‘HAVE any of you guys heard of a little album called Back in Black?!’ screamed Daz (Brian Johnston) to The Doghouse crowd on Friday, at which point the entire place roared. AC/DC UK are Europe’s premier tribute to Australian superstars AC/DC, a band well known for producing some of the best-known rock tracks of all time.

It was a night of heavy rock as

The Doghouse welcomed the band to Guernsey for the first time and many left hoping for a return. Unfortunately, due to problems with ferries – at least it wasn’t volcanic ash – rhythm guitarist Mark ‘Chucky’ Bridge, bass guitarist Steve Taylor and drummer Darren Ward were late to arrive, meaning that the band had to come on later than was originally hoped.

Usually this would mean a fair share of punters packing up and leaving, but there was no way anyone was going to do so this time.

When the band tore into the opener, Back in Black, the room exploded, the die-harders at the front burst into life and the rest of the bar took out their air guitars and jumped around.

Friday’s set was chock-full of AC/DC’s most popular material, with hits such as Highway to Hell, Rock ’n’ Roll Train, Whole Lotta Rosie and TNT.

Such is the popularity of the band that the venue was the most packed that I have ever seen it, with everyone pushing their way to the front to get a look in at lead guitarist Graham Harker’s (Angus Young) routine striptease and their signature move – Graham got on Daz’s shoulders and Daz ran around the venue with Graham still playing his guitar. It was a sight to see.

By the end of a suitably loud set, which finished with the classic For Those About to Rock, the band definitely looked as if they’d had had a good night and I don’t think I even need to mention how happy the many fans in the Doghouse were.

That’s what is great about visiting tribute acts, while we can’t expect the real deals to come over to our little island, but bands like AC/DC UK come over and give outstanding performances in our small venues, and are able to please any fan. Let’s just hope that the boys were thunderstruck by the fantastic Guernsey crowd and make a swift return.