Angus Young - Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar
Brian Johnson - Lead Vocals
Cliff Williams - Bass
Phil Rudd - Drums
Supported by: Starfighters
Tickets: 3.50 / 4.00 / 4.50 Pounds
Promoter: M.C.P.
By Mark Kynaston, Mellor UK:
Aged 15 I came home from my school skiing trip to discover he was gone. Just couldn't believe it. In the last 18 months I had just discovered the worlds greatest rock and roll band , seen them live not six months ago and now it could be all over. I was gutted. I spen the next weeks waiting anxiously for news - would they carry on? Then the it came Brain had joined the band and they were recording an album, but would he and it be any good. I can remember rushing to my local record shop on the day it was released to by a copy and then hearing the bell, the first riffs and then Brains voice and just thinking bloody hell I think they've done it. 45ish minutes later and it was just WOW. Despite everything the album was just truly fantastic and just listen to the new bloke sing - holy cow Batman. Loved it when the album went straight to number one in the UK and could n't wait to see them play. Queued up with my mate Rick Potter in the early hours of the morning outside the Apollo to get front row tickets then waited for what seemed forever for the day to arrive. The gig was just fantastic from the moment the house lights went down and the bell descended the place just rocked. Brian was singing his lungs out and was rightly taken to the fans hearts in an instant. He isn't Bon he's not better or worse just different and both singers are amongst the greatest rock and roll singers ever to strut their stuff. Brain had truly ginormous boots to fill and that night he showed everyone that he and the band had made the right choice. With hindsight I cannot imagine how anyone else other than Brian would have managed to follow in Bon's footsteps quite so well - which is the biggest compliment I think I can give him. Great moments were many but my favourite was Angus disappearing from view during Rocker to reappear with the crowd on the balcony followed by a foray into the stalls on Brains shoulders. I got to shake Brian's hand (well sort of) as he passed and watching Angus at work that close up was a sight to behold. Loud ? I should say so, only Motorhead have been louder than this in my gig going experiences. It is great seeing them these days with their huge show but nothing will ever surpass being in the front row of a smallish hall like the Appollo and seeing the band in action so close up. Oh to be 16 again!
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