AC/DC's 1985 album, "Fly on the Wall", seems very overlooked these days. None of the songs have really shown up in the band's live sets for a while, and a lot of fans seems to rate the album low too. But as a kid it was the album that introduced me to AC/DC (if not hard rock/metal itself), thanks to the videos for "Danger" and "Sink the Pink" that got decent rotation at the time on Mtv. This home video includes those two, plus the title track, "Stand Up", and "Shake Your Foundations". This VHS tape is long out of print, but fortunately the entire thing has now been included in their "Family Jewels" DVD set.
The videos are all set in a dive bar with a tiny stage, which perfectly fits the no-frills raw rock n' roll sound and look of AC/DC. Everything here is strung together like a mini movie. We start with two bouncers throwing a paparazzi photographer out of their bar and onto the curb with the rest of the trash. This wakes up the animated fly, shown on the album's cover. After an introduction from the skinny hack comedian MC, AC/DC takes the stage to play the song "Fly On The Wall", as the animated fly moves from one place to another, offering some comic relief.
As the band goes through their set, we see what the other characters in the bar are doing. They're purposely 1-dimensional characters made for a really fun watch. (Who the hell is looking for Oscar material in a rock band's home video anyway?) The MC gets his face slapped with every woman he talks to. A rich couple gets the wrong drink. The photographer keeps coming back, always dressed in the traditional tan trench coat, "PRESS" label stuck in his hat band, sunglasses, and carrying an over-sized camera. In the song "Danger", he snaps photos of the bartender pocketing money and other blackmailing shots.
For "Sink The Pink", a pool hustler named Suzy Cue comes in to challenge the handsomely scruffy-looking guy playing at the pool table with the unusually pink "3" ball. (Incredible how a music video can change the meaning of a song that would have otherwise been censored! Just look at Tom Petty's "Last Dance with Mary Jane".) Though the final version aired on Mtv was different than what's shown here; I remember Mtv showing guitarist Angus Young at the end using his guitar as a pool stick to knock in the last ball. But next, a limo of secret service men pull up and mechanically strut in sequence to the serious-sounding "Stand Up". The band brings the roof down -- literally -- on the closing number, "Shake Your Foundations", which original Mtv VJ Martha Quinn once said was one of her favorite videos.
This is simply a fun little novelty to watch, especially if you're a fan of AC/DC. I can't think of too many other bands who tried presenting music videos like this, as a string of parts in a conceptual mini-movie. It seems to be taboo these days to show people having care-free fun unless it's supposed to be shocking or self-humiliating, not to mention have music that is expressive while being free of pretentiousness. But for those who remember when music videos were fun, and not blurry shots of people whining in a restroom, check this out.
The videos are all set in a dive bar with a tiny stage, which perfectly fits the no-frills raw rock n' roll sound and look of AC/DC. Everything here is strung together like a mini movie. We start with two bouncers throwing a paparazzi photographer out of their bar and onto the curb with the rest of the trash. This wakes up the animated fly, shown on the album's cover. After an introduction from the skinny hack comedian MC, AC/DC takes the stage to play the song "Fly On The Wall", as the animated fly moves from one place to another, offering some comic relief.
As the band goes through their set, we see what the other characters in the bar are doing. They're purposely 1-dimensional characters made for a really fun watch. (Who the hell is looking for Oscar material in a rock band's home video anyway?) The MC gets his face slapped with every woman he talks to. A rich couple gets the wrong drink. The photographer keeps coming back, always dressed in the traditional tan trench coat, "PRESS" label stuck in his hat band, sunglasses, and carrying an over-sized camera. In the song "Danger", he snaps photos of the bartender pocketing money and other blackmailing shots.
For "Sink The Pink", a pool hustler named Suzy Cue comes in to challenge the handsomely scruffy-looking guy playing at the pool table with the unusually pink "3" ball. (Incredible how a music video can change the meaning of a song that would have otherwise been censored! Just look at Tom Petty's "Last Dance with Mary Jane".) Though the final version aired on Mtv was different than what's shown here; I remember Mtv showing guitarist Angus Young at the end using his guitar as a pool stick to knock in the last ball. But next, a limo of secret service men pull up and mechanically strut in sequence to the serious-sounding "Stand Up". The band brings the roof down -- literally -- on the closing number, "Shake Your Foundations", which original Mtv VJ Martha Quinn once said was one of her favorite videos.
This is simply a fun little novelty to watch, especially if you're a fan of AC/DC. I can't think of too many other bands who tried presenting music videos like this, as a string of parts in a conceptual mini-movie. It seems to be taboo these days to show people having care-free fun unless it's supposed to be shocking or self-humiliating, not to mention have music that is expressive while being free of pretentiousness. But for those who remember when music videos were fun, and not blurry shots of people whining in a restroom, check this out.
