AC/DC, Axl Rose Deliver Solid Performance In Portugal

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AC/DC and Axl Rose teamed up to deliver solid rock ‘n roll to exuberant fans at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, May 7, under an overcast sky while waves crashed on a breaker a short distance away. It was the first AC/DC show with lead vocalist Axl Rose on loan from Guns N’ Roses.

Roaring in just six minutes after the 9 p.m. start time, AC/DC’s new frontman outdid himself, having developed a reputation for showing up hours late for a gig, missing rehearsals, and skipping soundchecks while with Guns N’ Roses. Despite being confined to a chair by a broken foot, Axl Rose nailed his vocals as if he were the band regular and not Brian Johnson who had begged off because of an ear condition.

According to Rolling Stone, AC/DC has been beset by woes in the past two years, starting with founding guitarist Malcolm Young who left due to dementia. After that, drummer Phil Rudd got entangled in criminal charges that took him out of the picture. Then it was fan favorite Brian Johnson’s turn to disappoint by quitting as the lead vocalist because of a condition that could make him deaf. Topping it all was subsequent fan resistance to Johnson’s replacement, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, himself suffering a fractured foot.

Johnson die-hards even asked for ticket refunds, which they got, prompting an AC/DC Facebook video to come online with Axl Rose trying to soothe disappointed fans. Of Johnson’s sudden disappearance, Rose said this.

“It’s because of an unfortunate circumstance.”

Filling Johnson’s shoes, Rose belted out his opening salvo of AC/DC classics “Rock or Bust,” “Shoot to Thrill,” and “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be,” with a vengeance. He remained seated throughout the main set, his leg held by braces, but while his body was off-line, his voice was spot on.

Rose attempted a Johnson-ish rasp but could not entirely contain his signature wail. In the end, it was the need to harmonize with AC/DC guitarists Angus and Stevie Young, bassist Cliff Williams, and drummer Chris Slade that helped Axl Rose adapt with a winning singing style.

Conscious of fan resistance to AC/DC sans Johnson, Axl injected his own brand of malevolence into the songs to add a menace not there before. He made “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” less comedic. He introduced “Shot Down in Flames” as “a song they wrote about my life story.” He led chants of “Angus! Angus!” and switched the lyrics of “You Shook Me All Night Long” to “Knocking me out with those Portuguese thighs.” Rose kept the tension up for two hours.

According to The Guardian, this show was the first AC/DC gig in years since Johnson replaced the late Bon Scott in 1980, and no one knew what would happen next. It all boiled down to a gamble the remaining band members took with the wild card, Axl Rose. His leg in casters, Rose sang from a sitting position and won the night.

What AC/DC got out of the Lisbon show was a vindication of Axl being the lead vocalist. The new composition of the group, based on the audience response, makes for a hit summer tour, as long as AC/DC does not lose any more members to bad luck and Rose avoids a relapse into his old habits.

AC/DC without Johnson will always be anathema to a number of old-time followers, but as Axl Rose has proven, a fresh face is also a welcome change to many. The high voltage performance at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Lisbon has sparked worldwide interest in the band’s altered chemistry with Axl Rose, the new element, proven worthy.

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