've always been involved in local issues as a resident," he said. "There is a high level of concern about what seems to me to be some very self-interested people on the peninsula who have been involved in council in the time I have lived here."

He said he was not lining up with any political party and although he had supported Labor in the past, these days he made decisions about issues on their merits rather than political allegiance.
Anderson said big issues facing the area were the Spit Bridge, preserving the environment, improving policing, and looking after local schools and hospitals.

Read the entire article from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Blabbermouth

Rolling Stone article on AC/DC's Black Ice?

A video appeared on YouTube claiming to be an article from Rolling Stone Magazine:

Sweet vindication! Last year in this column, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson promised that they'd tour in 2008. Well, he wasn't kidding. Soon they'll begin rehearsals in a secret location, before hitting U.S. arenas in late fall. We heard this news at the Sony HQ on New York's Madison Avenue, before hearing all 15 tracks of the band's earthshaking new Black Ice, recorded in Vancouver in just eight weeks with Brendan O'Brien. On it, Brian wails about skies on fire, blood in his eyes, storms raging, lightning flashes, hard rain and pretty women. Angus Young shreds throughout (we dig his slide work on "Decibel"), and the rhythm cats - Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd - are solid as a rock. The first single is "Rock'N Roll Train"; "She likes Rock'n Roll" will be a stripper anthem; and "War Machine" (our favorite) will tear you to pieces.

Watch it here.

Thanks everyone who sent this in.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS Covers AC/DC Classic

According to Australia's Undercover News, Louisiana-bred, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams has recorded a cover of AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock And Roll)" for her latest album "Little Honey".

The Australian rock classic will feature as the last track on Lucinda new 13-song release.
Williams, 55, is the triple-Grammy-winning roots-rock musician famous for penning tales of breakups, loneliness and redemption.

"Little Honey" will be released in October.

Source: Blabbermouth

Casting call closed

AC/DC will be filming the video for their upcoming single on August 15th in London and were looking for 150 fans to be part of it. Yesterday the casting call closed.

Are you one of the 150 chosen ones? Let us know and share your story!

Top Ten Guitar Solos

Found this on YouTube. Do you agree?

The Headbanging Turban

A funny story from an indian restaurant in Frankfurt/Germany:

As we entered the packed Indian restaurant, the smell of the curries and spices convinced us that we had indeed found The Promised Land. [...]

The owner asked if we were musicians. We told him that we were in town for the Musik Messe and were certainly in the music business. That was all it took.

Excitedly, the restaurant owner asked if we liked AC/DC. We both replied sure, they are a great rock band. Now the owner launched into an excited and animated description of the AC/DC concert in Munich that he had recently attended; how hard AC/DC rocked; how great their show was; etc. We tried to bring him back to the menu and our order of food, but now that he knew he had found some “fellow believers”, he dismissed our attempts and just said that he would serve us the special for a big discount. OK, that sounded good.

The owner left and was gone about 3 minutes when we noticed that the sitar music had been turned off. 30 seconds later… Highway to Hell blasted through the speakers at what had to be close to the maximum volume. The owner appeared from the kitchen in time to do a head-banger’s impersonation of a lead guitar player. I’m certain that our mouths dropped open, as this was just an amazing sight. We watched in dismay as we witnessed an Indian head-banger’s turban wildly bouncing to the beat as he thrashed his air guitar. The restaurant cleared of it’s customers almost immediately and within 10 minutes of AC/DC’s musical debut, along with the entertainment of the bouncing head-banger’s turban, we were literally the only customers left in the place.

We made great friends with the restaurant owner, who seemed oblivious to the fact that he had just run off all of his regular customers. And yes, we listened to AC/DC for our dinner music (although at a lower volume) and the food was indeed fantastic.

Read the entire story at NambaGear.

Ex-OZZY, DIO, DEEP PURPLE, AC/DC and QUIET RIOT Musicians Bring BIG NOIZE To Multinational Forces In Iraq

Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), bassist Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE), guitarist Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC) will bring their band BIG NOIZE to Iraq and Kuwait in September. This rock and roll invasion is designed to increase morale and solidify the united force that bonds most all human beings around the world: Music!

Turner, who has his first live solo CD coming out in October on Frontiers Records (www.frontiers.it), is enthusiastic about performing for and meeting with the brave men and women from all countries who put their lives on the line every day.

He says, "I have wanted to go to Iraq and perform for the Troops for a long time. Rainbow and Deep Purple have always had a lot of fans in the military. I tried to go via the USO as a volunteer musician and was turned down! We were overloaded with emails from service men and women, many who are big fans of this genre of music and wanted me to come over for a show. I know this will be a life changing experience." [...]

Source: Bravewords

AC/DC at Ozzfest? (2)

As reported a few days ago, Sharon Osbourne recently said in an interview that AC/DC is her dream act for Ozzfest.

A report about Ozzfest in the Dallas Morning News now ends like this "Be welcoming when AC/DC (reportedly) heads the lineup in 2009."

Let's wait and see.

Source: Dallas Morning News

O/T: Metallica performed the song "Cyanide" from their upcoming album last night on Ozzfest. Watch the video here.

Want to be a part of the next AC/DC Music Video? Click here!