AC/DC and the world tour that very nearly didn’t happen

Hot on the heels of their smash hit new album, AC/DC have announced the first tranche of dates on their 2015 world tour.

The Australian classic rock legends, who gave us massive hits such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black and Thunderstruck released Rock or Bust in December.

Hugely impressive sales figures saw the new disc instantly hit the top five in 25 countries and number one in 10 of those.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the band in the run up to Rock or Bust hitting the shelves, though. Earlier in the year AC/DC informed fans that founder member Malcolm Young would not feature on the new album and future tour due to illness. The guitarist’s family would later confirm that the 61-year-old was suffering from dementia.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a source close Young’s family:

“If you were in the room with [Malcolm Young] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn’t remember who you are. He has a complete loss of short-term memory.”

Keeping it in the family, Malcolm’s nephew Stevie takes up rhythm guitar duty on the album. Singer Brian Johnson told the BBC recently that it wasn’t only the new guy Stevie that felt nervous at the recording sessions, though. “We put an arm around him and said, ‘Just join the fun,’ and he did.”

Whereas Johnson had his own worries.

“I went to Vancouver with the boys and I hadn’t sung a song in anger in five and a half years. I went with my fingers crossed and my eyes shut into the singing booth.”

To add to the tension as 2014 drew to a close, an emerging story involving drummer Phil Rudd would throw the band into even more turmoil. The 60-year-old sticksman was arrested and charged with the offence of attempting to procure the murder of two men. That charge later dropped, Rudd still faces charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.

Rudd did drum on Rock or Bust and although lead guitarist Angus Young told Rolling Stone that the “drum situation is a question mark”, he reassured fans that he band would “definitely be out there. We are committed to this.”

AC/DC tickets have been selling fast since the band announced their 2015 world tour. Starting in May, the dates announced so far include a massive show at Wembley Stadium on 4th July. AC/DC and the world tour details in full below:

5/5/15: Arnhem, Holland – Gelredome

8/5/15: Nuremberg, Germany – Zeppelinfeld

10/5/15: Dresden, Germany – Ostragehege

14/5/15: Zeltweg, Austria – Zeltweg

16/5/15: Hockenheim, Germany – Hockenheimring

19/5/15: Munich, Germany – Olympia Stadium

21/5/15: Munich, Germany – Olympia Stadium

23/5/15: Paris, France – Stade de France

29/5/15: Barcelona, Spain – Estadio Olympic

31/5/15: Madrid, Spain – Estadio Vicente Calderon

5/6/15: Zurich, Switzerland – Letzigrund

7/6/15: Zurich, Switzerland – Letzigrund

19/6/15: Cologne, Germany – Jahnwiesen

21/6/15: Hannover, Germany – Messe

25/6/15: Berlin, Germany – Olympia Stadium

28/6/15: Glasgow, Scotland – Hampden Park

1/7/15: Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium

4/7/15: London, England – Wembley Stadium

9/7/15: Imola, Italy – Autodromo

12/7/15: Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins Arena

15/7/15: Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival Site

17/7/15: Oslo, Norway – Valle Hovin

19/7/15: Stockholm, Sweden – Friends Arena

22/7/15: Hameenlinna, Finland – Open Air Park

25/7/15: Warsaw, Poland – National Stadium

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