East Rutherford – MetLife Stadium- 2nd October 2026 - LAST POST

  

 

1. If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
2. Back in Black
3. Demon Fire
4. Shot Down in Flames
5. Thunderstruck
6. Have a Drink on Me
7. Hells Bells
8. Shot in the Dark
9. Stiff Upper Lip
10. Highway to Hell, con Dave Grohl
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. Sin City
13. Jailbreak
14. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
15. High Voltage
16. Riff Raff
17. You Shook Me All Night Long
18. Whole Lotta Rosie
19. Let There Be Rock, con extended Angus Young solo

Encore:

20. T.N.T.
21. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Ride On...

Time has come for one last post on this blog, to close an amazing adventure that started 25 years ago with AC/DC Abruzzo. What a journey it has been. And what an incredible final tour.

When the Power Up Tour started, after Power Trip, none of us really knew how far it would go. At one point we were expecting Dublin in 2024 to be the end of the road. Instead, AC/DC kept going. Europe became a complete world tour, with Australia, South America, and two American legs.

89 shows. We did "only" 36 this time. The maximum we could do. That "only" probably says a lot about us and about the strange standards we developed over the years. But this time the goal was different. We wanted to enjoy every moment as much as possible, without chasing numbers, listening once again to the greatest rock'n'roll band of all time.

For all of us who had been there in 2016, with AXL, this entire tour felt like a bonus. A huge, unexpected bonus. And for that, we can only be grateful to AC/DC.

We knew we had to be in America for the Grand Finale. Work, families and real life have become increasingly important over the years, and it has obviously become much harder to disappear around the world following a rock band. But somehow, once again, we managed to make things work and attend the final two shows.

Philadelphia first. Then the grand 21-gun salute.

Ironically, Philadelphia was supposed to become the final show, just as Philadelphia had played such an important role for us in 2016, when Cliff officially retired and Problem Child Axl finished his job in the Rock or Bust touer. Then, through one of those strange twists of fate that have followed this band and this blog for years, the postponement of the MetLife Stadium concert changed everything.

The last dance moved to East Rutherford. New York. New Jersey. MetLife Stadium. One more trip. One more stadium. One last time.

And this time the feeling was different.

There were mixed emotions long before AC/DC even walked on stage.

 

I had felt that knot in my stomach before. Hammersmith 2003. Bilbao in 2010. Philadelphia in 2016. Dublin in 2024. Those concerts when the future was uncertain and you knew, somewhere in the back of your mind, that perhaps you should look at everything a little more carefully because you had no idea when, or if, you would see it again.

But MetLife was different. This time we knew this was the final concert of the Power Up Tour. And deep inside, it also felt as if we were witnessing something potentially much bigger, perhaps the final AC/DC concert itself. You try not to think about it.

Then the lights go down.

And there they are. From the very beginning, there was something about Angus and Brian.

Intensity. Focus. Commitment.

It felt as if they were perfectly aware of the historical importance of that night. Not simply another stadium, not simply show number 89, but one final demonstration to the world of what AC/DC still were.

And what they had always been.

Power. Volume. Energy. Rock'n'roll reduced to its purest form.

No energy saved for tomorrow. Because there was no tomorrow on this tour.

If You Want Blood. And for the first few songs, I had tears in my eyes. The band sounded enormous.

 

But suddenly every song started opening doors in my memory. There was no logic to it. No chronological order. Just images, people, venues and moments coming back without warning. A completely irrational storm of memories accumulated over more than half of my life.

If You Want Blood. Hammersmith, 2003.

Back in Black. Wilkes-Barre, 2008.

Shot Down in Flames. Stockholm February 2009.

Stiff Upper Lip. Birmingham, 2000. My first AC/DC show.

High Voltage. Sidney, 2010.

Sin City. Coachella, 2015.

Jailbreak. Perth, 2025.

Shoot to Thrill. Buenos Aires, 2026.

And so many others…

128 AC/DC concerts seen as a fan. There is a point at which a song is no longer simply a song. It becomes a place. A face. A journey. A night you thought you had forgotten. A person standing next to you twenty years ago. A moment of your life.

And all of them were somehow there with me at MetLife.

The different parts of the Power Up Tour also had their own personality.

Australia will always remain special. It is their home country, and seeing AC/DC there carries a meaning that cannot really be reproduced anywhere else. And this time Australia gave us Jailbreak, a song we had waited so long to hear again.

Then South America.

