AC/DC has done very few concerts over the past ten years. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2016 and the Rock or Bust World Tour to find their last tour. After that, they only played the Power Trip festival in 2023. It wasn’t until 2024 that they truly returned, with the Power Up tour consisting of 24 concerts. That tour continues this year with 23 more shows. In other words, AC/DC is not a band you’ve had many chances to see live lately.
A lot has also happened in the AC/DC camp over the past ten years. As of now, only two members remain from the classic lineup of AC/DC — if you count Brian Johnson as part of it, and I think you should, considering he’s been in the band since 1980 and sang on many fantastic albums. Guitarist Malcolm Young died in 2017, and was replaced by his three-years-younger nephew, Stevie Young. Drummer Phil Rudd (71) and bassist Cliff Williams (75) retired from touring in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They have been replaced by Matt Laug on drums and Chris Chaney on bass.
It is, of course, a little sad that AC/DC has become so diluted — but at the same time, there’s no denying that it’s Angus Young we’re all here to see. He’s the frontman, the focal point of every AC/DC show. That said, we shouldn’t downplay Brian Johnson’s importance either — as long as he still has his voice, there’s reason to be pleased.
To be honest, the concert gets off to a bit of an “old man” start. Angus Young seems a bit stiff in the joints — in his guitar playing and general movement. But that’s perhaps not surprising, considering he’s now 71 years old. Still, his backing band is as steady and reliable as can be. It’s fun to watch bassist Chris Chaney, who constantly keeps an eye on Angus to follow his lead playing at every turn.
Eventually, Angus warms up, and that’s when everything clicks. From an aging rocker, he transforms into a demon — and you get the sense that you’re witnessing a legend doing what he was put on this earth to do.
The classics roll out like pearls on a string: “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” “Back in Black,” “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Hells Bells,” “Highway to Hell”, and so on. The AC/DC catalogue is so massive that they can simply pick and choose from greatness. They can easily fill a two-hour set with nothing but well-known, classic tracks. On the downside, there are always songs people will miss — because there’s just too much good material to choose from. So some fans might not be completely satisfied, but it’s impossible to please everyone.
Brian Johnson communicates minimally with the audience. Just short phrases here and there. For the most part, the band disappears offstage between each song, while the microphones sometimes pick up snippets of their conversations. Occasionally you’ll hear Brian mutter a “Yeah.” Sometimes a small laugh — “Hah!” — and at times even a full “Ha ha.” While a bit odd, it’s kind of cool too — it keeps the energy up and feels like the band is genuinely ready for more.
The stage show is mostly built around a pretty cool LED setup. Rosie appears on the screens at during “Whole Lotta Rosie,” but there are also some good old-school effects — like the bell hanging from the ceiling for “Hells Bells,” and the cannons that fire during the final number, “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”
His eyes are bloodshot red, scanning the audience before he starts playing again.
But the true highlight comes when Angus Young goes berserk during “Let There Be Rock”, delivering a solo that lasts nearly twenty minutes. It’s like the man becomes possessed as he duck-walks across the long catwalk, before the stage lifts and he collapses in spasms, while confetti explodes over the audience. It’s at that moment you get really impressed, and start to feel a bit of concern — after all, we’re talking about a 71-year-old man who’s gone full throttle, running in a gear most people over 70 simply don’t have.
He continues the solo as he moves back toward the stage, making his way to the upper part of the back platform. There, he pauses — one arm raised in the air, his expression serious as he receives a massive and well-deserved ovation. His eyes are bloodshot red, scanning the audience before he starts playing again.
We have just witnessed a true legend in his element, doing what only Angus Young can. What could have been a nice evening of nostalgia turned into something much greater — a full-on experience, powerful and unforgettable. We did not get a reduced version of Angus Young —
we got Angus Young at his very best.
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It was indeed an awesome concert. Great writing! I couldn’t have described the atmosphere better than you did.