The Lunch Hour Traveller: AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels

Friday 19 February 2010, 12.08 PM
By Susannah Farfor | Posted in Events

Where: Arts Centre Gallery 1
When: Daily until late, to 28 February
Cost: Free
Travel time: About four minutes by St Kilda Road tram from Bourke Street
Verdict: A fascinating and insightful almost-hour.
Travel experience: You get back out of life what you put into it. This electrifying exhibition gives a true sense of the energy AC/DC create and receive from their audience.

The Arts Centre Gallery is one of my favourite city galleries – the perfect late drop-in or antidote to turning up to NGV International on ‘oh-no-I-forgot-it-was-Tuesday’. Often dedicated to performers, exhibitions are impeccably curated with fascinating memorabilia from the likes of Nick Cave, Kylie and now AC/DC.

Let There Be Rock

AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels gives a great sense of the Accadacca phenomenon – not only still going, but still growing – and some idea as to how half a million tickets to their high-voltage shows can sell out in a day.

Not a dedicated fan, for me it’s not so much a matter of getting Back in Black but finding my way out of it on occasion – a common Melbourne affliction.

The exhibition traces the band from its founding members’ roots (Scottish émigrés from working-class, inner West Sydney) to their early bands, AC/DC’s formation, playing the tough pub circuit of 70s Melbourne and onto major world stages.

Dubbed ‘the hardest working band in the world’, their early cohesion came from the belief that music should be ‘played as loud as possible, raw and raunchy’, and their rhythms hit your heart.

Memorabilia includes concert posters, tour schedules, album covers, backstage passes, photos of studio recordings and key performances and scrapbooks of news articles. Larger encased items include Angus Young’s custom Gibson SG guitar, Bon Scott’s leather jacket and various costumes (of which only Angus’ schoolboy uniform stuck). Bon Scott’s hand-written letters to family and friends portray another dimension of life on the rock ‘n roll road and Scott’s no-frills honesty.

Live footage spans the 35-plus years of the band, culminating in the surging crowd and stage feel of AC/DC Live at Donington on the big screen.

The exhibition’s crowd are all ages, all genders, besuited and casual – from the earliest fans to newly inspired teens.

For Those About to Rock on to AC/DC Australia’s Family Jewels, get in quick, it closes 28 February.

« « Review: Izakaya Den | Hot Spots: Learn a little, live a little » »