Probably the hottest rock'n'roll crowds on Earth. I had waited seventeen years for the opportunity to finally be inside River Plate Stadium with AC/DC, surrounded by those crazy Argentinians, jumping for two hours as if their lives depended on it.

Buenos Aires was everything I had hoped it would be.

And more.

The United States is different. The American audience sometimes seems to experience a concert almost as if they were sitting in a theatre. For AC/DC, that is certainly not my ideal way of experiencing rock'n'roll. But when in Rome…. And anyway, what was happening on the stage at MetLife was powerful enough to destroy any cultural difference.

The AC/DC loudest wall of sound surrounded us and penetrated our ears and bodies one final time in the pit. From our position close to the stage, the sound was incredibly clear. Every Angus lick cut through the air. Every note scratched its way inside. You could feel it physically.

That is one of those things that videos will never reproduce. AC/DC have always been a physical experience. You do not simply listen to that sound. You stand inside it.

After 89 shows spread across almost three years, Angus and Brian had also reached an extraordinary level of synchronization. Everything had been refined night after night until the machine seemed to run almost automatically. As it happens in each tour.

But there was nothing automatic about the effort. Angus was still Angus. Running across the stage. Duckwalking. Attacking the guitar. Carrying Let There Be Rock on his shoulders night after night and somehow making a stadium believe, for twenty minutes, that rock'n'roll could still defeat time itself. At his age, he was still demonstrating why he remains the greatest.

It brought back Steven Tyler's wonderful line from the 2003 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction: "How did such big balls get in such short pants?" More than twenty years later, the question still works.

Then there was Brian.

Perhaps one of the greatest stories of Rock’n’Roll. In 2016 we were suddenly told that Brian had "lost his hearing" and could no longer continue touring. For many people, that could easily have been the end of his story as the singer of AC/DC.

Instead he came back.

 

And this tour gave him his full consecration again as the voice of AC/DC. Almost 80 years old, singing a monstrous world tour, night after night, across huge stadiums and several continents. Whatever happens from here, nobody can take that away from him.

The show also gave us one completely unexpected moment. Dave Grohl. The postponement of MetLife meant that The Pretty Reckless could no longer open the show, and suddenly Foo Fighters were on the bill. A stadium-headlining band opening for AC/DC. But Dave was not there behaving like a rock star doing another big event. He was there as a fan. He spoke about seeing Let There Be Rock movie when he was around 11 years old and about the impact AC/DC had on him.

I understood exactly what he meant. I had met Dave in Washington DC in 2016. We exchanged a few words before the show, and one thing was immediately obvious: he is a genuine AC/DC fan. You could tell from the look in his eyes.

Later at MetLife, he came back on stage for Highway to Hell. Probably Malcolm would never have allowed something like that. But somehow, on this particular night, it worked. And judging from Dave's face, it probably meant far more to him than another stadium performance ever could.

That is what AC/DC have done to people. Even rock stars can become kids again when Angus walks past them on stage.

And that brings us to something much bigger than one concert. What is rock'n'roll? The answer is different for every one of us.

Over more than 25 years, I have personally met hundreds of AC/DC fans in dozens of countries. People from completely different backgrounds. Different jobs. Different generations. Different languages. And yet everybody had a story.

For some people, the defining tour was Ballbreaker. For others Stiff Upper Lip or Black Ice… Or the 80’s….

For us at AC/DC Abruzzo, Black Ice will probably always remain the most significant.

And then we met people whose stories went much further back.

People who had seen Bon Scott in a gig in the 70’s somewhere in Europe, Australia or US, in their teenage years, thanks to their dad, uncle or bigger brother who took them to that tiny club that night…

Groupies. Friends. Relatives of members of the band. People who had been there when everything was still beginning.

Everybody experienced AC/DC differently. That is perhaps the real legacy. Not simply records sold or stadiums filled. Individual lives connected to the same soundtrack.

Vinyl. Cassettes. CDs. MP3s. Streaming. Different technologies, different decades, same songs.

AC/DC have now reached the end of this tour at the absolute top. Huge stadiums. Massive audiences.

And, most importantly, a completely new generation of fans who discovered them through the Power Up Tour.

That matters. The legacy is safe. You could see teenagers in the crowd who were experiencing something for the first time that some of us had been experiencing for decades.

For them, MetLife might one day become what Birmingham 2000, Hammersmith 2003 or Wilkes Barres became for us. Their reference point. Their story. Their AC/DC.

And then there were the people who had been part of our own story. The old faces. The friends. Those who had shared airports, trains, queues, hotel/motel, beers, front rows, frustrations and unforgettable nights.

