AC/DC: Let There Be Rock (1980) User Reviews

AC/DC Let There be Rock

[biscuit_bk · 9/10 · 27 January 2007]

Hi, This film is an all time hard rock classic! I love my music flicks and especially movies or docs on rock bands. This film is very raw and is basically showing viewers what AC/DC do best and that's play live concerts. They are one of the greatest live rock bands of all time and this movie/documentary shows them playing live in Paris at their peak. Prior to 1979 AC/DC had already conquered Australia and were making big in-roads in the UK & Europe. With this growing success their next target audience was the US. AC/DC desperately wanted a hit single and/or album in the US. It came with the Highway to Hell single and album of the same name in 1979. Shortly after this AC/DC toured UK, Europe and the US. This film captures a young band playing live and at a time when they were at their best. The concert in Paris is simply awesome with lead guitarist Angus Young mesmerizing the audience with his energy on stage and his great guitar playing skills. On a whole the band's playing is tight, loud and the guitar riffs awesome to say the least. Malcom Young's rhythm guitar skills are faultless, Phil Rudd on drums never skips a beat and Cliff Williams is the same and lead singer Bon Scott is a true rocker and a great show man. The movie cuts from their live concert in Paris to interviews with band members and filming of them doing their hobbies etc... Not overly interesting but it does show the bands down to earth personalty. I would not worry about that too much as the film is more about how damn good this band was live and it shows the whole concert. And they were AWESOME! In February 1980 lead singer Bon Scott tragically died after a night out on the drink. This was one of his last live shows and most likely the last bit of footage of Bon Scott leading AC/DC live in concert. This is raw no rubbish hard rock at it's absolute best!! A must see for AC/DC fans or any true rock followers and admirers of raw musical talent. Brilliant movie/doc of a great rock band at their peak. Sadly this movie is hard to get and unfortunately has only ever been released on VHS. Why they have not released this on DVD is unbelievable, it deserves to be on DVD! Highly recommend!! Cheers, Bradley

Going Back In Time

[DrProfessor · 8/10 · 20 March 2005]

I saw this film when it premiered in New York City hosted by the WPLJ crew. They gave out buttons, posters all sorts of stuff. That was just the beginning. Those of you who are old enough to remember old movie theatres will remember the big single screen movie houses. We saw it at one of the best in NYC, the place must have seated 800 people and the place was packed. Flash, the lights go down. I am there with 4 of my best friends, we're in the 7th grade so about 12? The pot smoke hits the air all around us, then the music starts. It was an experience, we even had our own Angus running up and down the asiles. You can bet your ass you would never ever see anything like that nowadays.

Arguably the most energetic hard-rock live video ever

[b-a-h TNT-6 · 10/10 · 21 January 1999]

On the highway to hard-rock world domination, AC/DC were captured at their staunchin' best in this live video footage. Includes interviews with band members and the late singer Bon Scott, whom the whole movie is dedicated (Bon died in strange circumstances for alcohol poisoning a couple of months later). Simply great.

A French documentary film crew follows Australian rock-band AC/DC on their 1979 tour through Paris.

[haagis · 21 December 1998]

The film captures one of the loudest rock n' roll bands on the planet onstage and off. Personal interviews with lead guitarist Angus Young, vocalist Bon Scott, and other bandmates, Malcolm Young (rhythm guitarist), Cliff Williams (bassist), and Phil Rudd (drummer), are seen within a 12 song set. 'High Voltage', 'Whole Lotta Rosie','Let There Be Rock',and 'Highway to Hell' are featured.

The film, shot in Paris during the last leg of the band's 1979 'Highway To Hell' tour, shows one of the final few performances of late-lead singer Bon Scott, as the movie itself is dedicated to him.

The real thing.

[markhenry_nl · 10/10 · 11 August 2004]

This gig in Paris is a crash course in what rock music is all about. A lot of music goes by the name 'rock' nowadays, but THIS is the real thing. Do not accept cheap imitations! Plug in, crank it all the way up and play 'till you drop (which Angus does repeatedly). Live registrations don't always capture the excitement and energy of a concert, but this one does.

