When AC/DC tried to catch the Loch Ness Monster

AC/DC have enjoyed a wild career. From Angus Young literally melting his amplifiers on multiple occasions, to playing their part in toppling one of the most notorious dictators the world has ever seen, it’s safe to say their success has seen them achieve things that were beyond their wildest dreams when starting out.

The Australian rock band has also managed to achieve a unique space in the story of rock ‘n’ roll. Genre purists, they set out to put the “swing” back into rock ‘n’ roll, and emulate the authentic swagger of their heroes, such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Muddy Waters. 

Outspoken, and explicit about the fact they hated the “stiff” and “boring” live shows of contemporary heroes such as The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin – who they thought had become more pompous with success – they knew that they wanted to keep things simple, the high-octane grooves pumping, and promise nothing but frenetic abandon for their audiences. They succeeded in doing so, delivering raw anthems and no end of classic riffs.

Just like their heroes and chart-topping peers, AC/DC’s career has also produced a host of ridiculous moments that would provide perfect scenes for whenever the movie industry decides to finally make a biopic about them.

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One of the most hilarious, and indeed, alcohol-drenched, is the time in the early 1980s when guitarist Malcolm Young led singer Brian Johnson on a hunt for the fabled Loch Ness Monster.

Remembering the late guitarist just after he died in November 2017, Johnson recalled the anecdote to Rolling Stone: “In 1981 or ’82, Malcolm said, ‘Let’s go to Loch Ness. Let’s go see if there is a monster!’ We booked a hotel right on the side of the Loch and had dinner and, you know, we had a few sherbets, and as we are walking down there I said to Malcolm, ‘What’s that you got?’ He said, ‘I’ve got a box of fireworks.’” 

The vocalist continued: “I said ‘What for?’ He said, ‘Well, we will set them off and it may get the attention of the monster.’ I said, ‘Ah, that is a fucking great idea.’ We walked straight into the water; we didn’t even take our shoes off. And there we were giggling and laughing trying to set these fireworks. Everything got soaked in the water and we all fell down, and of course we thought we had seen it. We weren’t sure.”

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