Some appeared for one chapter. Some stayed for many. Some we lost contact with and then somehow met again years later outside another AC/DC stadium. That was always one of the strange miracles of following this band. You could arrive somewhere thousands of kilometres from home and still find familiar faces waiting outside the venue.

AC/DC Abruzzo itself started almost as a Game. A little website created by people from Italy who wanted to see how far this passion could take us. Maybe, somewhere along the way, we also wanted to prove something to ourselves.

That if you really wanted something badly enough, many things that seemed impossible could become possible. Including spending months on tour. Working online during the day. Going to an AC/DC concert at night. Waking up the next morning and doing it again.

It produced an absurd number of stories. Adventures. Journeys. Meetings with the band.

Having drinks with Brian and Cliff in Stockholm or Sydney or having cigarettes with Angus in London, Zurich or Perth. Moments that still seem surreal today. Two books. And this blog, which was not active in the last legs of the tour for a combination of reasons.

None of this was always easy. Behind every concert there was also real life. Jobs. Businesses. Families. Responsibilities. Flights that had to work. Schedules that had to be rearranged. Plans negotiated months in advance. Over the years, finding the balance between those responsibilities and our desire to see as many concerts as possible became increasingly complicated.

But the reason we continued trying was simple. The concert was where the chemistry happened. That strange ritual. That indescribable rock'n'roll apotheosis. Two hours and twenty minutes during which everything else disappeared.

And at MetLife we knew we were experiencing it one more time, maybe the last time.

 

 

Then came Let There Be Rock. Angus alone again, taking control of an enormous stadium.

Then the encore.

T.N.T.

And finally For Those About to Rock.

The cannons fired.

The final 21-gun salute.

One last explosion.

One last chord.

Angus lifts his arm for a final salute and Brian's words at the end, which carried a different weight that night.

"Bye Bye. Goodnight and… Tell your grandkids about this night."

That line stayed with all of us. Because maybe that is exactly what these experiences become eventually. Stories. One day the concerts are no longer something you are planning for next month. They become something you tell someone else about.

In fact, Brian also said before:

"We hope we'll see you again."

Hope. Not goodbye. And maybe that is exactly where we should leave AC/DC. Nobody knows what happens next. Maybe there will be another show. Maybe there will not.

For once, after spending 25 years wondering when the next date would be announced, I am happy not to ask. They have given enough. More than enough.

After the final bows, the stadium lights came on. People slowly started leaving. The crew began dismantling the stage. Ride On started playing through the stadium speakers.

For us at AC/DC Abruzzo, this journey accompanied more than half of our lives. Twenty-five years. Countries and continents. Two books. Countless friendships.

Meetings with the band that the younger versions of ourselves would never have believed possible. And a ridiculous number of stories.

Today, writing these final lines, I realize how much life happened around it.

The blog was never really about reporting AC/DC news. It was about being there. Living it. Trying it. Travelling. Meeting people and sharing it. And proving, at least to ourselves, that sometimes you really can chase something that looks completely unreasonable and somehow make it part of your life.

We did.

And it was a hell of a ride.

So there is no sadness in closing this chapter. There is gratitude.

For every show. For every friend. For every journey.

For those moments with Angus, the handshakes, the smiles and the pats on the back.

For Brian coming back.

For one more world tour that none of us really expected.

For Australia.

For River Plate.

For East Rutherford.

For the Power Up Tour. For the 36 we were lucky enough to see. For the 128 that became part of our own story.

And above all, for AC/DC. The greatest rock'n'roll band of all time.

The AC/DC Abruzzo blog is officially closed.

It was an amazing journey.

Ride On.

 

 

 

AC/DC ABRUZZO POWER UP TOUR 2023-2026 

7 October 2023 – Indio – Empire Polo Club

17 May 2024 – Gelsenkirchen – Veltins-Arena
21 May 2024 – Gelsenkirchen – Veltins-Arena
25 May 2024 – Reggio Emilia – RCF Arena
29 May 2024 – Seville – Estadio de La Cartuja
1 June 2024 – Seville – Estadio de La Cartuja
5 June 2024 – Amsterdam – Johan Cruyff Arena
9 June 2024 – Munich – Olympiastadion
23 June 2024 – Vienna – Ernst-Happel-Stadion
26 June 2024 – Vienna – Ernst-Happel-Stadion
29 June 2024 – Zürich – Letzigrund
3 July 2024 – London – Wembley Stadium
7 July 2024 – London – Wembley Stadium
21 July 2024 – Bratislava – Vajnory Airport
13 August 2024 – Paris – Longchamp Racecourse
17 August 2024 – Dublin – Croke Park

