By Steve Newton
Rumours have been circulating for weeks now that Australian rock legends AC/DC were soon going to announce a world tour in support of their latest album, Power Up.
Well, today AC/DC finally made a tour announcement, but folks in my neck of the woods (Vancouver) are gonna have to chill, because it’s only for a European tour–no North American dates have been released.
As well as the European venues and tour dates, the band released info on its touring lineup.
Longtime bassist Cliff Williams, who played on every AC/DC album since 1978’s Powerage, is no longer in the picture. The 74-year-old has been replaced by former Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, 53, a California native who has also performed with the likes of Alanis Morissette and Taylor Hawkins.
And those hoping to experience the fabled thump of skinbasher Phil Rudd should know that the 69-year-old’s spot behind the drumkit is currently being occupied by another American, the 14-years-younger Matt Laug.
The only original AC/DC member still hanging in there is lead guitarist Angus Young, who continues rockin’ out at 68. The oldest guy in the group, vocalist Brian Johnson–who replaced frontman Bon Scott in 1980–is still handling the mike at the age of 76, despite the fact that hearing problems caused him to be replaced on tour by Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose in 2016.
Rounding out the current lineup is rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, 67, who joined the band in 2014 to replace his uncle, the late Malcolm Young, who retired due to dementia.
Considering how old the main members of AC/DC are getting, there’s no guarantee that they would stay healthy enough to continue touring after the 21-date European jaunt, but we can only hope.
In the meantime, start scouting around for cheap flights to Germany, where I hear the beer is good.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on Friday (February 16), and you can find them here.
Power Up Tour dates:
May 07: Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena, Germany
May 21: Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena, Germany
May 25: Reggio Emilia RCF Arena, Italy
May 29: Seville La Cartuja Stadium, Spain
Jun 05: Amsterdam Johan Cruyff Arena, The Netherlands
Jun 09: Munich Olympic Stadium, Germany
Jun 12: Munich Olympic Stadium, Germany
Jun 16: Dresden Messe, Germany
Jun 23: Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium, Austria
Jun 26: Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium, Austria
Jun 29: Zurich Letzigrund Stadium, Switzerland
Jul 03: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 07: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 13: Hockenheim Ring, Germany
Jul 17: Stuttgart Wasen, Germany
Jul 21: Bratislava Old Airport, Slovakia
Jul 27: Nuremberg Zeppelinfeld, Germany
Jul 31: Hannover Messe, Germany
Aug 09: Dessel Festivalpark Stenehei, Belgium
Aug 13: Paris Hippodrome, France
Aug 17: Dublin Croke Park, Ireland
To hear the full audio of my interview with AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson from 1983 subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 400 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with the legends of rock since 1982.
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I see you in belgium🤘🤘🤘