“I would travel home to Chicago to visit my family, and I discovered that there was a great tribute scene going on in that town. The concept really appealed to me because it was just fun.”

-Michael Mroz, lead guitarist of Back in Black and the film’s director.

The Australian rockers who call themselves AC/DC, or Acca Dacca to those Down Under, are often considered one of the most electric (no pun intended) rock and roll bands to ever grace a stage. From the iconic riffs produced by the Young brothers to the vocals provided by Bon Scott and Brian Johnson, matching their power and musicality is no simple feat. Among the many tribute bands out there, one of the most popular, and perhaps one of the oldest, is Back in Black.

Based in Dallas, Texas, the group has been around since 2001, and to commemorate their history a documentary has been produced. It will make its premiere tomorrow night at the Galaxy Theatre Grandscape in The Colony, Texas, but as of today, it will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Though not made with the highest of budgets, one does not need piles of cash to illustrate the highs and lows of a rock and roll band – and are there some highs and lows for this group. In a way, it all plays out as though viewers are spending an afternoon with the band, listening to them speak on their couch.

The hour-and-a-half film follows Michael Mroz as he recounts the events surrounding Back in Black’s formation, their rise to fame, as well as personal anecdotes from various members of the band. Without giving too much away in terms of stories, longtime rhythm guitarist Michael Wagner has a particularly exciting story about his night spent in New Orleans.

Telling the story of the group cannot be achieved through one person, if for nothing else than solely listening to one person’s perspective would quickly grow dull. Even with our narrator guiding us along over the past twenty-one years, he allows for bandmates to either share their thoughts on a certain event or fill us in on something that we would not know from his accounts. Adding to this is the bands’ openness towards touching upon the less glamorous aspects of band life. It’s a small thing that shows that despite whatever they have gone through in the past, they move on, grow and change, and work towards continuing their success.

“The shows we were doing, we were paying our dues at the time, so we did a lot of shows either for little money or no money just to get our names out there.” Says front man Darren Caperna.

Hearing these guys discuss details including infighting, a rotating lineup, and battling with addiction can make one cringe, embarrassed, angry, or even curious as to how all of it could happen to five guys playing rock and roll. Well, it did. However, one can also admire their resilience, as mentioned before, which keeps viewers invested despite the trials of touring life.

What most will be eager to watch is Caperna recount his audition for none other than AC/DC themselves. In 2016, it was announced during the band’s Rock or Bust Tour that the gravelly-voiced Brian Johnson had to quit touring due to hearing loss. Fans held their breath as they awaited to see if the band would continue, or if management would step in and find a replacement. Several singers were auditioned, most of whom were performers with AC/DC tribute bands, including Caperna. Mroz tagged along to join his friend on a nerve-wracking trip to Atlanta. Unfortunately, Caperna, as well as those who auditioned, were beat out by Guns N Roses’ Axl Rose, who filled in the remaining tour dates. Turning a negative experience into a positive one, once they were able to, the band shared their legendary story with the world, and national publications spread the word across the globe. Mroz also states that the audition gives the band credibility with their fans.

Just because Back in Black has produced this retrospective does not mean the end of the road for the band. Though they usually perform out in the Midwest, perhaps they will make their way over to our neck of the woods on the East Coast. In the meantime, for those that continue to rock, we salute you, Back in Black.