In the second installment of writer/director Paul Clarke’s two-part documentary about the Albert’s empire the focus turns from George Young’s undisputed influence on the Australian rock sound to the unabashed talents of his younger brothers Malcolm and Angus, who quickly storm the world stage with their outfit AC/DC.
But Blood & Thunder also portrays a wider picture of the rebellious streak omnipresent in Aussie rock’n’roll, and the vision of Ted Albert again shines through as he sees the scruffy promise of bands like Rose Tattoo and The Angels (who have been passed over by nearly everyone else in the industry). And Albert’s weren’t just about the rock, equally dominating vistas such as pop, disco and even film (they were heavily involved in Strictly Ballroom) when they turned their attention in those directions. There’s tragedy (the passing of Bon Scott) and redemption (the whole Back In Black era), but mainly it’s about an incredible journey and the inspiring story of how much impact can be made using a combination of vision, trust, hard work and integrity. Altogether, this is a brilliant representation of an unequivocally important era of Australian music.
