5 December 2011

AC/DC @ Lake Ginninderra - Late 70's?

| Skidd Marx
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A middle-aged former Lake Ginninderra High Schooler has claimed AC/DC played at their end-of-year dance in the late 1970’s.

True story or Canberra mythology?

Any information would be appreciated.

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My dad went to one of their concerts in act and at a high school, but he can’t remember the name

Hi I was at the gig in 1976 with my girlfriend Juliet from Melrose High. Blackfeather played before AC/DC. They had a bus waiting and I snuck on and spoke to Blackfeather and Phil Rudd before security kicked me off! I pinched Angus’ cigarette as he got on the bus. My girlfriend loved Bon so I jumped on her shoulders and we went to his window and I got his autograph. Best time, my first concert!

Yes it’s true I went to ginnindera high and I was at the concert
I remember the night we thought AC DC were amazing I can still picture Bon Scott all sweaty with his shirt off streaming his lungs out !
We were 15 and they were just a pub band to us playing at our school social
If I only I knew the future I would have got his auto graph or his pinched his shirt off the stage haha!

I’d like to share my experience and perhaps set the record straight ….. AC/DC did indeed play at Ginninderra High School in the mid-70’s. My older brother was head of the Ginninderra High Social Committee who was responsible for getting those great bands of that era to play there (ie. The Angels, TMG, Blackfeather etc etc). However Bon Scott was not in the band at the time and in fact Dave Evans (who joined the band Rabbit) was the lead singer. The reason I know this is that myself and 2 other girls managed to sneak back into the girls PE change-rooms to meet them. (This also happened with The Angels, but that’s another story). I had a quick chat to Angus Young while one of my girlfriends was kissing Dave Evans??? This was my very first ‘rock concert’ that I ever went to and luckily enough for me, my brother convinced my mum that I should go as it will be a ‘memorable experience’ – and boy was he right! The hall was packed to the max and although I have seen many bands since, this one was and always will be, the best.

Hi to all my class-mates of 1979!

ooggeebooggee1:02 pm 26 Sep 14

My brothers who were students of Ginninderra High went as they were deemed old enough .. I was a aloud a peek right at the end when they were finishing up last song. thursday 9th Dec 1976

troll-sniffer1:13 pm 11 Dec 11

I believe they played at Dickson High in 1975 at a social. They were not exactly what you would call polished or tight and a coffee shop set up in the music room away from the assembly hall playing vinyl was well patronised by those who found the band unbearably tuneless.

Anyone from then and there have any further info?

Is it possible that they were at Belconnen high school dance a couple of years before that around 1975 or did I just dream that?

Completely true- Saw them at the old Ginninderra High in 1977, wasn’t a student there, but it was too good an opportunity to miss..From memory I think it was $4 or$5 to get in..

7Absolutely true. I patted Bon on the back as they left the changeroom. 77′ I think……Dirty Deeds Tour ?

Holden Caulfield3:20 pm 05 Dec 11

Ex Warrior said :

Lake Ginninderra High School???

Perhaps Ginninderra High School now known as Kingsford Smith

And the answer is….. …..TRUE

So, erm, did the Oils play at Ginninderra High back in the day as well? If so it we all should have known back then Peter Garrett would be voted in to the seat of Kingsford Smith.

Waiting For Godot3:17 pm 05 Dec 11

Yes it is true. I went to Phillip College at the time and both AC/DC and The Angels were in Canberra at the same time. Ginninderra High got AC/DC and we got The Angels. Unlike AC/DC our concert was free during lunch hour. Both groups were managed by Albert Productions and that could explain why they were both here at the same time.

Not only that, both groups stayed in a house down the street where I lived in Pearce. It was supposed to be a secret but the young girls quickly found out about it. Other groups who stayed at the house included Supernaut, Ol’ 55, Ted Mulry Gang, Shadowfax, Hush, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band and a few others.

ACDC definitely played at Ginninderra High School in the 1970s, and, yes, I payed the $5 or so for the experience. Groups used to play there on, I think, a Sunday afternoon as well. I remember (though it was a long time ago) the Ted Mulry Gang, Ol 55, Hush and quite a few others playing there.

I thought it was 76 they went overseas. I remember Molly interviewing them at Mascot, wishing them well for the future. And what a future it turned out to be. Or was it 77.

Thanks for the info!

From a ticket stub in the link provided by sbugden it turns out that Bon Scott and the boys did indeed rock (not Lake) Ginninderra High at 8p.m on Thurs Dec 9, 1976. But you needed to cough up a whopping $5.30 for the privelege, still a bit cheaper than the $180 starting price their tickets command 35 years later.

Set list:
Set List:
1) Live Wire
2) Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
3) She’s Got Balls
4) Problem Child
5) Jailbreak
6) The Jack
7) TNT
8) High Voltage
9) Baby Please Don’t Go

Surely there was one RA’er whose claim to fame is being there that night?

It’s true. My Dad was there and any time someone mentions AC/DC you have to hear the story all over again.

Lake Ginninderra High School???

Perhaps Ginninderra High School now known as Kingsford Smith

And the answer is….. …..TRUE

Myles Peterson12:06 pm 05 Dec 11

Never heard that one, but Oilz played Deakin High formal before getting big apparently.

Apparently somewhat true.. They played at Ginninderra High School in Holt back in the mid to late 70s according to one of my colleagues

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