NEW YORK - 1512: Michelangelo completes painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
1969: Man lands on the moon.
2008: AC/DC plays at a sold-out Madison Square Garden on their "Black Ice" Tour.
AC/DC, which hasn't toured in eight years, played two shows last week at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The band still possesses all its members who are most known for being a part of AC/DC: lead singer Brian Johnson, 61, lead guitarist Angus Young, 53, back-up guitarist Malcolm Young, 55, bassist Cliff Williams, 58, and drummer Phil Rudd, 54.
The Answer, an Irish band, started off the night, and was surprisingly enjoyable. The group didn't have a long set, and was playing to a less-than-half-filled MSG. They have a style very similar to AC/DC, and lead singer Cormac Neeson, who has a striking resemblance to Robert Plant, sounds remarkably like Brian Johnson.
As soon as the lights went off for the main act, a wave of electricity hit the crowd, inducing goose bumps and butterflies across the now-packed arena.
A cartoon was shown on the three big screens around the stage and featured Angus Young powering the engine of a locomotive that was speeding down the tracks, about to hit a blockade. As the train crashed on the screen, an actual train appeared on the stage with flames, sparks and smoke. Led by legendary guitarist Angus Young, the band came out on to the stage to the hit off the new "Black Ice" album, "Rock N' Roll Train."
After the extravagant entrance, the band immediately reminded the audience that it knew why they were there; not to hear clips from the new album, but because they wanted the classics. AC/DC played "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be," followed by an extended "Back in Black."
The first solo by Angus Young in "Back in Black" stated with authority that he may look old, but he still has the energy and the talent that he possessed in the 70s.
Brian Johnson, who looks like he is still in his 40s, started off "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by saying something along the lines of "This'll be a great song for this crowd."
He was presumably recognizing the effervescent smell of cannabis. The crowd, agreeing with Johnson, obliged by going crazy and singing along word for word.
Next came the fan-favorite "Thunderstruck," which the crowd genuinely responded to. The subsequent song was the title track off the new album, "Black Ice," which proved to be enjoyable, and included a catchy riff.
Out of the few songs from the new album that AC/DC played, this single was best received.
The band followed up the stretch of heavy songs by mellowing down with "The Jack," which is held close to the heart of the women who long for Angus Young. This is traditionally the point in the concert where the schoolboy outfit that Young is known for comes off.
As per usual, he didn't simply rip off the get-up and continue to play the guitar, but rather, he slowly stripped to the seductive beat of the song. As the sports coat, tie, and shirt were all gone, he was only left with shorts. With his back to the audience, he unbuttoned his shorts slowly, and then quickly pulled them to the ground, revealing black boxers with "AC/DC" printed on them. A sigh of relief from all the men who didn't want to see their hero's bare bottom resounded through the crowd.
After "The Jack," a massive bell descended from above the stage. Brian Johnson ran and jumped up onto the rope hanging from the middle, and swung back and forth ringing the bell. This sent the crowd wild, and set up the band to play "Hells Bells."
Next was a reloaded version of "Shoot to Thrill."
AC/DC then played a few more songs off the new album, followed by their most mainstream song, "You Shook Me All Night Long."
The most exciting song played throughout the night was "T.N.T." The crowd pounded their fists in the air in unison yelling "Oy! Oy! Oy!"
As it is known to do, the band had a guest appearance from rock 'n' roll's favorite voluptuous blowup doll, Rosie. While playing its hit, "Whole Lotta Rosie," the gargantuan inflatable woman actually played with herself to the sounds of Angus Young's guitar.
When he stopped playing, she did too.
AC/DC capped off the main set list with "Let There Be Rock," one of its greatest songs, and undoubtedly Young's best.
A few minutes into the song, Johnson and the rest of the band stepped back and allowed Angus Young to perform a solo for the crowd. Young held true to his fame, running all over the stage, sliding on the ground, and playing behind his head.
At one point, he even ran out onto a circularly-rotating platform in the middle of the crowd that raised him about 15 feet.
The encore may have marked the most special part of the night. With the lights off and the fans screaming for more, red smoke began to come out of the stage. Up rose Angus as he played the famous riff to "Highway to Hell." He donned devil horns on his head as flames exploded on the screen behind the red-lighted stage.
The group ended the night with "For Those About to Rock" fully equipped with functioning Civil War cannons, which fired multiple times during the song.
An ordinary concert is just a band playing music for an audience, and this night was far more than a concert - AC/DC put on a show, the Cirque du Soleil of rock.
Angus Young is undeniably one of the greatest guitarists that has ever lived, and also one of the best live performers. Collectively, however, AC/DC is indisputably one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and is already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
To see the band live is a dream come true, and it makes fans pray that it is not the gentlemen's final tour.
Justin Gagnon can be reached at jegagnon@student.umass.edu.
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