(Artist  Update

Written by: Ginny Gaines  

It’s been more than fifty years since AC/DC first plugged in their guitars, but in 2025, the legendary Australian rockers are proving that they still have plenty of voltage left. After years of uncertainty, lineup changes, and health struggles, the band has stormed back onto the world stage — louder, older, but still unmistakably AC/DC.

The story really picks up again in 2023. After a long break, the band made their first live appearance in seven years at the Power Trip Festival in California. Fans from around the world flew in just to see if Brian Johnson’s voice could still cut through the noise — and it could. Angus Young, in his classic schoolboy uniform, ran circles around the stage as if time had stood still. That performance lit the fuse for what would become one of the biggest classic rock comebacks in years.

The next chapter unfolded in 2024 with the launch of the Power Up Tour, named after their 2020 album. The European leg saw the band packing out stadiums in Germany, Italy, and the UK. For many fans, it was a chance to see their heroes one more time, and AC/DC didn’t disappoint. They tore through hit after hit — “Thunderstruck,” “Highway to Hell,” “Back in Black” — along with a few newer tracks like “Shot in the Dark.” The shows were loud, explosive, and full of energy, even as the band’s average age climbed well past 60.

But this version of AC/DC looked a little different. While Angus Young and Brian Johnson still held down the front lines, the rhythm section had new faces. Chris Chaney, best known for playing with Jane’s Addiction, joined on bass, and Matt Laug, who’s drummed for Alice Cooper and Slash, took over behind the kit. Stevie Young, Angus’s nephew, continued filling the rhythm guitar role once held by his late uncle Malcolm Young. Though veterans Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd had stepped aside, the spirit of AC/DC stayed the same — raw, tight, and unapologetically loud.

But this version of AC/DC looked a little different. While Angus Young and Brian Johnson still held down the front lines, the rhythm section had new faces. Chris Chaney, best known for playing with Jane’s Addiction, joined on bass, and Matt Laug, who’s drummed for Alice Cooper and Slash, took over behind the kit. Stevie Young, Angus’s nephew, continued filling the rhythm guitar role once held by his late uncle Malcolm Young. Though veterans Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd had stepped aside, the spirit of AC/DC stayed the same — raw, tight, and unapologetically loud.

By spring 2025, the band took their high-voltage show across the Atlantic for their first North American tour in nine years. From Minneapolis to Dallas to Toronto, stadiums were sold out and buzzing with excitement. In each city, the band opened pop-up shops selling exclusive merch, posters, and reissued vinyl from their early days — a clever nod to both nostalgia and the collector craze sweeping rock fans.

As summer rolled around, AC/DC announced a second European run — twelve massive shows across ten countries. One of the most anticipated stops was in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they hadn’t played in about a decade. The show was so loud and full of fireworks that local residents complained, saying it shook the neighborhood. City officials are now talking about banning fireworks at future concerts — a very AC/DC kind of controversy.

Amid the excitement, a bit of sad news surfaced. The Young brothers’ childhood home in Sydney, where Angus, Malcolm, and George first dreamed up riffs, was accidentally torn down during a redevelopment project. Fans across the world mourned the loss of such a symbolic place in rock history. Still, the band kept moving forward. Reviews from the 2025 shows described AC/DC as “older but unstoppable.” Critics praised the raw energy, even noting that Brian Johnson’s vocals, though rougher than in his prime, carried a kind of grit that matched the band’s story — survival, resilience, and pure rock spirit.

Rumors have begun to swirl about new music. Nothing has been confirmed, but some insiders claim Angus Young has been quietly working on new riffs and ideas for a possible future album. For now, the focus remains on the road — and maybe one last run through their home turf of Australia or even South America once the 2025 tour wraps up.

As the lights go down at each show and Angus hits the opening chords of “For Those About to Rock,” the message feels bigger than ever. AC/DC aren’t just performing songs — they’re celebrating a lifetime of thunder, power, and rebellion. Fifty years on, they’re proving that rock and roll might age, but it never dies.

That's a wrap for my update on AC/DC...Thank you for reading and in closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Rock On! Until next time...🤘

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