Artist: AC/DC
Album: STIFF UPPER LIP REMASTERED (DIGI)

Year: 2000/ 2004
EAN/UPS: 886970829021
Media type: CD

In 1996 Phil Rudd was welcomed back into the fold for the Rick Rubin produced 'Ballbreaker' opus. This record rekindling the band's former glories and giving them a top ten American album and clocking up a welcome two million U.S. sales. For the world tour AC/DC once again renewed the family connection drafting in THE POOR as support, a band with a certain Mr. Young on drums!

The interest was maintained with the 'Bonfire' 4 CD box set. A lavish package celebrating Bon Scott the set included the first official release of the renowned 'Live At Atlantic Studios' promotion album, the soundtrack to the 'Live In Paris 1979' video, a set of rare tracks titled 'Volts' and 'Back In Black'. Despite it's high price 'Bonfire' still managed to attain an American platinum sales award.

It was to a lengthy hiatus between albums, although Johnson put in a rare guest slot with JACKYL in America and wrote a song with the band 'Locked And Loaded', but with AC/DC remaining quiet a further tribute album 'Thunderbolt' filled the gap. The album featured numerous name artists such as MOTЦRHEAD's Lemmy, SKID ROW's Sebastian Bach, DEEP PURPLE's Joe Lynn Turner, Y&T's Dave Meniketti and TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider. More pertinent was the fact that erstwhile AC/DC man Simon Wright performs too.

AC/DC's absence was not enough to dim public memory though as can be illustrated when Angus appeared on an official Australian postage stamp in 1998!

In 2000 the band returned for the back to basics 'Stiff Upper Lip' album. Anticipation was high and in keeping with tradition 'Stiff Upper Lip' soon earned itself a platinum award for one million sales in America. As AC/DC returned so did their past as Sony Records in Australia released an album by the MARCUS HOOK ROLL BAND, the Young brother's 1973 pre AC/DC outfit.

Amongst a plethora of AC/DC tribute albums at least one act managed a fresh spin on the genre when Nashville's Appalachian act HAYSEED DIXIE offered an album of AC/DC tunes all reworked in a Country Bluegrass style! (HAYSEED DIXIE obviously made an impression on AC/DC as they were invited to perform at the band's end of tour party.)

AC/DC themselves set about another mammoth North American arena tour to promote the 'Stiff Upper Lip' opus. Early dates were supported by SLASH'S SNAKEPIT. In December 2000 Uk shows had Swedish garage Rock n' Rollers BACKYARD BABIES as opening act. Enjoying somewhat of a renaissance the band added a second leg to the tour for the summer of 2001 issuing a fresh single 'Safe In New York City' to back it up. Oddly this song had not even featured on the original tour's set list but was included for the second round.

AC/DC put in a solo UK show during 2001 at the mammoth Milton Keynes bowl in June ably supported by Punks THE OFFSPRING, Thrashers MEGADETH and Stoner outfit QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. European dates would witness a radical shift in the bands set list with rarely performed tracks such as 'Problem Child', 'What Do You Do For Money Honey?' and 'Up To My Neck In You' being performed.

In a rare showing of outside activity Brian Johnson's name would crop up as songwriter for the track 'I Feel (Down)' on the debut NEUROTICA album.

TRACKLIST:

1. Stiff Upper Lip
2. Meltdown
3. House Of Jazz
4. Hold Me Back
5. Safe In New York City
6. Can't Stand Still
7. Satellite Blues
8. Damned
9. Come And Get It
10. All Screwed Up
11. Give It Up

LINE-UP:

Brian Johnson (vocals)
Angus Young (guitar)
Malcolm Young (guitar)
Cliff Williams (bass)
Phil Rudd (drums)