AC/DC- Live at Donington, Concert DVD

[Wireworm5]

Artist: AC/DC
Title: Live at Donington
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2003
Record Label: Sony
Genre: Hard Rock
Format: AC-3, color,Dolby, DVD-Video, Live NTSC

Where is Donington? Don't know, somewhere in Austrailia I think.
I first listened to AC/DC back around 1980. Being a hard rocker I should have been a dedicated fan. But I'm not mainly due to Singer Brian Johnson who just screams out lyrics. I want the singer to sing. This is the fault with many recent rock bands, screamers.
As a result of this I never realized what an awesome rock guitar player Angus Young is, he truly has mastered the guitar which is demonstrated on this concert in songs like High Voltage, Whole Lotta Rosie, Let There Be Rock.And I rank him at the top of the list with other rock guitar gods.

The sound is spectacular on my system, which surprised me being that it was in Dolby. I prefer DTS in that it's usually more articulate. This can be attributed to it how good it was recorded right at the show. The recording is sooo good in fact that I could bear the screaming vocalist as it blended well with the high energy rock. This high enery begins with the famous Thunderstruck and doesn't let up 'till the concerts end.
The 17 minute song Let There be Rock is almost a masterpiece, but thought it should have ended by going back into the riff. I was disappointed because it ended with Angus's solo and it seemed incomplete ending there.

The video quality is excellent upscaled as well as the camera work. Remember this was filmed back in '91. they got it right, before the era of concert video. You think IM would have learned from this before making Live in Rio, which was a hack job if there ever was one. This is how it's done!

Overall this concert is a masterpiece of hard rock. I know I'll be spinning it alot.

Rating: 5 out of 5

[avguytx]

Donington is in the UK east of Nottingham if I'm not mistaken. I've heard different things about "Castle Donington" thru the years. I'd love to travel there.

[tcdriver]

Filmed in 35mm Panavision with 26 cameras (including a helicopter). This a pretty outstanding hard rock film and performance. Directed by David Mallet, stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixed by Mike Fraser. :thmbsp:

[Edriz]

I was stationed in Germany between 1980 and 84 and I went to Donnington to attend a show headlined by Ritche Blackmore's Rainbow in 82. Myself and a few friends drove through Germany, took the ferry to the UK taking a week vacation. It was fantastic.

There were 10 bands. The show started at noon and closed out around 11:30 pm. Very packed.

There are many large outdoor concerts throughout Europe in the summer and I tried to attend as many as possible. Burned out many brain cells in those 4 years.

Back to the DVD. This was a great film of the band and I too have been a fan. I think since Highway To Hell, which is still my favorite LP. I do like the Brian Johnson stuff more then Bon Scott but I agree about the screaming vocals. I also see AC/DC as not much more then a Angus showcase then a band. Just watch the camera. There is also never any interation between the other bandmates. A little between Angus and Brian and that's it.

Just my own opinion but what do you see. That just isn't a band to me. Just a bunch of hired employees.

[NeedForSpeed]

My 2nd favorite concert dvd (After PF's PULSE).

[fotno]

Back to the DVD. This was a great film of the band and I too have been a fan. I think since Highway To Hell, which is still my favorite LP. I do like the Brian Johnson stuff more then Bon Scott but I agree about the screaming vocals. I also see AC/DC as not much more then a Angus showcase then a band. Just watch the camera. There is also never any interation between the other bandmates. A little between Angus and Brian and that's it.

Just my own opinion but what do you see. That just isn't a band to me. Just a bunch of hired employees.

I can understand where you might get that impression Edriz, but having been a fan for over 30 years now, and reading and hearing the band speak at length in countless interviews, I honestly don't think anything could be further from the truth.

In interviews (especially when the brothers' Young are going full tilt), it's obvious these guys are close, and the fact they've managed to remain a band when practically all of their contemporaries have long since self-destructed, bears that out. I also believe that for AC/DC the music is the show, so they don't spend a great deal of time worrying over "performing". With the exception of Angus' schoolboy antics, they just sorta run out on stage and play. Also keep in mind that Malcolm is responsible for a great deal more than just stoic rhythm guitar. Just about all of the basic tunes are his handiwork, and good deal of the lyrics besides.

Back on topic: Love the Donnington show, and watch it regularly.

[Fred Sanford]

I've got this concert on LaserDisc, with a stereo mix. Good show...

je

[gladiator335]

I also have this DVD and just love it!
But may be Brian screaming is the part of the "charm"? If he would sing as normal vocalist it wouldn't be AC/DC we know.

[Edriz]

I can understand where you might get that impression Edriz, but having been a fan for over 30 years now, and reading and hearing the band speak at length in countless interviews, I honestly don't think anything could be further from the truth.

In interviews (especially when the brothers' Young are going full tilt), it's obvious these guys are close, and the fact they've managed to remain a band when practically all of their contemporaries have long since self-destructed, bears that out. I also believe that for AC/DC the music is the show, so they don't spend a great deal of time worrying over "performing". With the exception of Angus' schoolboy antics, they just sorta run out on stage and play. Also keep in mind that Malcolm is responsible for a great deal more than just stoic rhythm guitar. Just about all of the basic tunes are his handiwork, and good deal of the lyrics besides.

Back on topic: Love the Donnington show, and watch it regularly.


I actually think many of their "contemporaries" are still making music! As for Malcolm, I think he's the brains behind the music. That's my opinion anyway. I know the credits always or mostly show both brothers along with Brian as credited but I would bet Malcolm is the major writer. It seems to be the silent ones that do the writing.

I also think I read somewhere that they were approached to do this project and not like it was them just getting together like in the old days to write/record and tour. After I think 6 or so years I was surprised to see anything new from AC/DC. I had assumed they decided to retire.

I could be wrong. I do admit, I am no where near the fan you are. I didn't have much use for them prior to Highway To Hell, which in my opinion is still by far their best LP to date. I could crank that LP over and over and have until I p*ssed off a good many people. Touch Too Much still sends shivers up my spine.

[fotno]

I honestly can't think of more than a handful of successful rock bands that started out prior to 1975 that are still together and even fewer that have continually produced albums and toured like AC/DC. The Stones, Aerosmith (although they did break up), Jethro Tull (if you don't mind that Ian Anderson is the only continuous member) and that's about all that come readily to mind.