AC/DC
Stade de France - Paris, France
June 12 2009

Third AC/DC concert this year in the same city!
They played twice in February at the Bercy. Two sold-out gigs, one February 25 and the next on February 27.

After 8 years without visiting Paris, we really can't complain in 2009.
AC/DC played once before the Stade De France, in June 2001. It was a memorable concert.
Now they're back to this same stadium and the question was... Can they do better?

The Stade De France is located in the city of Saint Denis, just outside of Paris.
AC/DC managed to do a sold-out show, and that's not easy: I've seen here Paul McCartney and it wasn't sold out. Also, the second time I saw the Rolling Stones at the Stade De France (in 2007) the place looked only half full.

So finally the big day came and The Boys were back in town again. There were traffic jams all around St Denis, and to make things easier, there were circulation problems on suburban trains (called RER B and D) between Paris and St Denis.

Still there was a very festive atmosphere outside the stadium. Everybody was smiling, even some policemen were having fun and making jokes with the fans. Maybe some of them asked to work at the stadium on that night so they can get in for free...

I stayed ouside for quite long with some friends, so I missed once again The Answer, which was the opening band.

I didn't got in earlier because I knew that I wasn't going to see anything!
If you go to a stadium show to see a band, you're almost sure to be disappointed. If you go to feel the atmosphere, listen the music and have fun, then you're sure to have a great evening.

And so it was! The show went absolutely great, but with no major surprises.

Comparing to the ACDC/ Arena Black Ice Tour in february, few things changed:
- The stage had a cap with horns with an A (for Angus, or for AC/DC?) on each side.
- There were of course more lights, and the stage was larger.
- There was a confetti rain during Angus' solo on the central platform, while they were playing Let There Be Rock.
- One song was added to AC/DC's setlist: Dog Eat Dog.

When AC/DC played the Stade de France in 2001 they surprised us by playing Ride On as the last song, after For Those About To Rock. They were dressed with the French Football Team shirts.

Nothing like this happened this time, but this isn't really important: they were here, and that's what matters!

Also, AC/DC gave an amazing performance and I have to say that they played the very best version of Highway To Hell that I ever heard!

The sound was absolutely amazing! Very very loud, but also icredibly clear!

People in the audience were just unchained. Where I was, everyone was singing, dancing and holding each other in their arms!
Another amazing thing was to see all that people at the stadium tribune wearing red-light Angus Young's devil horns when the night fell down.

Of course, all classical AC/DC gimmicks were here: The Rock n'Roll Train locomotive, Angus' strip tease (during The Jack), the giant inflatable Rosie (Whole Lotta Rosie), Brian Johnson ringing the Hell's Bell...

Setlist AC/DC – Stade de France, Saint Denis, France – June 12 2009

01. Rock 'N Roll Train
02. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
03. Back In Black
04. Big Jack
05. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
06. Shot Down In Flames
07. Thunderstruck
08. Black Ice
09. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot To Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Dog Eat Dog
14. Anything Goes
15. You Shook Me All Night
16. TNT
17. Whole Lotta Rosie
18. Let There Be Rock
——————————————————
19. Highway To Hell
20. For Those About To Rock

AC/DC Links:

AC/DC Line-up:
Brian Johnson- Vocals
Angus Young - Guitars
Malcom Young - Guitars
Cliff Williams - Bass
Phill Rudd- Drums