¶I remember the exact moment I first heard an AC/DC song. A friend and I listened to his brother’s copy of High Voltage, on a record player of course. We fixated on T.N.T., and I’ve been hooked ever since. We didn’t understand “The Jack” at the time, but laughed about it later once we did.
¶That was in 1980-ish; sixth grade for me. A year or two later I taped a penny to a postcard and ordered Dirty Deeds with my Columbia House membership. I loved every song on that album. My mom did not. I’m pretty sure she was convinced I was becoming a devil worshipper at this point. (In her defense, the track listing alone probably would have concerned an older me, too; luckily, I don’t think she paid attention to the actual lyrics.)
¶My fandom faded in the early days of high school, but a dear friend rekindled it during our junior and senior years. He passed shortly after we graduated. To this day, I think of him every time I hear certain songs (mostly the lesser known tracks because that’s the stuff he really helped me appreciate). The last time I saw him, he gave me a bottle opener with a fish painted on it (we were at the lake and enjoying a few pops). With his goofy smile and wit, he told me “Matt, don’t ever lose the fish.” That bottle opener sits in the top drawer of my toolbox to this day. I threw it in the car as we left for Detroit Wednesday afternoon. I didn’t take it into the stadium, thinking it would be confiscated if I tried. But, it felt right and good to have it sitting in the car throughout the show. And you know they were loud enough to reach it.
¶AC/DC songs are relatively simple, of course. They follow the forumula to a T - power chords, inuendo, and a killer guitar solo. Heck, they pretty much invented it. But, while that recipe is what drew me into their orbit as a kid, AC/DC has come to symbolize a lot more than music for me. My friend, of course, is a big part of that, but there’s more. For me, the band is symbolic of brothers, and family as a whole, second chances, and second acts (if you don’t know the story and you’re interested, read about the history of Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, and the Back in Black album; it is, without question, the greatest comeback of all time). Don’t take yourself too seriously and be willing to be a little ridiculous. Also, knowing what you’re good at, sticking to it, and not apologizing for it. Angus Young doesn’t sing, and Brian Joshnson doesn’t play. And, after the concert in Detroit, AC/DC now symbolizes enduring passion for me. These guys are still doing what they love, and having a blast doing it. Brian Johnson quite literally smiled from ear to ear during the entire show, even screaming “I love this *hit” at one point.
¶At 55, I’m still 17 when AC/DC plays on the radio. I turn it to eleven when they’re on (any song, really), and occasionally throw the horns. Watching Angus and Brian Johnson give a high-energy, damn-near-perfect performance in Detroit this week, at 70 and 77, makes me want that to never change. They don’t swing from the gong of the bell any more, but they played non-stop for two hours and fifteen minutes, covering every square inch of the stage in the process. Do what you love, at 110%, as long as you can. Stay young.
¶That was my first time seeing them live, and I’m forever grateful that Renee bought the tickets.
¶And, mom, I know it’s hard to see, but look at all those devil horns in the audience. 😈 😈 😈