26 June 2025 – Prague – Letňany Airport
30 June 2025 – Berlin – Olympiastadion
4 July 2025 – Warsaw – PGE Narodowy
12 July 2025 – Madrid – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
20 July 2025 – Imola – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 July 2025 – Tallinn – Song Festival Grounds
9 August 2025 – Saint-Denis – Stade de France
13 August 2025 – Saint-Denis – Stade de France
21 August 2025 – Edinburgh – Murrayfield Stadium
8 December 2025 – Perth – Optus Stadium
14 December 2025 – Brisbane – Suncorp Stadium
18 December 2025 – Brisbane – Suncorp Stadium

24 February 2026 – São Paulo – Estádio do Morumbi
28 February 2026 – São Paulo – Estádio do Morumbi
4 March 2026 – São Paulo – Estádio do Morumbi
23 March 2026 – Buenos Aires – Estadio River Plate
27 March 2026 – Buenos Aires – Estadio River Plate
31 March 2026 – Buenos Aires – Estadio River Plate
29 September 2026 – Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
2 October 2026 – East Rutherford – MetLife Stadium

 

 

 

AC/DC Live in Paris, France (Hyppodrome de Longchamps) 13 August 2024

 

AC/DC Live in Paris, France (Hyppodrome de Longchamps) 13 August 2024 

If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) 

 

After nine long years, the French audience finally got their dose of AC/DC again in Paris! It wasn’t the iconic Stade de France, but a new venue for us—the Longchamps Hippodrome, probably the only option available for a massive crowd in Paris during a summer packed with Olympic madness.

Getting to the venue? A real adventure. A lot of walking through the woods (yes, next to the infamous Bois de Boulogne), and by the time we reached the Fosse Or, it was already packed. The die-hard French fans had been there since morning, proving once again that they are among the hardest core of this tour. It was the usual BERCY/SDF crowd, now seasoned veterans, mixed with open-air festival warriors like those from Hellfest—most of them in their 50s and above. Sure, there were several generations represented, as in other countries, but the average age here felt a bit higher... Let’s not forget, AC/DC has been rocking France since the '70s, and the French audience knows how to party! Paris is always Paris—unique in its magic and energy! It wasn’t a 100k audience as some had speculated, but in our opinion, it was no less than 80k...

We found our spot on the left, pretty far from the stage, in the good company of our French friends from previous tours—Mathieu Marseille, Indy, Thibault FC, and tmany more Always great to reconnect with those who share unforgettable AC/DC memories since 2008!

The show kicked off at 8:15 sharp. The fading light of dusk made the atmosphere even more magical as the opening video played on the screens.

IF YOU WANT BLOOD! The band exploded onstage with their usual energy and power! Despite the scorching weather reminiscent of Seville, they delivered another killer performance. Everything went as expected until the big surprise—HELL AIN’T A BAD PLACE TO BE made its way back into the setlist! The band played it with intensity, a special treat for the Paris crowd!

Brian's voice was excellent again. Angus, very focused and precise as usual. MAYBE, occasionally, they looked a bit tired comparing to other shows a month agi, but who wouldn’t be after so many shows and in this kind of heat? Still, they were on point! Maybe the LTBR solos were a bit shorter than usual, and Brian had some minor issues with his ear monitors during Rosie. But overall, it was another fantastic show!

Now, about the crowd—honestly, we weren’t sure what to expect. The behavior of rock crowds has changed a lot since the last tour in 2015-2016. In Paris, we noticed that the Fosse Or, at least on the left side, wasn’t as responsive during the usual hits like Back in Black, Thunderstruck, Shoot to Thrill, Riff Raff or Rosie., Sure, the crowd was very loud, but the energy didn’t match the levels of Bercy 2009 or SDF 2010. Times change... Still, it was cool to see some crowd-surfing attempts (even if not successful) and people jumping on each other's shoulders... Considering the widespread “smartphone zombification” at concerts these days, the crowd still gets a thumbs up from us.

As for the venue... It’s a thumbs down. We didn’t expect much, but it still fell short of our expectations. Similar to other large venues of this tour but not as organized...Getting in and out was a real hassle... Maybe not like Bratislava but way less efficient than Stadiums or even Reggio Emilia

But in the end, it was another night of rock that will go down in the history of Rock'n'Roll. A night to be remembered for a long time, with good friends, great music, and the unstoppable power of AC/DC.

