All aboard AC/DC’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Train. Available to buy now, but also available to listen to FOR FREE from ACDC.com.

First listen left me with the impression that the Angus and the boys are appropriately back in black. In good form. In stripped down, classic AC/DC guise. I can’t wait to get the Black Ice album.

ACDC.com have also published AC/DC 101. The history of AC/DC. The first instalment looks at AC/DC’s early years right up to August 1979, when the band relased, Highway to Hell. In my opinion, one of the greatest rock albums ever made.

Tragically, I first heard AC/DC on the Tommy Vance Friday Rock Show. The late Mr Vance played Rock n Roll Damnation and High Voltage from If you want blood. I recorded the show. At the end of playing these two songs back to back. Tommy announced that he had played them as a tribute to Bon Scott, who had just died. Recorded in Glasgows Apollo? theatre, alas also no more. High Voltage is an amazing showcase for Bon. I was an instant fan. I saved my pocket money and went out and bought Highway to Hell.

Later Back in Black was released by the reborn band. Great album, and Brian is certainly a great singer. The Bon Scott years were my favourite, but I am sure glad of getting to see this band live. They are my all time favourite live band. Roll on the new tour, all aboard the AC/DC Rock N Roll train.

It’s been a while, AC/DC’s last album, Stiff Upper Lip was released 8 years ago. On October 20th, they will release a new one – "Black Ice". Containing 15, yes, you heard that right, fifteen new tracks! Black Ice was recorded at Brian Adams studio – Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, Canada and produced by Brendan O’Brien.

Let there be rock

The band will also be going out on the road, starting late October! The first single off the album will be “Rock ‘n Roll Train”, which will start rolling on August 28th.

Black Ice Track Listing

1. “Rock ‘n Roll Train”
2. “Skies on Fire”
3. “Big Jack”
4. “Anything Goes”
5. “War Machine”
6. “Smash ‘n’ Grab”
7. “Spoilin’ For a Fight”
8. “Wheels”
9. “Decibel”
10. “Stormy May Day”
11. “She Likes Rock ‘n’ Roll”
12. “Money Made”
13. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Dream”
14. “Rocking All the Way”
15. “Black Ice”

AC/DC

• Angus Young- Lead Guitar
• Malcolm Young- Rhythm Guitar, background vocals
• Brian Johnson- Lead Vocals
• Cliff Williams- Bass Guitar, background vocals
• Phil Rudd- Drums

Shame, you can’t buy this from the iTunes Store… I like the Black Ice cover reminds me a little of Back in Black…

I did get an invite to be in the crowd at the shooting of the video for Rock n Roll Train, but unfortunately I couldn’t make it…

AC/DC Official Site

I grew up in the Young Ones generation. I believed that music is best played loud while throwing your television through your hotel window. Some years later, I really grew up. Neil replaced Vivien as an idol to aspire to.

I first saw the Dalai Lama in London’s Albert Hall. I had never even heard of him before this. Getting ready to snooze, something extraordinary happened to me. I actually listened to what he said. Expecting him to try and convert me to a Buddhist, he tried to convert me to the religion I already knew. He said, it is important to look deep within your own religion. The path you choose is not important, it’s your daily practice that is everything. He taught me that most major religions teach one thing at their heart. They are just different methods of pointing to the same thing. His anti-preaching method worked for me though. I now identify myself as a Buddhist, not a great one, but one that has allowed me to appreciate the faith I was force fed at school, Christianity.

The Tibetan cause is now something pretty dear to my heart. I feel that Tibet is a precious jewel, like the Amazon, which we the earth’s guardians are allowing to go to waste like a disillusioned teenager turning to smack. The potential that it holds is being eaten away, distilled to nothingness. To this end I wrote my own songs for Tibet. Not as good or polished as this offering that appeared in my inbox on an iTunes mail-shot. My song Wanna be your friend, was written as if from in the head of HH the Dalai Lama. Probably the best song I didn’t compose. The great man’s spirit wrote this song. His ethos, again I can only point to, but those words made me cry as they spilled awkwardly from my mouth. I wish they could have poured from the mouth of Imogen Heap, Sting or Damien Rice.

Songs for Tibet

These Songs for Tibet, unlike my “No sleep till Tibet” album are truly beautiful. ‘Enuff said. The last track though, is not really a track at all. It is a discussion given by the Dalai Lama on Finding Peace. This alone is worth the asking price, for me anyway.

Released just days before the Beijing Olympics start, this album will I am sure be my soundtrack this summer. I might not be a good Buddhist but I love music, and I could listen to the Dalai Lama for ever.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

—HH The Dalai Lama

Peace

Tibet and Dalai Lama Linkage

• His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• The Dalai Lama on Wikipedia
• Songs for Tibet on Wikipedia
• My pictures of the Dalai Lama in London