AC/DC in Berlin: Angus Young ignites hellfire in the Olympic Stadium

It was one of those evenings when Berlin rocked like there was no tomorrow. 66,000 fans, from all over Germany, but also a surprising number from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark, filled the Olympic Stadium early Monday evening. A total of 66,000 spectators wanted to see AC/DC perform. Hours before the concert, the sun was shining brightly, and a summer atmosphere pervaded the Olympic forecourt. When hard rock legends Angus Young, Brian Johnson, and the rest took the stage, the heat transformed into a fierce, flaring passion.

With the opening riffs of "If You Want Blood," the Olympic Stadium transformed into a seething sea of ​​hard rock. Devil's horns glowed, tens of thousands of people raised their arms to the evening sky like mad, every spectator flashed the unmistakable rock sign at least once. The crowd was at full throttle, and AC/DC added fuel to the fire very early in the evening with "Shot Down in Flames" and "Demon Fire."

AC/DC: Hard rock legend Angus Young is the star of the evening

The star of the evening? Undoubtedly guitarist Angus Young, co-founder of the Australian band and on this evening the unwavering driving force of AC/DC. The way he whirled around the stage, still as agile as a teenager at the age of 70, amazed the majority of the euphoric audience. He started off casually in his iconic school uniform, but things quickly became wild around him. His hair took on a life of its own, his feet alternated in time, and his energetic prancing around the stage swept even the last doubters away. "That man is 70 years old, just crazy," marveled a fan in the grandstand.

Brian Johnson's voice then delivered a thunderous, powerful rock 'n' roll performance. "Thunderstruck" had the stadium truly rocking for the first time. "We got Berlin struck!" he roared, hoarse and triumphant. It was one of the highlights of the evening. The "Power Up" tour , named after their most recent No. 1 album, which topped the charts in 21 countries, proved: AC/DC are far from finished.

Before, during, and after the concert, many audience members asked themselves the same question: Could this really be their last time? The band seemed so energetic, so damn youthful, that it seemed almost absurd to even talk of a possible farewell. After all, they're not getting any younger. Angus Young still pounded his riffs like a maniac, Brian Johnson's voice crunched with the same primal power it did decades ago – and the audience? They thanked them with a devotion that showed: This band is simply good for people. But your hearing and your own ears will probably not be good friends with AC/DC in the coming decade, either.

Was it the last AC/DC concert in Berlin?

But who exactly was allowed to experience hard rock legends in their third spring on this Monday in midsummer? A glance through the crowd in the arena revealed a fascinating panorama of generations. First of all: It was a colorful mix: older people, 30 to 45-year-olds, who probably came to AC/DC through their parents, but also young people who probably discovered hard rock via away football trips, alongside teenagers for whom "Highway to Hell" or "Hell's Bells", introduced by the monumental bell, are simply cultural assets. "My father played me the records - now I'm here and I understand why," said a 19-year-old from Neukölln .

The dress code? Mostly AC/DC shirts – between 70 and 80 percent of them were band merchandise. And that, despite the unwritten concert rule that you shouldn't wear the shirt of the band whose concert you're currently at. Never mind. With ticket prices in the high double-digit to low triple-digit range, it was by no means a cheap evening – but as the enthusiastic faces later revealed, it was worth every cent. According to the police, there was no major stress on Monday evening.

During "You Shook Me All Night Long," the Olympic Stadium transformed into a gigantic choir. Not everyone could keep up the pace, though – dozens of overheated or overconfident fans had to be escorted out by paramedics. And yes, the numerous cell phone lights in the air were annoying at times – but Berlin showed that it can rock. Even if the concert obviously doesn't compare to Buenos Aires 2009, which ended in pure South American ecstasy.

Nevertheless, for one evening, over 66,000 spectators were able to forget all their worries for a few hours, raise their fists, and let their horns shine. "For Those About to Rock," complete with a cannon salute and a wonderful fireworks display, brought the concert to a brilliant close. Could it be the last time? Who knows. But one thing is certain: As long as AC/DC can play like they did today, they should keep doing it. Long may they stay.