And now, off to Dublin for the last dance...

 

 

 

WHOLE LOTTA FRANCE - HIGHWAY TO PARIS 2024

Ready for AC/DC Back in Paris 2024! Is it going to be the last show ever played in Paris? Only time will tell! For now we know it will be a historic show for AC/DC's history which can't be missed. 

For the occasion we are posting our article published (in French) by Rolling Stone France (n.164). Let there be rock!

It was the night of September 20, 2016. We were coming out of the Wells Fargo Center, feeling a storm of mixed emotions. Estatic for hearing rare gems like "Live Wire," and "Problem Child" (played for the first time since 2001). But also feeling harsh bitterness: Angus had officially said goodbye onstage to Cliff Williams, who was retiring. Chris Slade and Stevie Young had replaced Phil and Malcolm for the whole Rock or Bust tour. And the lead singer next to Angus was no longer Brian Johnson—it was Axl Rose! For hard core fans like us it felt like we were in a parallel universe. But when we spoke to Angus that night, we still thanked him from the deepest of our hearts for continuing despite the challenges of the last few years.

Then came a long hibernation, as usually happens after an AC/DC tour. But with Cliff retired, Brian with his hearing loss, and Phil Rudd with unspecified problems, the idea of another AC/DC tour seemed close to impossible. But then the impossible became possible again. Brian came back with his hearing thanks to technology. "Power Up" was released, and rumors of stadium bookings started circulating. But then COVID happened, threatening to be the last nail in the coffin for AC/DC as a live band.

But once again, the pessimists were proved wrong. AC/DC was officially announced to be part of the POWERTRIP Festival in Indio, California, in October 2023—seven years after Philadelphia!

The show felt like a dream that literally brought tears to our eyes on more than one occasion. The opener was "If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)," last played with Brian in Hammersmith 2003, twenty years ago. The setlist was packed with the classics like “Back in Black” and “Thunderstruck,” alongside new tracks like “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark” from their latest album, and surprises such as “Stiff Upper Lip.” Cliff was back, Brian was back, and a new drummer was there. And then, there was Angus, visibly older than the last tour, in a shiny blue velvet suit and proudly white hair for the first time. The music was good and loud, and the singer turned and said to the crowd: LET THERE BE ROCK! We were hearing this again live after seven years. AC/DC had come back with 24 live songs—the longest setlist we could remember after 93 AC/DC shows we saw! Some said the concert was full of imperfections, but true rock ’n’ roll fans didn’t care—the most important thing was that AC/DC was back!

The big question after PowerTrip was: Is there going to be a world tour? We had briefly met Brian before PowerTrip, and he confirmed that they really wanted to tour and had already tentatively booked some dates with promoters in Europe, including Italy, which was supposed to be the first show of this new tour. But they didn’t know how the audience would react after so many years and if they were still cutting the mustard on stage after such a long break and at an older age. The decision would be taken after PowerTrip.

And then for months, we waited for the news, which finally came: European tour! We immediately got back in touch with our pals, booking hotels, tickets, and flights. It was really happening.

Gelsenkirchen: 17-21 May

AC/DC chose Germany for the opening dates, not too far from Angus’ home. The stage setup was impressive, with complex lighting creating a unique visual spectacle. Angus' guitar touch and movements were more secure and precise than in Indio. Brian’s voice sounded much better than at PowerTrip. Despite minor technical issues, the band’s performance was outstanding, especially on the second night. The Rock 'n' Roll train had started and was slowly getting up to full speed.

Reggio Emilia: 25 May

Reggio Emilia was next, and it was a night to remember. The concert drew the biggest crowd of the tour so far, with over 100,000 fans packing the open-air RCF Arena. Angus’s physical shape at 69 was visibly improving, jumping and duck-walking again—things that would be challenging for any average 40-year-old. You could tell he spends a lot of time in the gym and spas. Brian’s voice was getting stronger and more solid, and he seemed rejuvenated, especially performing in front of his mother’s country. Surprisingly, the setlist was shortened from 24 to 21 songs, but it still gave fans over two hours of pure rock 'n' roll.

Seville: 29 May and 1 June

And then Seville, where the hot weather and vibrant atmosphere set the stage for another incredible pair of shows. The crowd’s reaction to “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” was explosive and continued to rock for over two hours. The connection between the energy of AC/DC’s live music and the energy of the crowd reached its pinnacle in Spain. The tour will continue and we will also arrive in Paris, definetely one concert not to miss! As for USA, South America and Australia we were told we will have to wait a few more weeks for a decision, based on how Brian and Angus feel during the European tour.

