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Question about 'Hells Bell' prop
So I wanted to learn more about the 'bell' that the band uses for their stage and read up on various sites/blogs on how the original bell was retired in the late 80's after the chain snapped nearly crushing Angus (some sources say it almost crushed Malcolm also) while at a show in Frankfurt, Germany. I liked the photo of the replica of the Denison Bell as seen here: http://www.acdc.com/us/acdc-today/acdcs-hells-bell I would like to know at which show this happened and if there is any video of it since I never have seen anything or when listening to all the 80's Frankfurt shows I have in my collection, never heard any such mishap while they were performing. Is there a circulated recording either audio or video of this or does anyone know which gig this took place at? Just curious and thank the heavens above that noone was injured by this close call. Thanks guys ;)
Pretty sure no footage or recording exists (could be wrong) although I'm sure I read the original Hells Bell hangs in Malcolm's home now days. Have even read the original one was donated to a church (of all places lol) but am not sure how much truth there is to that one.
^ Thanks Nitro, I had a feeling this would be the outcome. i will try and dig a little farther to see if I can find something regarding at least the show this happened at. I know one of the biography books I have ('High Voltage Rock N Roll: Ultimate Illustrated' I believe) mentions this incident, but don't recall any info given on venue or date. Thanks again, Cheers!
According to the "Maximum Rock & Roll" book (hardcover edition, page 391), there was a near-death experience on the Blow Up Your Video tour. At a show in Frankfurt, Germany, the Hell's Bell fell from the ceiling and its massive chain came close to crushing Angus. From that point on, a different, lighter bell was used. According to the Tour Dates section of the Electric Shock web site (www.ac-dc.net), there was only one show played in Frankfurt and that was on March 30, 1988, at Festhalle. The paragraph in the book doesn't state that the Hell's Bell actually crashed through the stage. Reguarding Malcolm, it was on the Stiff Upper Lip tour that a piece of the Angus Statue came off and brushed the back of his leg, not hurting him at all. I believe most of the statue was made of thick styrofoam. Let there be rock!
I actually visited the John Taylor Bell Foundry today and they told me there were two bells. The original tour bell and a 1/4 size one that Malcolm Young had at his UK home. Which, seeing as he has now left the UK perminantly and sadly in a rest home in Ausse - was shipped back to Australia.
As for the location of the Big bell - one can only guess that it's sitting in one of AC DC's warehouses.
Interestingly, the Bell Foundry don't promote the fact they made the bell at all, if anything there seemd to be a degree of contempt for it.
We, on the other hand, couldn't understand why they haven't captalized on this fact or made money from making small replicas - but hey...
^^ awesome, cool you got to visit the Bell Foundry and thanks for the bit of info regarding the Hells Bell 