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

AC/DC Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK 3 July 2024

 

AC/DC Live at Wembley Stadium, 3 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)

And it was the day of the great comeback of the greatest rock band in the world at the legendary Wembley Stadium, a venue that has hosted some of the greatest legends of rock and music. The biggest stadium and the biggest stadium crowd of the tour, in London, were ready to rock! We got confirmation that the band was recording the show on video when we saw the extra cameras on stage, near the catwalk, and in other sections of the stadium. Clearly, it was an expensive production and for sure the end result will be amazing.

We got back to our usual spot on the right in the Gold Pitch. Got a new pair of Devils' horns with the cheap stickers replaced by a nice engraved logo and the new tour book. Plus a Wembley T-shirt (though not the tshirt with all the London concerts listed as there were many mistakes in it, including forgetting to list one of the shows we attended in 2010!). Happy to see old friends in the pitch, from Johnny to Hugo. It was also nice to see another young generation of fans in their 20s and 30s, experiencing AC/DC live for the first time!

The stadium filled up around 8 PM for a solid sold-out show, with hardly any empty seats visible. At approximately 8:13 PM, the band was on stage, and it was time to start with "If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)." Angus and Brian took the stage with unprecedented energy, probably aware that this concert would become an official video release. Especially Angus, who seemed to be on another level of energy from previous shows. The guitar touch and the moves on stage were impeccable! More duckwalks than usual and even more attention to details, pleasing the cameras capturing this historic comeback of AC/DC in England. Angus was very stylish in his light blue velvet suit with a burgundy red hat.

The audience was very good and more responsive than expected after the post pandemic smartphone collective zombification. Of course, it wasn't quite the Live at River Plate crowd that jumps and chants for two hours straight, but we were pleasantly impressed by the English crowd's willingness to have a good time together. Very, very few smartphones in the pitch, as opposed to other European venues in this tour. A lot of jumping and chanting, and even a little bit of pogo in certain pitch areas (not in ours, but we could see it on the screens and on online videos). 

The performance of the band was fantastic! The only "issue" was Angus who was really on another level of intensity comparing to the other members! Brian's voice was great as well, maybe not as good as in Zurich and Vienna but still exceptionally good. Songs like "Thunderstruck" and "Shoot to Thrill" were rendered even better than usual, at least to our perception. "High Voltage" had a new, never-before-seen variation from Brian, which we loved. "Highway to Hell" with the flames and thousands of devil horns flashing in the stadium was just epic.

Angus was paying attention to moves and positions, like he knew what to do in front of the cameras to make sure this show could be engraved forever in the history of rock 'n' roll. Matt and Chris also played with higher intensity, especially Matt during "Riff Raff," "Let There Be Rock," and "T.N.T." Again, we got the same impression at PowerTrip of seeing a lookalike of Phil Rudd from the '70s, even with his mouth movements. Only the cigarette was missing. Stevie, very accurate and precise, also contributed to the success of the night.

"Let There Be Rock" was just the final apotheosis for the Gods of Rock 'n' Roll with extremely long and intense solos. The "flying" camera must have captured some great shots while Angus was on the lift as we saw it going up and down. And the solo in the back just proved to everyone that even if that AC/DC music will never get old!

The new Wembley Stadium is definetely a great venue, which is ideal for big rock concerts. Within 45 minutes from the end the venue was almost completely empty. Acoustics, on the other end, left something to be desired, especially in our section. We personally prefer small venues but AC/DC are now too big!

And night one is in the books. It was great to see so many old friends after the gig. Blue, red, and white confetti as the UK flag colors. Unfortunately, we missed Rock 'n' Roll Nonno Alan who was in the audience but we could not meet. But from the Black Ice tour we got Arnaud, Thibault, Spurky, Sven, Spectakulla and the rest of the German mafia. Also we bumped into Breno, with whom we bump into casually since Hammersmith 2003, including Rock'n'Roll Train Video Shoot, all the London gigs and even Venice beach in LA before PowerTrip.

Hopefully for the next show on Sunday! But still, it was a great night to remember for us and for future generations!

 

 

Photo by BrianJohnsonRacing

AC/DC Live at Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich 29 June 2024

 

AC/DC Live at Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich 29 June 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)

And after the two fantastic performances in Vienna, we arrived in Zurich, Switzerland. We had great memories from the two sold-out shows in 2015 and 2010 at Letzigrund Stadium—a small and intimate stadium with a capacity of only 50,000 people. The smallest crowd and, for sure, the hottest tickets of the tour.

After a long train journey from Vienna, we spent a nice evening with Francesco and other local and international friends and got ready to rock the following day.

