AC/DC: Let There Be Rock

The ‘60s and ‘70s were years when rock music was at its peak. The music created in this period not only defined the rock ‘n’ roll genre forever, it also became a catalyst for several rock movements later on, namely the ‘80s punk rock movement and the popular alternative rock scene emerging from Seattle in the ‘90s. Heavy metal arrived with a bang in the ‘70s. With several bands developing their own styles, it became categorically impossible to classify heavy metal as purely heavy metal only. Several words were tossed around to define heavy metal such as rock, rock ‘n’ roll, hard rock, and psychedelic rock. Moreover, the emergence of a number of bands in this period resulted in diversity in rock music, with each band playing in their trademark styles. If you are a fan of ‘70s rock music, you easily recognize songs from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, and AC/DC. Even though there was some overlap of styles, these bands at the core were simply playing rock, employing the same musical instruments.

The Australian band AC/DC was formed in 1973 by two brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young, and their arrival on the ‘70s rock scene could not have been any better. Their first album, “High Voltage” (1975), had several chart topping songs, yet they were they still considered rock infants by music critics; some call “High Voltage” an experimental album in which AC/DC was simply trying to develop their tunes and rhythm. It was on the second album, “T.N.T.” (1975), that AC/DC finally discovered their sound: hard and heavy rock ‘n’ roll music, featuring songs about sex, relationships, and drugs. There was no looking back after the release of “T.N.T.,” and they continued to solidify their image as one of the premier rock ‘n’ roll bands anywhere. It’s hardly surprising that AC/DC ranks ninth on the all-time top-seller list, selling about seventy million records worldwide. From 1975 to 1990, AC/DC released fourteen albums, making them one of the most prolific bands ever.

AC/DC’s “Back in Black” (1980) was a game-changing album that was instrumental in putting AC/DC back on the map after the tragic death of the lead singer Bon Scott; it currently appears at number-five in the all-time top-selling albums list. Personally, I am not a big fan of AC/DC’s work that followed after the huge success of “Back in Black,” partly because of their monotonous music, even though “The Razor’s Edge” (1990) and “Black Ice” (2008) showed glimpses of the true rock ‘n’ roll roots that made them popular in the past. With all the success and fame showered on AC/DC, some critics have hailed AC/DC as the pioneers of heavy metal. But in my opinion, heavy metal came to the limelight by a British band, Black Sabbath, which was formed by Ozzy Osborne in 1968. Whether AC/DC is a rock ‘n’ roll band or a hard rock band is something the concert “Let There Be Rock” lets us decide.

So, where does the concert film “Let There Be Rock” stand in AC/DC’s long career spanning nearly four decades? For one thing, the concert captures the band at its peak during their days with the lead vocalist, Bon Scott. I call it phase one for AC/DC, a precursor to their “Back in Black” phase with a new lead vocalist, Brian Johnson. This 1979 Paris concert film mainly focuses on two personalities in the band: Bon Scott and Angus Young. The film shows a few interview segments with the band members, but we come out feeling that this film is about Bon Scott, in general. Perhaps, being the lead vocalist and songwriter, the limelight on Scott seems warranted. In an interview, Scott tells us that he drinks too much, more than any band member. No wonder his alcohol addiction was attributed to his demise. Through Scott we also learn how other band members feel about Angus Young. Some within the band call him a genius, while others call him a lunatic. But these interview segments are short, and they feel like fillers in the actual concert. Nonetheless, they do provide background on AC/DC’s band members, their songwriting process, and their relationship to each other.

The film features thirteen classic songs from AC/DC covering tracks from albums like “Let There Be Rock” (1977), “Powerage” (1978), and “Highway to Hell” (1979). Starting off with “Live Wire,” this concert is fairly entertaining in its ability to bring back the glory days of AC/DC’s heyday; you get the best tracks from the albums before “Back in Black.” More so, you see incredible performances from the band members, who are in full control of their musicianship. There is an amazing synchronicity existing between the drummer, Phil Rudd, the bassist, Cliff Williams, and the lead guitarists, Malcolm and Angus Young, as there is no bad tune coming from the band in this show. Of course, you also witness Angus Young’s guitar solos. As the most energetic soul in the band, he runs from one end of the stage to the other, tirelessly shaking his head back and forth. Indeed, he is a live wire on the stage. It’s an image that has been imprinted forever in rock ’n’ roll history. And whenever you see Angus Young’s tireless acrobatic theatrics on the stage, only one band comes to mind: AC/DC. Nonetheless, it is guitar riffs, along with whiny vocals, that made AC/DC a standout band. And there are plenty of guitar riffs percolating from Young’s guitar in “Let there be Rock” that make this concert entirely worthwhile.

