Times & Transcript readers explain why this Thursday's concert at Magnetic Hill is so exciting

A1

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

4 Comment(s)

There is something about the music and legend of AC/DC that spans all demographics and lifestyles.

Little children love the glowing devil horns, the thumping beat and the searing guitar licks. Housewives and grown-up businessmen burdened by responsibilities tear off their aprons and ties to shake their hips and bang their heads.

AC/DC brings its Black Ice World Tour to the Magnetic Hill Concert Site on Thursday, with opening acts The Answer and Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil. The show is expected to draw a crowd comparable to the 80,000 that came for the Rolling Stones in 2005.

Over the last few months, the Times & Transcript has invited readers to share their stories through a telephone line and e-mail address. Here are some of the stories readers shared with us:

This letter came by e-mail from Amanda Coates, Age 10:

"I am the number 1 AC/DC fan. On December 25, 2008, I was the happiest girl in the world when I was flipping through a magazine and out came two tickets to see AC/DC in Toronto. My heart was filled with joy. The concert was on January 9, 2009 at the Rogers Centre. There, I got glowing devil horns and a carry-on bag with a picture of the animated Angus Young on it. My dad took me and I was so happy. They opened up with Rock and Roll Train and closed with For Those About to Rock, We Salute You. The best song was The Jack. At the end they had fireworks and I jumped. It was the best time I had in my entire life and I would kill to see them again."

This next letter came by e-mail from someone named Jenna:

"I could feel a lot of vibrations, a lot of agitation and a great deal of noise. I was floating. At first, I was curious as I had never heard and felt such a thunderous sound. I could actually feel it pulsate all around me. Then, I let myself go to the rhythm. I started moving my arms, letting them float around me. And then my legs started moving, it was impossible to stay immobile in this captivating heat that was coming from all around me.

"I later found out that I was at an AC/DC concert. My name is Jenna and 17 years ago I travelled to Old Orchard Beach to be at an AC/DC performance, two months before my birth. I was still in my mother's womb. To this day, when I hear the music, my heart beats a little faster."

The next letter was written by a seven-year-old student for the Frye Festival in Moncton and submitted by e-mail by her mom, Lori Copp of Moncton:

"My dad loves AC/DC because it is rock and roll. When he takes me to school he turns on the music and turns on his flashing light and goes woo woo! Sometimes my dad does it in the house and scares the dog. Sometimes I laugh at him. My mom says to him to stop two or three times. My dad is very annoying sometimes."

The next story was left as a phone message from Margo MacKay of Moncton:

"When my kids were young, about eight to 10 years old, I used to take them to all their ball games and all their hockey games and the same five boys would go with me every time and we always had AC/DC music full blast going in the car.

"Well, one day they were all riled right up after a game. They had lost it and they were fighting a little bit and the music was going on real loud and I told them to be quiet four or five times but they kept it up. So I decided to put on a Rita MacNeil tape and I told the kids from now on if they ever made a noise that Rita MacNeil was going to come on. So after that I had absolutely no problem with my kids. All I would have to say is "Rita" and they were all like little angels. So that's my little story about AC/DC. Thank you."

This phone message was left by Corey Taylor of Moncton:

"I may be only 17 years old but I think I am one of the biggest AC/DC fans around. I have some unique things like shot glasses, clocks, a rare flag from one of their Australian albums. I have a guitar replica. I named my dog Angus, after Angus Young."

Don Coleman, an AC/DC tribute singer from Hillsborough, submitted stories about seeing the band at the Skydome in Toronto:

"The Razor's Edge tour. We hopped in the car and drove down the Don Valley Parkway across the Gardiner Expressway to the Skydome and entered the sold out venue. The concert began with the song Thunderstruck and the band ripped through the night with hit after hit. During the song Money Talks AC/DC dollars fell from the sky and some lucky fans got one. I happened to get one by praying and standing on my seat for five minutes until one fluttering AC/DC dollar fell into my outstretched fingers. A memory I hold dear and a dollar I haven't spent."

n General admission tickets are still available for $99.50 plus taxes and service charges, which comes to a total of $131.75. Tickets for the wheelchair platform are available for the same price but fans who wish to purchase them must show proof of disability and are allowed to bring one attendant with them. Those who purchase tickets on the disabled platform will be provided with shuttle bus service between a designated parking area and the concert site. Tickets for the Park N Ride option are also available for $30 through the Coliseum box office, but must be picked up by Wednesday, Aug. 5, the day before the concert.