Again, at the stadium, we decided to stick to the left side of the Golden Pitch section. The band is clearly on a growing trajectory, and we were eager to see how this momentum would continue in Zurich. At 6 PM, the crowd was still distracted by the football match, so it was easy to get close to the barriers, as most people were watching. Once the game was over, they quickly showed the final result on the screen, and we were ready for the 13th show of the Power Up Tour. 

The show started in a packed stadium at 8 PM, still with daylight. "If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)" was performed entirely under the rain adding to the raw, authentic rock atmosphere. Then the rain stopped.

Brian, who is getting into perfect shape, immediately congratulated the Swiss for their 2-0 win at the EURO cup against Italy before launching into his two hours of rock 'n' roll. Being on Stevie’s side again allowed us to enjoy Brian’s performance like in Vienna. He interacted with the front rows, joking with the crowd, dancing and with a lot of Brian Johnson's signature high-pitched screaming and poses. His voice is too good to be true, really. What a performer! During the show we also spotted the iconic yellow bottle from which he drinks in between songs, which brough back memories of the glorious Black Ice Tour days.

It looks like Brian is gearing up to be at his best for the Wembley shows, where close family and friends will be present, and where he will be crowned again as the one and only frontman of AC/DC. The London concert is set to be videotaped, adding another reason for him to be at the top of his game.

Angus Young put on an excellent performance as usual. He’s now unstoppable, whether rain or shine, and full of energy. You can see he is enjoying "Let There Be Rock" more and more, both on the catwalk elevator and in the back. He clearly enjoys the loud noise made by the crowd, which reaches its peak during his solo and "T.N.T." As we noticed in Vienna, now a three-day break is more than enough for the band to recover.

There were some minor technical problems during "Stiff Upper Lip" for Brian, and no burning flames in the back during "Highway to Hell," just the spitting fire effects. As for the confetti, we noticed that the colors change from country to country based on the national flag. For Austria and Switzerland, the confetti was red and white, whereas for Germany it was yellow, red, and black.

The crowd in Zurich was surprisingly vibrant and dynamic but still in line with the usual Swiss "neutral"standards (not much moving or jumping).

Time to prepare for London for two memorable shows! BACK IN ENGLAND!

 

AC/DC Live at Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna 26 June 2024

If you want Sacher, You've Got it!

AC/DC Live at Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna 23 June 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) 

 

Vienna Second Night. Once again, AC/DC delivered an excellent concert. This time we decided to watch it from Stevie’s side, preferred spot to some of the hardcore the German fanbase who have been with us in many concerts before.

We arrived at the same time as the previous show but managed to get very close to the barriers. Being so close meant we couldn't see what was happening on the other side of the stage, very different from the Black Ice Tour in 2009 when we could even see our friends on the other side of the catwalk while Brian and Angus were going back and forth. Nice memories... The Vienna stadium was packed again, with people arriving later than on Wednesday. While the previous show started a bit early at 8:26 PM, this one started right on time, and what a show it was!

Angus Young delivered a killer performance from the first song to the last despite having one less day of rest. This was probably the best second show of all the dual concert cities so far in terms of band's performance (Seville, Munich, Dresden). Angus is now rock solid, consistent and always rocking at his best for the delight of the fans. The rythmic sections still delivers without any flaw. Stevie in particular is really getting in great shape and does an amazing job. 

Being on the left side of the stage, we had the privilege of closely observing Brian's activities during the concert. And what a performance by Brian! When he's under the spotlight, he gives 110%—energy, voice, screaming, and interacting with the audience, especially the fans in the first rows. He really makes the experience unique for everyone, from the first rows to the highest seats in the Ernst Happel Stadium. Voice is still amazing. Great frontman. Great professional.

When Brian is not under the spotlight, you can see him carefully getting his breathing back, drinking from his "magic power" bottle, talking to the sound tech, or making sure the ear monitor works well. During solos, he stands in front of the Marshall Amps, with his hat, in the typical Brian’s position. There were some minor problems during "Stiff Upper Lip," where he lost the cue a couple of times, but that’s the beauty of live music. Yesterday, we understood even better how much we missed Brian in the last years and in 2016 of course...

The crowd was fantastic! Very loud, especially during "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "T.N.T." The highlight of the night was "Shoot to Thrill," a song that always delivers live with the enthusiasm of fans. The audience’s energy was palpable, creating an electrifying atmosphere that resonated throughout the stadium. There were even a couple of crowdsurfing attempts (failed - the only succesful ones we saw this tour were in Seville 1).

We’re gearing up for the next stop in Zurich. Stay tuned for more updates from the road. Until then, keep rocking!

 

 

AC/DC Live at Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna 23 June 2024

 

AC/DC Live at Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna 23 June 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)

Vienna on June 23, 2024. Another fantastic performance by AC/DC at the Ernst Happel Stadium!

