Brian Johnson says AC/DC are 'eager' to tour: 'The juices are running again'
They play Power Trip festival in California this October
Last updated 30th May 2023
Brian Johnson says there’s an “eagerness” within the AC/DC camp to finally embark on a tour in support of their 2020 album ‘Power Up.’
Two months ago, AC/DC were announced as one of the six blockbuster headliners of the Power Trip mega-festival in California this coming October. It will be their first live show in over seven years.
Speaking to the Fuelling Around podcast, Brian Johnson strongly hinted that the Power Trip performance might pave the way for more AC/DC shows.
He explained that AC/DC were primed to bring ‘Power Up’ to the masses shortly before the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020.
“I’m so excited because three years ago we did get together (before) ‘Power Up’ the album came out,” Johnson said.
“We started to rehearse in Amsterdam. Phil (Rudd) was back on drums, I had this new earpiece that we’d invented. It was fantastic. Honestly, I’ve never heard the band so tight. For three weeks, I think we had one day off because we wanted to be there in each other’s company.
“We f---ed up a few words, chords and just got them tight again and then our tour manager came up and said: ‘Hey listen guys, we’ve got this thing, it’s called the Chinese Flu or some kind of s---, just go home for six weeks and we’ll meet again in London’.
“You know what happened there. Angus (Young) and Phil, New Zealand and Australia just wouldn’t let them out for months and months afterwards.”
The 75-year-old Geordie legend added: “It does take a lot of time to get a band like AC/DC together again. Most of the crew were out working with other people.
“Trying to get those guys back together again was tough but I’ve got my fingers crossed - everything is going ok. The most important thing about it all is the eagerness we all feel, the juices are running again.”
Looking ahead to Power Trip in October, which also features performances from Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Tool and Iron Maiden, Johnson said: “It’s all rock and roll bands, it’s fantastic.
“I think it’s just a statement to say that rock and roll is a legitimate form of music. It really has made a difference. Ozzy is coming out of retirement so I’ll be able to see my old pals again. The Guns N’ Roses boys, the Metallica boys and the Iron Maiden boys - all in one field, boy what a party!
“It’s going to be in a beautiful valley, near Coachella, but I don’t get involved in that kind of thing. I just like to turn up, get up and just rock my little socks off until I drop.”
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