Rock icons perform at the MCG

There were plenty of them too. Though Power On The tour takes its name from the band’s 17th and latest studio album, with the set featuring just one song from the 2020 record and just five songs from the 45 years and 10 albums that followed. Back to Black.

In an extraordinary burst of creativity between 1975 and 1979, AC/DC released six albums containing some of rock music’s most memorable riffs. Highway to Hell, Dirty Jobs Done Dirty Cheap, High Voltage, TNT, Whole Lotta Rosie They are all on a tour here, as elsewhere, on a tour that will see the band play to more than 3.5 million people in 28 countries. But so did it, to the absolute delight of the audience. EscapeIt’s a song that makes a surprising and very welcome addition to the set.

The video screens would occasionally light up with trick moments; lightning bolts and mountain ranges. lightning strikevideo crackle High Voltageand a weird neon sex doll rosie – but mostly it was just the band.

And most of the time, Angus was there on his own, skipping the stage, launching into solo after solo, at one point even playing his guitar with his tie on (perhaps an echo of Jimmy Page’s famous effort with his fiddle bow). Johnson may be the would-be frontman, but there was never any doubt who the real star of this show was.

For Hell’s BellsA giant bell descended from the rafters and flew above the musicians. But fears of a Spinal Tap-like tragedy were thankfully unfounded.

Angus didn’t start his famous duck walk until halfway through the show. Shoot for the Thrillanother piece Back to Black. But once he got there there was no stopping him.

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The solos also become funkier and move into blues-boogie territory. High VoltageApproaching Chuck Berry Riff Raffand it’s definitely falling apart Whole Lotta RosieThis took the axeman to the very edge of the podium stage for the first time.

But nothing could have quite prepared us for this over-the-top, exuberant, over-the-top and utterly gorgeous 20-minute polish. Let It Be a Rock. It was all Angus, Johnson literally fading into the background, the rhythm section stepping back into the drum riser and moving forward like a train and then exiting, leaving just Angus and the drummer. And then it was just Angus.

The others rejoined him for his final run on the track, but just when it seemed all was lost he took off again. A slow hum and shuffle, as if he were finally accepting his age. Chunka-step-chunka-step-chunka. Then it was off to hell and Bach for another six and a half minutes.

It was masterful, it was funny, it was incredible. And when it was over, Johnson asked: “Where did this come from?” Where is it really?

They came back for a two-song encore. TNT And For those who want to rockand then ended with cannon fire and fireworks.

Logic dictates that this will be the last time we see the AC/DC tour. Johnson is 78, Stevie Young is 68. Sure, the rhythm section is sprightly by comparison – drummer Laug is 57, bassist Chaney is a spring chicken at 55 – but when Angus puts on his school cap for the last time, you’d have to assume the electrics will be off, not on, for this outfit.

Maybe not. I think Angus Young can defy logic and time for a while longer in this show.