Boycott AC/DC!!!

By Victor Fiorillo

I thought I must have read the press release wrong yesterday: "AC/DC to bring 'Black Ice' to Wachovia Center on November 17th ... Tickets at $92.50 will go on sale this Saturday, September 20."

$92.50? To see AC/DC? Whether you sit in the front row or the nosebleeds? No way, I thought to myself. So I fired off an e-mail to a Comcast-Spectacor spokesperson who confirmed my darkest fears: $92.50. For all seats.

Now don't get me wrong: I crank it whenever "Dirty Deeds" or "Back in Black" comes on the radio. And "For Those About to Rock" is one of those songs that I play at my desk when I need an attitude adjustment (oddly, so is Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast"). But this is good-old, working-class, screamed-not-sung rock-'n'-roll. And a flat $92.50 ticket price (think of what you're going to spend after those dreaded service and "convenience" fees) — whether in this economy or in a thriving one, whether you're close enough to feel the spit of singer Brian Johnson or so far away that you're left to watch the whole thing on video screens — is just unconscionable.

So this Saturday at 10 a.m., hug your kids, water the lawn, eat an omelette, take a stroll through the park ... hell, I don't care ... cut your friggin' ear off. But whatever you do, do not buy tickets for this ripoff of a show.

Originally published on phillymag.com on September 17, 2008.

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User comments

You're an idiot
Posted by Paul | Jul. 14, 2009 at 1:58 PM

COMMENT:

AC/DC is one of the greatest Rock N' Roll bands in the history of rock n' roll! This was by no means a rip off if compared to other acts. What WOULD be a rip off is if they don't come back!

Your Fucking Stupid
Posted by Anonymous | Sep. 8, 2009 at 3:27 PM

COMMENT:

nuff said. if you don't want to go, then don't. There will be tens of thousands of others that will go instead. That's one less idiot in the crowd.

Kidding?
Posted by Anonymous | Sep. 16, 2009 at 4:25 PM

COMMENT:

Have you been to any concerts in the last decade?? Their price is reasonable. What are you talking about??

hah, whatever
Posted by Anonymous | Sep. 16, 2009 at 4:45 PM

COMMENT:

ac/dc freaking kicks ass and its not your choice who decides to go to their concert or not. so what if you think its a rip off? maybe you're just cheap. but to a real fan, that $92.50 is worth it!

Wow this is beyond stupid
Posted by Anonymous | Sep. 27, 2009 at 9:44 AM

COMMENT:

Dude. Seriously. ACDC is incredible, and by the way thats the going rate.

huh
Posted by martin | Oct. 22, 2009 at 10:58 AM

COMMENT:

I would pay $200 to see the lads. You obviously are not keyed in on the economics of the time. They really dont need the money their one of the Architects. Sad for you.