When the Stiff Upper Lip Tour came to Europe, a french radio’s website organised a competition to win 2 backstage meetings with the members of AC/DC after the 1st show at the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy on October 31^st 2000. I played for myself, and I told my friend Patrick who was coming to the show with me to play.

Fact is that he won the backstage pass ! Thinking he won a pass for two, we were both really happy to meet the band, but 2 days before the show, we learned that the competition organisators had decided to have 2 single winners, instead of one winner of 2 passes...

Much to my surprise, Patrick told me on the last minute to go and meet the band, since I was a bigger AC/DC fan as himself. No need to tell you how happy and thankful I was (and still am !)

The aftershow party started around midnight with a little ceremony, AC/DC being given gold records for the french sales of Stiff Upper Lip.  After a quick photo session with the gold records, Malcolm walked across the room, greeting everyone and ending next to me at the bar. I was wondering about Brian not being there, and he told me that he was sick and immediately went back to the hotel after the show.

Malcolm was very interested in having opinions about the show, the sound, and the songs.

We had a little discussion on Let there be rock, which I thought was played on a little too fast tempo. He agreed with my opinion, and Phil Rudd came over and did as if he had to apologize about it !!!  These guys all have a great sense of humor.

It was great to talk to Malcolm, Angus, Phil and Cliff, to make some photos, and to get some autographs !!!

A few moments later I was sitting on a table, sipping a whisky.  Malcolm sat down just next to me and we continued discussing. I told him I had my ticket for the 2^nd show, and asked if I had a chance to hear Big Balls and Ride On, 2 songs I really would like to hear live. 
He laughed, saying “ Good idea, but these are older songs, and Brian surely doesen’t know the words”. As a joke I told him that I could bring the lyrics to their hotel in the morning, and we laughed about it.

The party ended around 2:00 AM. The next day’s show came, and there was no Ride On, no Big Balls. 
Nevermind, at least I tried.

On June 22^nd 2001, AC/DC came back to Paris for a sold-out concert at the Stade de France in front of 80,000 people. It was a beautiful summerday, and the show was going on pretty well. Much to my surprise, after the 1^st encore, the boys did something pretty rare : they came back on stage for a 2^nd surprise encore, which wasn’t even planned on the setlist (see photo below).

They were all wearing blue jerseys from the french soccer team (by that time the world champions), and they started to play...   ... Ride On !!!!

I was thinking I was in a dream. The song was 6/7 minutes long. They played it in a very bluesy, slow and heavy way, I whished it’d never end !!! It was the first (and still the only)  time they played that one in concert.

Setlist photo taken from a French Special "AC/DC Live au Stade de France" magazine published 2 weeks after the show. Ride On wasn't planned....