On December 31, 1973, "AC/DC" took the stage for the first time.
(Photo: Philip Morris)
The show was held at a small club called "Checkers Nightclub", in Sydney, Australia. The club hosts 550 people. It was the most famous nightclub in the city, which was established in 1953 and at that time was also known internationally and hosted artists from all over the globe.
In November 1973, brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young formed "AC/DC" and enlisted bassist Larry Van Kriedt, lead singer Dave Evans and drummer Colin Burgess to complete the lineup. The band's name was chosen by Angus and Malcolm after their sister Margaret saw the words "AC/DC" embedded in a sewing machine.
In fact, two performances of the band were held that evening. The band played two different sets into the small hours of New Year's Eve.
The band's singer at the time, Dave Evans, said he could not think of a better way to make it through the band's first live performance ever. The crowd was full of alcohol and completely insane and the electricity was flowing through the air literally.
The songs the band played that evening were a combination of cover versions by artists like "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones" and Chuck Berry and initial versions of the songs that would appear on the band's first two albums, which would be released a year later, after Evans left and was replaced, Bon Scott.
Evans recorded with "AC/DC" two of the songs played that evening. "Can I Set Next To You Girl" which was the band's first single and its b-side "Rockin' In The Parlor".
And these are the setlists of the two performances held on New Year's Eve 1973:
Set One
School Days (Chuck Berry cover) (from TNT, 1975) Honky Tonk Women (Rolling Stones cover) Get Back (The Beatles cover) Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Rolling Stones cover) No Particular Place To Go (Chuck Berry cover) I Want You (She’s So Heavy) The Beatles cover) The Old Bay Road Midnight Rock Show Business (from High Voltage, 1975) Rock N Roll Singer (from TNT, 1975) Soul Stripper (from High Voltage, 1975) Rockin’ In The Parlour (b-side of Can I Sit Next To Your Girl, 1974) Can I Sit Next To You Girl (from TNT, 1975) Baby, Please Don’t Go (Big Joe Williams cover) (from High Voltage, 1975)
Set Two
School Days (Chuck Berry cover) (from TNT, 1975) Honky Tonk Women (Rolling Stones cover) Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Rolling Stones cover) Nadine (Chuck Berry cover) Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley cover) That’s Alright Mama (Elvis Presley cover) Tutti Fruitti (Little Richard cover) The Old Bay Road Midnight Rock I Want You (She’s So Heavy) The Beatles cover) No Particular Place To Go (Chuck Berry cover) Lucille (Little Richard cover) Get Back (The Beatles cover) All Right Now (Free cover)