Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Rock or Bust Tour Report: 21 gun salute for the 21st Belgian show! (UPDATE)

Touring is heavy, even if you're only watching it :) so the Wembley report needs to wait a little longer and of course we give high priority to the report of the Belgian show !


550.000 fingers learning how to play


The rock gods in the sky above had arranged for superb summer night weather last night for the show in our home country Belgium.  A favor they gladly granted to those other rock gods, who played to the 50.000 crowd like it was the last night on earth.  We came  by bike, as the road to the holy grounds of Dessel can be a real Highway to Hell to accomodate the roll on and off of that many AC/DC fans.  We heard the last one could get off the parking lot after 3am...  Some complained that the waiting for the parking lot lasted longer than the concert itself.  It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n roll.....

Federal Police flying over the festival grounds

The festival grounds was well worn for the concert, as on the same grounds two weeks earlier, the Graspop metal festival took place.  By the time the crowd got a little sun tan, AC/DC was awarded platinum for the sales of Rock or Bust.
photo © Rudy De Doncker

She shook you all night long at the beer stand

                                   
Fresh Belgian beers quenched the dust and sand bitten concert goers and Belgians swapped horns filled with fries and mayo for their devil horns as soon as the AC/DC comet hit the stage and exploded into opening track Rock or Bust.  The band was in great shape, just like two days ago in Wembley and the crowd reacted loud.  It was a long time I haven't seen the Belgians make that much noise during a concert!  Our ears got used to the dense echoes from stadiums and arenas (Wembley, Barcelona, Stade de France, Arnhem,...) and this open air concert was a real relief as it gives you the purest sound without echo.  It made the cheers from the crowd sound more energetic.
Back in Black
One exclusive setlist surprise for Belgium, the first change on this tour, although not sure if it was meant to.  Sin City was played before You Shook Me All Night Long, where anywhere else this was the other way round.  Brian discloses the reason of this aberration in the first verse of YSMANL: "Knocking me out with those Belgian thighs...."

 

 The beautiful SG on duty again
I can't hear you Dessel!
 Let there be confettis
21 gun salute !

During apotheosis For Those About To Rock, there was a cannon shot for every show they ever played in Belgium, and although Bedlam in Belgium (Kontich 1977) will probably be the most remembered, last night was certainly the most memorable.  

Full setlist:

1.            Rock or Bust
2.            Shoot to Thrill
3.            Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
4.            Back in Black
5.            Play Ball
6.            Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
7.            Thunderstruck
8.            High Voltage
9.            Rock 'n' Roll Train
10.          Hells Bells
11.          Baptism by Fire
12.          Sin City
13.          You Shook Me All Night Long
14.          Shot Down in Flames
15.          Have a Drink on Me
16.          T.N.T.
17.          Whole Lotta Rosie
18.          Let There Be Rock

19.          Highway to Hell
20.          For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Some fabulous pictures from Rudy De Doncker: