Riff Raff (Live 1978)

The Zoo Crew is thrilled to spin "Riff Raff (Live 1978)" by AC/DC from their electrifying live album If You Want Blood You've Got It. This track, recorded at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 30, 1978, kicks off the album with a ferocious energy that captures the band at their rawest. One juicy piece of trivia: the live version of "Riff Raff" actually hit the airwaves before the studio cut from Powerage, which dropped a month later in May 1978. This was a bold move, as CulturesCo notes, since AC/DC’s live performances often amplified their studio work, making the live "Riff Raff" a high-stakes gamble that paid off with its relentless, galloping riff. The song’s opening 40 seconds, driven by Angus Young’s tension-building guitar, are described by Rolling Stone Australia as some of the most anticipatory in rock history, exploding into a full-band assault that showcases Bon Scott’s fevered vocals and the rhythm section’s raw power.

Another tidbit from the Glasgow show, as shared in Clinton Walker’s 1994 Bon Scott memoir Highway to Hell, is that the encore saw AC/DC return to the stage in Scottish football strips, a nod to the Young brothers’ and Scott’s Scottish roots. This moment, filled with crowd connection, was partly captured on the Family Jewels DVD, released in 2005, which includes the "Riff Raff" performance. The song’s lyrics, with lines like “Riff raff, it’s good for a laugh,” reflect Scott’s playful defiance, painting a picture of a guy just having fun despite life’s kicks, as seen on Lyrics.com. Interestingly, Axl Rose, a massive AC/DC fan, reportedly pushed for "Riff Raff" to return to the band’s setlist during his 2016 stint with them, proving its enduring stage appeal.

AC/DC was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1973, founded by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. The duo, inspired by raw rock and roll and blues, started jamming with a revolving cast of musicians. Their big break came when they recruited Bon Scott, a charismatic frontman with a gritty voice and a knack for cheeky lyrics, in 1974. As detailed on Last.fm, the band’s early days were marked by constant gigging in Australia, honing their high-voltage sound. Their debut album, High Voltage (1975), was a local hit, but it was relentless touring and albums like T.N.T. and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap that built their global cult following. By 1977, with bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd solidifying the lineup, AC/DC was ready to conquer the world, as evidenced by their 1978 Powerage tour, which produced the live album Zoo Freaks are grooving to today.

Stay connected with AC/DC’s official website for the latest news and tour updates. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for behind-the-scenes vibes and throwbacks to their legendary performances. Zoo Freaks looking for fan communities can check out the AC/DC Fans Facebook group, a lively spot for diehards to share memes, rare photos, and concert stories. Another gem is AC/DC Wiki on Fandom, a fan-run site packed with deep dives into the band’s history, discography, and lore. For tribute band action, Riff/Raff delivers a high-energy homage to AC/DC’s catalog, complete with Angus Young’s iconic schoolboy outfit.