In any case, AC/DC has reminded us why they are legends. They have faced doubts, health issues, deaths, and the passage of time, but their spirit clearly remains unbroken. The Power Up tour is not just about music; it’s about resilience, passion, and the unyielding love for rock 'n' roll. And as long as AC/DC is there: THERE WILL BE ROCK!

Matteo Abruzzo

AC/DC Live in Bratislava, Slovakia (Vajnory Airport) 21 July 2024

 

AC/DC Live in Bratislava, Slovakia (Vajnory Airport) 21 July 2024

If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

We decided to add Bratislava to our list of concerts last minute. Initially, we were hesitant due to concerns about the large venue and Slovakia's inexperience with hosting major live concerts. For those who remember the chaos of Imola 2015, we feared another logistical nightmare… But our goal is to get to as many AC/DC shows as possible so we stuck to this principle and booked flights, cars, tickets etc.

We drove from Vienna to Bratislava. The day was scorching hot, so we waited until 7 PM to enter the gold pitch. We salute the dedicated fans who braved the sun since noon to secure their spots at the front. It was probably the hottest show of the tour after Seville... Maybe even more...

We weren’t picky about our position this time and chose to stand a bit further back, not too far from the mixer, to fully appreciate the lights and sound. And what a spectacle it was! From Demon Fire to Shoot to Thrill to Dirty Deeds, the new light show by Cosmo and crew was a feast for the eyes. The sound quality was phenomenal, loud and clear, with the videos on screen enhancing the experience, which we had never the chance to fully appreciate. We decided not to wear ear protection to fully immerse ourselves in the audio bliss.

The band's performance was TOP, in line with the last two months on the road. We are sure they left an indelible memory for the 80,000-120,000 people attending AC/DC's first-ever show in Slovakia (still not clear what the actual count was but it was huge!)  In terms of performance, we personally preferred the London shows  but it was still an exceptional performance. Angus was basically flawless in his parts, from Thunderstruck (slower but very "clean") to Let There Be Rock. Long Let there be Rock Solo, Brian screaming his lungs out and no noticeable mistakes and hesitations. And a lot of interactions between the two as well. If they are taking some supplements besides cornflakes, we would really love to know what! :)

We didn’t have high expectations for the Slovakian crowd in terms of energy but we also got surprised at times. They certainly had a good time with a lot of drinking involved but they were generally calm and seemed to enjoy the show in a more "German" way.

TNT and FTATR were phenomenal although we decided to move out a little bit earlier to avoid the heavy traffic... But the nightmares of Imola 2015 reappeared again.... But again it was worth it!

Our belief that when AC/DC is playing live anywhere in the world, there's no better place for a fan to be than in front of that stage, was reaffirmed tonight

Rock on!

 

Ready for the show!

 

 

 

 

After party in the parking lot under the moon

 

AC/DC Live in Stuttgart, Germany (Cannstatter Wasen) 17 July 2024

 

If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) 

 

From the Orangus' travel diary...

"This was the best show of the tour..."

AC/DC Live in Hockenheim, Germany (Hockenheimring) 13 July 2024

 

Orangus - getting close to his 150th AC/DC show

AC/DC Live in Hockenheim, Germany (Hockenheimring), 13 July 2024 

If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

 

We first encountered Orangus on 21 October 2003, just before the legendary Hammersmith show in London, where he arranged one ticket for us. Since then, we've maintained close contact throughout the Black Ice and Rock or Bust tours. Like a migratory species, Orangus treats attending AC/DC live shows as his natural habitat. Whenever there’s an AC/DC tour, you can sight this devoted creature in his natural environment, near the barrier or somewhere in the golden pitch area, usually jumping compulsively to the AC/DC drums and guitar, much like a hyperactive kangaroo in a rhythmic frenzy...

 

From the Orangus' travel diary...

As usual, Hockenheim had the worst acoustics of the tour, and I don't know why but every tour it's like that.... After a few songs, I, along with two other guys near me, left the front row in front of the catwalk and moved to the back of the golden pitch area. The sound improved significantly, but it still wasn’t good enough...

I have been enjoying this tour immensely, like a hedgehog when its mate shaves (zoologists say this is a very rare event). After this tour, I honestly expected to declare that The Hu was now my favourite live band, but, with all due respect to my Mongolian friends, as long as AC/DC is around, no one else can compare.I even doubt this might be their last tour... We all assumed it, but they’ve never hinted at retirement. Apparently, they don’t need to.

