Music DVD Review: AC/DC - Plug Me In
Published October 23, 2007
The ending footage on the first DVD is from the Théatre De Verdure in December 1979. It is a stellar and sobering look at Scott in his prime. Though the clip makes you sad as you realize he would leave this world a scant few weeks after this was shot.
Scott was replaced by Brian Johnson in 1980. You would think that a singer a beloved as Scott could not be substituted for and that Johnson would have been put in the same thankless spot that Kenny Jones has been in the year before when he replaced Keith Moon in The Who.
But Johnson brought his sound-alike voice and ferocious emotion to the band and the re-birth of AC/DC was brought full circle by year end with the release of Back In Black, one of the quintessential hard rock records ever.
The band became a guaranteed U.S. arena-filler by 1981 and never lost that level of touring support.
And by scanning the live show from Tokyo in February of 1981, the band had forfeited none of its strength and the vigor with the Johnson led version of AC/DC.
Just peep the bands take on “Shot Down In Flames,” “What Do You Do For Money Honey,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and a marriage of “T.N.T./Let There Be Rock” and you will feel all the controlled hysteria (thanks in no small part to hyperactive guitarist Angus Young) that could only be outdone by The Who in its prime.
A bonus third DVD, (included in some stores) adds to the bonus material and will have to (also worth picking up is 2005’s Family Jewels DVD) tide over all AC/DC zealots until the bands next tour (which, if you listen to the rumors, may not materialize until 2008 or even 2009!)
- Music DVD Review: AC/DC - Plug Me In
- Published: October 23, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock, Review
- Writer: John Reed
- John Reed's BC Writer page
- John Reed's personal site
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Comments
Oh, come on Mark...
Just like Journey, AC/DC was trying to find a dead-ringer.Unfortunately, even though Brian Johnson had a raspy style, there is no way in hell that he was ever like Bon Scott and you could hear his voice progressively get worse with every release.
Oh, Come on Mark...
Just like Journey, AC/DC tried to find a dead-ringer. Unfortunately, even though Mr. Johnson had a raspy/bluesy voice,ther was no way in hell that he could ever hold up to the range that Bon Scott had and he got progressively worse with ever release. Bon Scott sang,Brian Johnson strained.
i don't care what they were trying to do, the point is that i don't think one singer sounds like the other.
...and this is coming from somebody who likes both guys.
Add in Dan McCafferty's "sound alike" voice from Nazareth, and a half dozen other rockers, and there would be at least a few people out there who couldn't tell the diff. But individual voices are very nuanced, and upon repeated listenings, the nuances are more obvious.
Yea, the point is that they would never be able to find another Bon Scott. Nuanced or not, it was a blatent attempt to find the same sound. You can get as PC as you want to, but those are the facts. Without a frontman who was very similiar to Mr. Scott, AC/DC would've disbanded. And, to support John's contemplation, they probably would've broken up sooner or later even if Bon Scott stayed alive.
what the heck does 'PC' have to do with this? i don't care what their supposed agenda was. all i know is that everybody thought they were done for and then they came out with the stupendous Back In Black.
The word "political" & term "politically correct" can apply to more than just government topics. I was merely reacting to your comment, which happens to be the 1st comment on this thread. To say that Brian Johnson didn't sound alot like Bon Scott is overlooking the obvious. I'm not taking anything away from a band trying to return to its previous state, again, just pointing out a fact. They had a successful,talented sound w/ Mr. Scott. SO, who wouldn't want a return to that?!
i'm well aware of the variations on 'pc'...but i was putting no spin on the fact that i don't think that Johnson sounds like Scott. that's all.
I am confused.
why would you wonder who was in their league when you immediately point out two bands who were?
And I have to agree with Mark. Bon and Brian don't sound alike at all.
Led Zeppelin were one of the most bloated bands of all, so how are they exempt? Plant by that time couldn't even sing and Page was too drugged up to play guitar, and their live show rambled on and on directionless. Sad to say but John Bonham's death was probably a good thing for the band as it brought about its end before some serious and permanent reputation damage could have been caused (so they can be continued to be overrated).
AC/DC have always been dynamic no matter what, end of story
Great review John. You really hit it on the head.
And I don't know what the hell Mark Saleski and El Bicho are whining about: Brian and Bon sound very similar.
Get a life guys and stop attacking other people. It makes you both look petty and immature.
ah, i love old threads!
i attacked nobody...merely pointed out that i don't think the two voices sound alike.
other people agreed with me. others don't.
You love old threads - you should since you are too.
You are always so critical of others, but can't take it yourself, Mark.
Just stay home and read you old Lester Bangs reviews and remind yourself once again what you can never be.
you should get a life and stop attacking other people. it makes you look petty and immature.
Kenny, I believe it was you that left this nugget:
Get a life guys and stop attacking other people. It makes you both look petty and immature.
Take your own advice, yeah? This thread and the "attacks" you sprang up to whine about ran its course almost a year ago. Move on. They've long since stopped "attacking other people." You should too.
Missed it by that much!
Brilliant Mark, you just plagiarized most of my first comment. You are so clever. Very original. Great comeback.
it was one of those pot/kettle things.
it's what us old people do.
Who is whining and attacking? Just pointing out a place where I thought the author contradicted himself and my disagreement that Bon and Brian sound alike. Apparently you can disagree with us, but we can't disagree with the writer, is that it?
I never thought Brian and Bon sounded that similar. The only vocal similarity they share is that they both have pretty distinctive voices.
If this is what passes for an internet attack, I shudder to think what we call what happens on the politics threads on the site.





But Johnson brought his sound-alike voice...
what?
sound-alike?