Human beings despise changes; What’s more when a change is unilateral, unpredictable, and involves a legendary rock’n’roll band famed for its unchanged high voltage, thunderous music.
So when news broke that AC/DC is
replacing its lead singer of 36-year, Brian Johnson with Guns N’ Roses frontman
Axl Rose for the remainder of 2016 tour dates, fans went berserk. The
earthquake-equivalent reaction was probably unanticipated when the rock band
issued its polite gratitude statement to its near-deaf lead singer on Sunday.
After all, no one batted an eyelid when its former drummer Phil Rudd quitted
after being embroiled in a scandalous legal suit in New Zealand. Even its
Scottish-origin founder Malcolm Young’s retirement announcement in 2014 was met
with only momentary sadness, without any exaggerated outcry from emotional
hardcore fans.
But this time, things are
different. AC/DC fans are unable to live without the image of the 61-year-old Augus
Young strumming its guitar hysterically in his schoolboy uniform outfit, beside
the inimitable screaming beat of the raw-throated lead singer Brian Johnson.
The possible last gesture of this old-time band of 43 years has finally crossed
the line of its millions of staunch fan base.
Despite the uproar in news
column and social media in the past two days, the ACDC Lane in Melbourne
remains serene and completely oblivious to the hullaballoo faced by the Australian rock band that it obtained its name from since 1 October 2004.
The relatively short and
narrow laneway is still having its private concert within its much-neglected
confined space of arts. The schoolboy in his awesome dark green uniform
continues to strum his guitar and sending out waves of visible electric shocks
to his vibrant surrounding. The peculiar purple gorilla is still holding the
black and white keyboard levers in its mouth, joining the weird symphony and
heavy metal music produced by the myriad of strange creatures and instruments.
Unlike the popular Hosier and
Union Lane, and some of its other counterparts within the city, ACDC Lane felt
like an abandoned laneway amidst the various trendy bars and restaurants hidden
within it. The artworks are bold and vivacious, yet at the same time, gloomy
and foreboding. Numerous miserable-looking, faded posters are occupying one of
the walls in a condition of despair. ACDC Lane circles back to Flinders Lane
via Duckboard Place, another much forsaken laneway now colonized by repetitive
and uninteresting graffiti.
ACDC Lane stands for
everything unconventional and distinctive. Like its originator of name, the
lane is obstinate and firmly sticks to its belief of uncompromising rock’n’roll
regardless of the changes of time. Yes, it might be deserted and unkempt, but
the concert continues.
Location:
Off Flinders Lane, between Exhibition and Russell Street
(Photos taken in April 2016)
See my updates at:
(Photos taken in April 2016)
See my updates at:
No comments:
Post a Comment