The late but great Bon Scott gives one of his last performances. A lot of material is from the 'Highway to Hell' album, arguably the best Bon did with AC/DC. This line-up was responsible for true rock-classics such as the title-song, 'High Voltage', 'TNT', 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and the song that sums it all up : 'Rocker'. This stuff is so essential. If you've seen the movie 'School of Rock', you know why.

highway to hell

[kairingler · 10/10 · 26 July 2013]

Excellent tour footage, interviews with the band,, insights into their personal lives.. Paris 1979 . the band is at the peak of their stardom, Bon Scott leads AC/DC into Paris,, after already conquering Australia,, their native land,, the UK, they set their sights on conquering the U.S. market. featuring 12 songs of live footage from their famous concert in Paris , France. also excerpts into the band members lives,, such as hobbies and such,, it is said that Bon Scott had predicted his own death when he wrote Highway to Hell ,, not sure if it was two weeks or two months but right after that song came out,, Bon Scott had met his tragic end, down a road one night after heavy drinking,, a great documentary on one of the best hard rocking bands that we will ever see,, long live AC/DC,, and rest in peace Bon Scott.

"If you are looking for satisfaction...

[giacomo1975 · 10/10 · 20 November 1999]

...i'm satisfaction guaranteed.." Bon Scott screams out on "Live Wire"...and i think these words are just perfect to describe this piece of music history...yes music history! I saw this movie 100 times or maybe 120...and every time it is better and better,rocker and rocker.. AC/DC are the best band!and they proved it all that night back in 1980..if it was needed. So if you want to be part of music history u must see this movie. BEWARE!!!!!!! YOU WON'T BE THE SAME AFTER THIS VISION.

few could rock harder and this flick has the goods - always RIP Bon Scott

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 24 September 2015]

Shot in France during the Highway to Hell tour of Europe, this has finally been restored and released to DVD. Why it took so long only a few can really say, but thank goodness it has arrived! If you want to see why AC/DC were cooking hotter than an 1000-ton engine on steroids, this performance shows what was up: energy and even charisma from Scott and Angus Young (not to mention the latter's quintessential strip dance, here in Bad Boy Boogie). It also features some interviews with the group - things about how Scott joined the group (he was originally their chauffeur of all things), writing vs performing, the Young brothers and how they think of one another (good overall, and booze of course comes up), and only a tiny bit of footage put outside of the concert.

One might wonder if this will go into Song Remains the Same territory at a scene like that, if their live songs will be put to the band doing this that and the other thing. Nope - this is 90% on stage, and because of that you see them doing what they do best: rocking hard, pushing the crowd into a frenzy (watch as Young goes in the audience during 'Rocker'), and it help that the songs are all 70's era - not a filler in the bunch; 'Girls Got Rhythm', 'Highway to Hell', 'Walk All Over You', 'Live Wire', and the cream of the crop comes at the end with 'Let There be Rock', which, maybe just from not being played as much as some of their songs on rock radio, has a fresh quality and brazen force that is perfect.

The camera-work doesn't get too crazy throughout - it doesn't have to, and it fits for the music that's being made on stage: show this band working their butts off and show what Scott and the Youngs and everyone else could do when on all cylinders. It's probably not the best rock documentary, but as far as just plain rock *concerts* go caught on film, it's in the top 5.

Let there be light, sound, drums , guitar

[olderthandirt747 · 1 May 2010]

This movie was shown at the theater at midnight the night before AC/DC played in my home town. Like all the AC/DC fans I went to see it. I feel its a time capsule of the band. Filmed on the last leg of the Highway To Hell tour in Paris. It shows AC/DC about to go to the next Level but never got to see. Who knows what there next album would have been like ? Thank god we have this film to remember Bon . I had the chance to met him in 1979 and it was just the same way he was in the film. All in all a must for any AC/DC fan. I still put in the player to watch it. Its like a fine wine. It gets better with age. This video should be shown to any new fans who don't even know that there was a singer before Brian Johnson.

ac/dc is aswome

[zabouke · 12 December 1999]

this is the best movie of all time it should win every oscar every year becuase ac/dc is the best band in the whole entire world no matter what becuase ac/dc is so aswome everyone should buy this movie and bonfire so they can have the cd too go buy it go buy it

Not bad, Not great

[lt3074 · 19 July 2003]

I think some people over rate this video because the late Bon Scott is on it. This actually might be the lowest energy concert video of the band. This is probably due to the fact that this was the second show of that day for the band. Angus Young seems slower than usual, and Bon Scott(never a real high energy live performer) hardly moves at all. The band's performance however is top notch. They play thier songs almost perfectly.