Brian Johnson has never been considered an absolute phenomenon, but he has certainly become one considering his voice and how he has been performing during this tour despite his age. When AC/DC takes breaks, he could even consider stepping in as Axl’s substitute in Guns N’ Roses!

Angus has often been compared to Paganini; if that violinist sold his soul to the devil, I can't imagine what was the deal with this guitarist... 

All AC/DC's music has been associated with the devil, yet it compels an atheist like me to look up to the sky and thank some unknown entity for gifting us with this band.

Jumping Jack Orangus 

The tallest catwalk of the tour in Hockenheim

 

 

Will There Be Another Tour Leg?

Memento - Thanks to Dikie Jones for the reminder

 

Will There Be Another Tour Leg?

This is the burning question every hardcore AC/DC fan is asking now, after Wembley. Especially for us die-hards, who chase as many shows as possible, the anticipation is inevitable.

First off, let's be clear: we don’t have the answer and haven’t spoken to anyone who does, in the band, near the band or far from the band. Right now, it's all speculation and hypothesis. Maybe even the band is unsure about the future. 

However, their triumphant success at Wembley undoubtedly sent a strong message: AC/DC should continue after Dublin!

Before diving into our own wild speculations, let's take a moment to reflect on how blessed we've been with this tour. We didn’t see it coming, and our gratitude goes out to everyone who made it happen. 

As for past tours, we're committed to attending as many shows as possible because AC/DC's true essence shines on stage. Some fans collect vinyl records or memorabilia; we collect LIVE SHOWS and MEMORIES.

 

SCENARIO 1: The Band Will Call It Quits in Dublin

As phenomenal as Brian and Angus have been on stage, age and health issues are inescapable. Brian, at 76, has endured significant health challenges with his hearing. He's always been clear that he dislikes never-ending tours, as he often mentioned to us during the Black Ice tour. Now, having reclaimed his crown as AC/DC's lead singer after Bon, Dublin might be the perfect, triumphant exit for him and for AC/DC.

SCENARIO 2: A Leg in Australia

This scenario involves 5-6 shows, or perhaps more, in Australia this fall or winter. It would be a fitting end for AC/DC to finish where they started: back home. This tour is clearly more than a money-making venture, and ending in Australia would be profoundly meaningful. However, AC/DC has a history of unpredictability. For instance, they skipped a symbolic and meaningful city as Glasgow on the current European tour and announced a tour with just three months' notice. Too many variables make it impossible to rely on past patterns or common sense.

SCENARIO 3: Touring the US After Europe

They might tour the US this fall (September/October), announcing dates in the coming days, uplifted by their European success. Another 10-15 dates in the US would be logical, as it's still a major market with significant demand for AC/DC. The tour machine is already in place, so why stop? However, organizing such a tour on short notice is challenging unless everything has been tentatively booked and kept under wraps with impeccable NDAs. We should know any day if this is the case...

SCENARIO 4: Large Venues in the US and South America

In a few days, we might hear about dates for large venues in the US and South America for the end of 2024. Rumors about South America have been around since 2023. They skipped it during the Rock or Bust tour, and while this region might not be as lucrative as Europe or North America, it's still a possibility. Very large venues to maximize impact and reduce strain on band members, like the Stones have done in the past. AC/DC might have a few surprises up their sleeves. Or maybe not… Who knows...

SCENARIO 5: The Impossible Scenarios - Residency Shows and New frontiers

AC/DC could be setting up residency shows in one or more major cities, reducing the travel demands and allowing fans to flock to them. Imagine multiple nights in a place like Sin City / Las Vegas. It’s a concept never done before by AC/DC, but there’s always a first time for everything.

And what if they decided to break all barriers and conquer new, uncharted territories playing in places they've never been before, like Asia or the Middle East? Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, these locations are becoming more popular for major concerts. This wouldn't just be about the big bucks; it would be about proving that AC/DC's rock 'n' roll can conquer any market. 

Hail Ceasar!

SCENARIO 6: Multiple Scenarios Combined

Imagine this: two or three of the scenarios above coming true, plus another European leg in 2025. This is not just a dream; it’s what we all hope! Angus, the unstoppable force of nature, shows no signs of wanting to stop. His spark on stage is undeniable, manifesting the undying fire of rock 'n' roll. For Angus, this is more than a job; it's his life’s blood, a fire that's difficult to tame.

