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
