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