Brian's situation is more complex, given his hearing issues and age. But let's not forget, in 2016, he was "out of the band" because of his hearing loss, and now we're witnessing a miracle with this tour with what he is doing every single night with his amazing voice and presence. The miracles can continue.

 

Conclusion

Remember: this post is an exercise in dreaming and speculating because we can never get enough of AC/DC live on stage. We hope that after Dublin, AC/DC will continue to rock for fans old and new around the world.But ultimately, we've learned to be grateful and live in the moment, savoring each concert as if it were the last one. We are happy.

Let there be Rock.

Amen.

Nine Lives

 

AC/DC Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK 7 July 2024

 

Rosie never stops!

AC/DC Live at Wembley Stadium, London UK, 7 July 2024 

If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

We spent the days between the two London shows immersing ourselves in the AC/DC community at the dive bar in Camden Town and in local pubs. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with friends from past tours who had traveled from all over the world to attend these historic concerts. Much like our experience in Vienna, we had the privilege of meeting some people very close to the band members' families... These brief but meaningful encounters transported us back to the band's early days, with stories of relentless hard work, simplicity, and a burning determination by Angus and co to achieve their dreams. London has always been a pivotal city for AC/DC, second only to Australia in significance to the band's history and we were grateful to be there again after 9 years for other twi AC/DC live shows.

We also enjoyed leisurely strolls through London parks with the new AC/DC Abruzzo mascot, "Rosie," taking in the classic “beautiful” English weather.

As the second show at Wembley approached, we prepared for another memorable night of rock 'n' roll. The Sunday show started about 30 minutes earlier, and the organization was top-notch, with the smoothest and most professional flow of fans into the stadium that we’ve ever seen. Wembley Stadium, and imposing fortress from the outside, transforms into an intimate venue despite its 90,000-person capacity. For the second night, we decided to switch and stand on Stevie’s side. We noticed an increased number of cameras compared to the previous night. This suggested that they were also recording the second London show, and fans in the Gold Pitch were being interviewed, possibly for behind-the-scenes footage. We were happy to be part of this memorable event, which might be featured in a future video release. And even if not released on video, at least we knew the band would be performing at 200% again for the occasion!

And so it was! Angus was as focused and intense as the previous concert, at times even more, leading with his usual charisma and energy. Brian’s performance was even stronger than the first night, energetic and electrifying with powerful screaming and rock'n'roll signature movements and expressions. Brian was the king of the night despite some minor hiccups at the end during "For Those About to Rock. Despite the age and despite what other bands do, AC/DC remains a live band and these imperfections are normal and even appreciated and enjoyed by fans. "High Voltage" was a particular highlight, with Brian adding variations to the lyrics and showcasing the power of his voice. "Shoot to Thrill," "Riff Raff," "Highway to Hell," and "Whole Lotta Rosie" were all phenomenal. "Let There Be Rock" was excellent, although the solos seemed a bit shorter than usual. In FTATR there were some minor issues with the cannons... Great job again from the rhytmic section.

However, the acoustics in the Stadium were worse than the first night. This could have been due to our position, the stadium's acoustics, or the amplification setup /mixing process. We experienced some distortion at times, which is not uncommon in large stadiums, especially with the high sound levels that AC/DC requires, being one of the loudest live bands ever. Anyway, you can't expect the same sound quality in smaller venues like Zurich and Gelsenkirchen.

The Wembley crowd was fantastic! Super loud and energetic! We had a blast jumping and singing along with the fans around us. Everyone was there for a good time and a rock 'n' roll party. In the end, AC/DC's music has always been about making people happy, and this night was no exception. 

Since the Stiff Upper Lip tour concerts in Birmingham and Milton Keynes in 2000 and 2001, and the unforgettable "one night only" gig at Hammersmith in 2003, we've consistently enjoyed great times with English/British fans. Although sometimes the alcohol was leading to excessive behavior, such as beer throwing, compulsive crowd surfing and and shoes also flying up in the air with all types of objects during shows, we always had a good time overall... That's also Rock'n'Roll... Security did a commendable job, ensuring everyone had a great time. We noticed fewer phones up and more people just living in the moment. It was heartening to see several generations around us, from seasoned fans with over 100 shows under their belts to those experiencing AC/DC live for the first time.

History was made again in London. As we bid farewell to England, we ponder whether this was the last show here... only time will tell. 

Now, it's back to Germany for more open-air field shows!

JONNA IS BACK!

Hard core fans from 4 different continents in London