by acdczone in Interest

AC/DC perform at Monsters of Rock on this day 1981

ON THIS DAY 30 years ago - August 22nd 1981 - AC/DC made their debut appearance at the Monsters of Rock at Donington Park, UK. On a miserable wet Saturday in August, AC/DC headlined the second M.o.R., an event presented by the late great Maurice Jones for M.C.P.

Overall, and in spite of the inclement weather, whereby Slade's Noddy Holder announced that rain was "pissing" onto the stage from the Hells Bell which was suspended aloft of the stage from a crane, the event was deemed more successful than the loss-making inaugural event which took place a year earlier. That event had been marred by a poor sound system, an explosion which caused £18,000 of damage and a weaker lineup.

The lineup for the second M.o.R. consisted of AC/DC, Whitesnake, Blue Öyster Cult, Slade, Blackfoot and More. The stronger lineup drew in a crowd estimated at 65,000 - up 30,000 from the previous year. Tickets were £8.50 in advance or £10 on the day.

AC/DC had become a successful band and were between the release of "Back in Black" and in the middle of the recording of "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" which was released later in 1981 - although nothing from the new album came to light during the setlist.

Regardless of the fact that they had recently lost their charismatic frontman earlier the previous year, they were still capable of tearing down the house with their mix of power rock and on-stage bravado. Singer Brian Johnson had already emerged as a worthy successor to Scott, complete with his own dynamic stage persona. However, it was manic lead guitarist Angus Young that was the main attraction of this band, and as ever, he gave nothing less than 100%

The setlist for the AC/DC 1981 M.o.R. was: