AC/DC honored their late member Malcolm Young by playing ‘For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)’ at the end of their setlist.
The European leg of the band’s Power Up Tour started in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on May 17. It is their first tour in the last eight years. They just performed at the Power Trip festival in 2023.
After a video played, the band started their performance with ‘If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).’ The crowd cheered loudly. When the song ended, AC/DC’s lead singer Brian Johnson said:
“Wonderful to see you all again! Enjoy yourself, OK?”
Which Other Songs Did AC/DC Play?
Then, AC/DC played their 1980 hit ‘Back in Black’ and the whole stadium was rocking. Next, they played ‘Demon Fire,’ the first song from their latest album, ‘Power Up,’ released in 2020. However, fans were most excited to hear the classic hits, and AC/DC delivered.
They performed classic songs like ‘Thunderstruck,’ ‘You Shook Me All Night Long,’ ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,’ and ‘Highway to Hell.’ After playing 22 songs, the band left the stage for a short break. They came back to perform two more songs: ‘T.N.T.’ and ‘For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).’ Malcolm was one of the co-writers of the 1981 track.
Fan Reactions To The Band’s New Lineup
The lineup for AC/DC’s Power Up tour is different from their 2023 Power Trip performance. Original lead guitarist Angus Young is still there, as well as longtime singer Brian Johnson. Rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, who joined after Malcolm Young died in 2017, is also part of the band.
The band’s two newest members are drummer Matt Laug and bassist Chris Chaney. The Germany show was Chaney’s first gig with AC/DC. He replaced Cliff Williams earlier this year. Williams was with the band for over 40 years. When the band shared a photo from the studio with their new lineup this month, fans didn’t like it much. One said:
“No Cliff, no Phil, no Mal… What kind of AC/DC is that?”
Another wrote:
“Not AC/DC. Anymore just a cabaret act now. Such a shame.”
AC/DC’s European tour will last all summer, ending with a concert on August 17 in Dublin, Ireland. The Pretty Reckless will be supporting them during the European dates. Taylor Momsen recently shared that the first night with AC/DC left her exhausted but too excited to sleep. She thanked Germany and Veltins Arena for a great tour kickoff.