AC/DC's Train Is A Rolling

Plenty of AC/DC news to get to today so I guess I better get off my lazy ass and post it...

For starters, Brave Words let me know a few days ago that they'd scored an exclusive interview with Mike Fraser, a veteran producer who's list of credits reads like a Who's Who in Rock 'n' Roll.

Mike's done plenty of work for AC/DC over the years including the mixing on albums like Stiff Upper Lip, Razors Edge, and Ballbreaker not to mention remastering their entire back catalog since 2003. He was also instrumental in preparing the Plug Me In and No Bull DVD's for release so you bet your bottom dollar that this guy knows what AC/DC is supposed to sound like.

Here's one of the highlights from their chat with him:


BW&BK: How much pressure is there knowing that Black Ice is easily one of the most anticipated rock/hard rock records over the past few years? Do you guys feel it inside?

Fraser: “Oh sure, I do. I’m not sure if the band does. They are pretty low-key, easy-going guys. They don’t think about any of this kind of stuff. They just come in and get it done. As Malcolm (Young) says, when they are writing songs, if you can thump your foot to it, it’s worth a go. I don’t think they think in terms of that. For sure Brendan (O’Brien) and I did. It’s been nine years since Stiff Upper Lip and at one point there I was thinking, is there ever going to be another AC/DC record, because that’s a long time. Finally they gave me a call. We started March 3rd on the record and I was like, ‘Somebody pinch me; we’re actually sitting here listening to new AC/DC!’”

For more of the interview, check out this page. Brave Words promises more to come from Mike Fraser soon, by the way.



In other exciting news for AC/DC fans, it seems the band is selling incredible numbers of CD's back in Australia right now. Paul Cashmere has reported, in a story picked up worldwide, that AC/DC has no less than six albums in the Australian Top 50 albums list at this moment! In fact, their sales combined outpaced the number one album on the list last week.

Before you click the link above, see if you can guess which six AC/DC albums are selling so well. I'd bet you can't name more than half of them because the list is somewhat surprising. And before I forget, Defamer supposed that the ghost of Bon Scott must be smiling about this week's ARIA charts and I'd have to agree.

But Australians aren't alone in their love for AC/DC as "Rock N Roll Train" debuted at #1 on the Canadian singles charts upon it's release August 28th. Incidentally, RNRT is the first song ever to debut at No. 1 on the Rock charts compiled by Broadcast Data Systems since they began compiling data in 1997. For more on this historic event, see the rest of the story at Blabbermouth.



Now with all the hoopla going on about the new AC/DC album, we're still in the dark as to exactly which band members wrote the lyrics for the new songs. Rock N Roll Train seems to be from the Young brothers alone if you ask most fans, but many are wondering if Brian Johnson was a part of the writing team for the other tracks. Nobody but AC/DC knows for sure, but Time Magazine has just indicated Brian did participate in the lyric writing for the Black Ice CD. Good news, if it turns out to be true...




Last in today's news, but not necessarily least, two new television commercials for Rock Band 2 featuring AC/DC's Let There Be Rock have made their way to YouTube. Both feature essentially the same footage, but one ad lasts a full minute while the other clocks in at just 30 seconds. Incidentally, is it just me or does the timing appear off in both clips?





So here we are, almost in mid-September, and no official word's been released on when ticket sales will begin for the next AC/DC tour. Supposedly, the Black Ice tour is set to start in late October, according to Billboard and other sources.

Hmm...what does that mean? I'm starting to wonder if that little birdie that whispered in my ear the other day about the tour not commencing until 2009 was right.

Say it ain't so, Angus! Say it ain't so!

Keep rockin, Jon

Best Since Back In Black?

Will Black Ice be the best album since Back In Black?

Australia's News.com had the privilege of listening to seven tracks off AC/DC's "Black Ice" earlier today and posted this intriguing review of what they heard.

From what I gather, they feel it's the best thing the band has done since Back In Black. Incidentally, the listening session took place at the world famous Alberts Records studio in Sydney where the group made many a monster recording back in the 70's. Anyway, here's a few selected excerpts from David Higgin's review to whet your appetite for full article.

Anything Goes has the potential to be the band’s biggest hit since You Shook Me All Night Long if released - under one plan - as a second single.

Opening with a guitar sound that recalls Bon Scott’s bagpipes in Long Way to the Top, Anything Goes is a delicious 1970s tune with blood-pumping, 2008 production values.

The Young brothers would disagree, but it is the closest thing to a pop song the band has done and will pull in many new fans.

The songs heard today draw from periods throughout the band’s career.

Black Ice is a head-banging anthem from the For Those About to Rock era, with a riff as good as any the Youngs have written.

War Machine is a hard and fast affair reminiscent of Back in Black’s Given The Dog a Bone.

Meanwhile, criticism of the band's deal with Wal-Mart continues to escalate, at least from some quarters. Goldmine Magazine issued this stinging shot the other day, calling it a "deal with the devil" while another columnist chastized AC/DC has having joined the "corporate rock crowd" which is a far cry from their days as rock's baddest rebels.



Of course, now that the first single has been released fans everywhere are clamoring even more for AC/DC to tour in their area. In fact, according to a recent poll out of Canada, newspaper readers there said that AC/DC is their #1 choice of bands to see on their Fall concert wish list.



Speaking of being #1, AC/DC is not far from it in terms of full album sales from the years 2006 to 2008 according to the Wall Street Journal. In fact, of all the bands in the world, only The Beatles sold more albums than AC/DC in the past 3 years! The Journal says that their success may be partly due to the fact that the group refuses to sell their songs individually through ITunes.




By the way, it looks like the AC/DC store is offering a great deal on a Black Ice Cd/No Bull Dvd (Director's cut) combo right now if you pre-order it directly from them. The regular package goes for $26 whilst the Blu-Ray edition will cost you $10 more. For your money, it appears you'll get a special blue colored AC/DC logo for your Black Ice Cd from that deal. Who's up for it?

In other items of interest, Don Jacobson of the Beachwood Reporter (who?) says "Rock 'N Roll Train" sounds 'exactly like every song AC/DC's done since Brian Johnson joined the band in 1980' but he questions if that's really a good thing or not. His review's kind of fun to read if you don't mind him taking a few pot-shots at your favorite band. Look here for a slighty different take on the song.




Last, but not in the least the least, ACDC.com has an innovative new feature on our favorite band called AC/DC 101. Described as a "crash course in the history of the world's most electrifying rock & roll band, AC/DC 101 provides you with a multimedia show while you read the official story of the lads from down under.

I haven't studied the site very closely but it does look like it will be great fun, especially for the younger fans among us. Wow, isn't it great that AC/DC seems to finally almost have a really decent web site and it's only 2008!

Well, folks, that's all I could find since last time so have a great weekend everybody and stay safe while you're out partying.

Keep rockin, Jon

PS> Thanks for all the great comments lately! Keep 'em coming, eh?