We arrived in Vienna after Dresden with mixed expectations—low about the audience energy and responsiveness, but high about the band, which is clearly growing concert after concert. To our surprise, everything went beyond our expectations!

This was our first Austrian gig ever, having never seen AC/DC in Vienna during the last tours. We spent Saturday exploring the city, soaking in its rich culture, stunning architecture, and delightful cuisine. Vienna is a city that dresses well, and its food is a treat, especially if you enjoy high-carb, calorie-laden sweets and cakes.

The First Vienna Show

The Ernst Happel Stadium is large and not as intimate as Seville or Amsterdam stadiums, but it proved to be an excellent venue for a rock concert. The atmosphere was vibrant and the crowd was surprisingly super loud, a fact that Angus and Brian appreciated, spending more time than usual on the catwalk, especially during "High Voltage." In our section, in front of the Power Injector sign, as usual, the energy was palpable with Austrians jumping and screaming like crazy. There was even continuous pogo next to us, which we happily joined during some of our favorite songs. One enthusiastic fan even mimicked Angus’s on-the-floor lying on the back movement during "Let There Be Rock."

Angus Young’s physical condition is clearly improving. His muscles are growing stronger, and he’s doing more duckwalks. Brian is becoming increasingly confident with each performance, his voice solid and really impressive. His vocals remain a delightful mystery—crispy, bluesy, and powerful. 

Musically, this was one of the best performances of the tour. The band played exceptionally well.

Highlights of the Night

• "If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)": This song never gets old for us. It’s a powerhouse that always delivers and always reminds us of the glorious Hammersmith 2003 show.
  
• "Shot Down in Flames": Another classic that ignited the crowd.
• "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Let There Be Rock": These songs were the crescendo of the night, with the crowd going wild and Angus giving his all on stage.

Musically, this concert was in the top three of the tour, and overall (venue, audience etc) it probably ranks in the top five of this tour.

During our first two days in Vienna, we had the pleasure of meeting several people from the crew and the band’s family. They shared some stories about past tours, the current tour, and even some hints about future plans. Stay tuned for more!

 

AC/DC Live at Rinne, Dresden 19 June 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) 

Despite the beautiful red sunset the night before, we were greeted by rain for this performance. Nonetheless, the band delivered another unforgettable night of rock 'n' roll.

I arrived on foot at the Rinne Arena shortly after 4 PM for the afternoon concert, as AC/DC was set to perform at 7:30 PM. This might be one of the few concerts completely in daylight, apart from past summer dates in northern Europe. Despite the expected crowd of over 70,000 people, entering the Rinne was simple and well-organized. Within minutes, I found myself in the gold pitch, which was smaller than other concerts, and positioned myself in my usual spot on the right, under the "Power Injector" sign. I greeted Orangus, who found a spot in front of the catwalk, where he could jump and headbang without disturbing others—what a polite gentleman!

The pre-concert music was enjoyable, and I noticed there was a DJ set on stage playing rock classics from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath, and even Maneskin (WTF!). I’m not sure whose idea it was, but we liked it.

The audience seemed more mature, with fewer young people, possibly because they attended the first concert. The atmosphere was relaxed, with some people braving the rain without raincoats, intent on drinking beer and eating sausages. There was little energy, and it stayed that way throughout the concert. I was even asked to calm down several times for daring to jump.

Angus was in green again, probably celebrating the Boston Celtics’ NBA Finals victory. Unfazed by the rain, he bounced along the catwalk during the solo of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” and did his signature move during “Back in Black.” Brian interacted with the audience more than usual, speaking and encouraging them, and he seemed to have gained even more confidence with the setlist. Once again, he let Angus sing the lines “but you ain't got the guts” and “enough to drive you nuts” during “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.”

“Shot Down in Flames” and “Stiff Upper Lip” were my favorites of the evening. There was a minor issue with Angus’s guitar during “Have a Drink on Me,” which was quickly replaced by his technician. For the first time on this tour, he used the red SG, which I really appreciated on “Riff Raff” and “Highway to Hell.”

At the start of “T.N.T.,” Stevie accidentally began with “Dirty Deeds,” but quickly recovered. The concert ended with the usual cannons and fireworks, creating a beautiful scene against the backdrop of the Rinne.

Personally, I noticed few errors. The only downside was an annoying reverb in my area, which forced me to use earplugs. Despite this, the band’s performance was solid and professional, showing their resilience and ability to put on a great show despite the rain and minor technical issues.

As we wrap up this fantastic show in Dresden, we’re gearing up for the next stop in Vienna. The Power Up Tour continues to prove why AC/DC remains one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Stay tuned for more updates from the road. Until then, keep rocking!

Stefano, Secretary General

 

 

 

 

The Power Injector Sign
 

Jumping Orangus on AC/DC Offical Social Media - 141 shows