Too bad, Bon Scott died two months after filming this concert. But it was the Bon Scott era that truly defined what AC/DC is now. The film is a snapshot of an important phase in the longevity of AC/DC. It demonstrates the band’s ability to crank out music endlessly, and, more important, it shows the band working in perfect harmony and doing the best at what they do: simply rocking. Nonetheless, as a film, “Let There Be Rock” is a testament that rock ‘n’ roll has no boundaries, and the pleasure of pushing the limits makes the rock ‘n’ roll genre one of the most-appreciated and most-produced rock forms.

The show includes thirteen songs: “Live Wire,” “Shot Down in Flames,” “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to be,” “Sin City,” “Walk All Over You,” “Bad Boy Boogie,” “The Jack,” “Highway to Hell,” “Girls Got Rhythm,” “High Voltage,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “Rocker,” and “Let There Be Rock.”

Video:

Warner presents “AC/DC: Let it Rock” in a fantastic-looking 1080p transfer that is encoded using an AVC codec and formatted in an aspect ratio of 1:33.1. The 1080p surprised me with its clarity, considering this is a thirty-year-old concert mainly shot using handheld cameras. Mostly, the print is clean, with no sign of specs or damage on the print. Occasionally, you see dirt appearing on the lower corners of the screen; however, it is nonintrusive to the viewing experience. On a few occasions, the transfer comes across as soft; but for the most part, the 1080p is crisp and sharp. Mostly shot in the dark, the concert features plenty of stage lights that are mainly focused on the band members; the color palette primarily comprises well-balanced colors in the form of blacks, reds, and yellows. The blacks are deep, and the contrast between the light and dark sections of the stage is also appropriately balanced. The close-ups of the band members show incredible detail, along with realistic skin tones. There is also a nice veneer of grain, providing this concert with a film-like texture. Overall, I am more than pleased with this transfer.

Audio:

Warner has included two audio options: an original Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Initially, I used the default setting, listening to the mono track. The mono sounded a little bright and forward with high-pitched sounds. In fact, I felt the low and high tones were improperly balanced. On the other hand, the lossless 5.1 track sounded perfect; it is smoother and much crisper than the mono track. The loud sounds are no longer irritating. The bass is deep, and the track packs in heart-pounding drumming and guitar riffs. The rear channels get a nice workout, providing an arena-like experience. In the end, this lossless 5.1 track perfectly captures AC/DC’s music by providing a true concert-like experience.

Extras:

This disc features an interesting set of interviews. First, we get an interview segment, “Loud, Locked & Loaded: The Rites of Rock,” in which several musicians and writers provide their opinions on the contribution of AC/DC to rock ’n’ roll. Following this, we get a technical interview featurette, “AC/DC: The Bedrock of Riff,” in which several musicians, namely Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins, Scott Ian from Anthrax, and Lemmy from Motorhead, attempt to explain a guitar riff and how it touches your head and mind.

Up next, another featurette, “Angus Young: A True Guitar Monster,” discusses the importance of Angus Young to AC/DC’s image and how people perceive him as the leading band member. Next, “Bon Scott: The Pirate of Rock ‘n’ Roll” focuses on Scott’s tumultuous life and his personal afflictions. We also get a long featurette, “AC/DC: A Rock Solid Legacy,” that is a rundown on AC/DC’s entire career, their accomplishments, and their influence on the new generation of rock musicians.

Finally, we hear various artists, writers, and critics weighing in on a few AC/DC songs:  “Bad Boy Boogie,” “The Jack,” “Highway to Hell,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “Rocker,” and “Let there be Rock.”

The set comes in a tin box, similar to the packaging seen for the “Band of Brothers” Blu-ray set. Also, included is a DVD copy of the film with all the bonus features and a booklet that contains a great essay by Anthony Bozza, and some postcards.

Parting Thoughts:

AC/DC has been on a downward spiral after the smashing success of “Back in Black.” Their music sounds repetitious, and they haven’t come up any interesting material for a while now. I realize that it is difficult to evaluate a band like AC/DC without looking at their musical output in the last few years, since almost thirty years have passed since this concert was filmed. But this movie is not about the Brian Johnson era. Instead, the emphasis is on the Brian Scott era and the fun times band had when he was the lead vocalist. It shows us why some people rate AC/DC one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands ever.

This Blu-ray edition features a good-looking 1080p transfer, a pulse-pounding audio track, and an array of informative extras, thereby making the set highly desirable. For fans of AC/DC, “Let There Be Rock” is a quintessential rock concert.