AC/DC Live at the Sheffield Arena 30th November 2K

AC/DC bring their ”Stiff Upper Lip“ to Sheffield!

Live at the Sheffield Arena Nov 30th 2000

We knew from the minute AC/DC hit the stage with "Shook Me All Night Long", that this was going to be one of the live events of the year. Let’s face it for sheer energy and powerhouse kick ass rock you can’t do much better. AC/DC took their whole live show into a new realm with an excellent use of video and live film footage that had the whole Sheffield Arena captivated.

AC/DC Fans are impressed by the roadshow

“We’ve got a lot to get through tonight Sheffield” said front man Brian Johnson, so he wasted no time leading the band through "Stiff Upper Lip" and "Shot Down In Flames".
He said "I want to get you singing on this next one" and we all obliged as "Thunderstruck" bounced off the arena walls faster than a put from a Sheffield Steelers hockey stick.
A larger than life statue of Angus Young had smoke pouring from it’s mouth and its eyes lit up during "Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be" - it was all very well worked out visually and you caught some of the bands' sense of humour as they cranked out "Hard As A Rock".
On screen was footage of everything including Kangaroos bonking, which raised a few eyebrows (if nothing else). The only problem was the video show did draw your attention away from actually watching the band on stage.

The cameras did catch Angus young in full screen glory with sweat flowing from his forehead like a water fountain; he never stayed still for a moment, apart from when he dropped his shorts to reveal some Union Jack under pants. The lowering of the bell was song introduction personified. Brian Johnson swung from it like the hunchback of Notredame as the band ripped in to "Hells Bells". The Angus statue came to life turning from right to left, spilling out smoke from the mouth and the horns on it’s head shone red. Hey rock dudes and dudettes, I will tell you what was a surprise - the lack of songs from the new "Stiff Upper Lip" album. But no-one is grumbling when you get the classics such as "Noise Pollution", "The Jack", "Dirty Deeds" etc.
Brian Johnson gets close to the Sheffield Fans	They saved some of the best for last, "Back In Black" followed by "Highway To Hell", which saw all the video screens in flames and a Kiss style flame effect was used from giant towers either side of the stage in time with the chorus - which I must say was almost as impressive as the enormous inflatable dancing women for "Whole Lotta Rosie".	Angus turns to stone

They left us with "Let There Be Rock".
During their brief exit you could be forgiven if you thought you had seen it all, Angus out in the audience on a huge platform rotating on the floor like a twister as it rose in the air is just one of many memorable moments.
This live performance is what we have come to expect and appreciate from these hard working rock legends and that’s why, even without the backing of the radio stations, they still sell out across the globe.

Angus Young at his best

Angus takes a break from school!

We decided it was easier to leg it than get stuck in the traffic, even though our bass player Fasker Johnson (no relation to Brian) had his leg in plaster. The Baileys Comet bunch of rogues were deep in conversation as a white stretched limo drew up beside us and before you could say "it’s your round Mick", he had disappeared into the limo.

By the time we had completed the ten minute walk to the ADELPHI - Mick was outside the venue, where he got the driver to take him (and he had also blagged us all) in to the gig for free! So there’s no wonder all his mates call him "Del Boy"!

They came back for "TNT" and were still as explosive as ever.
When you saw the large cannons you did not have to be a genius to work out they would finish with "For Those About To Rock".

As the cannons fired we all salute what was a classic AC/DC vintage performance and as Brian Johnson went in search of another supply of hats (just in case Angus pulls another off his head), we went in search of more beer and to an after-show gig ..

Trigger and the Boys salute AC/DC

Until the next time
Stay with the Site to Unite!

.. Bailey Brothers

AC/DC photos by Angelina copyright Dimastro Arts.

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