New-look AC/DC to rock Perth
Guitarist Angus Young is the only original member of AC/DC but that won't stop the rock icons rolling through Perth in November.
The legendary band, which formed in 1973, has unveiled the Australian dates of their Rock and Bust world tour.
On November 27, AC/DC returns to Domain Stadium, where they played two mammoth concerts during their Black Ice tour five years ago.
While the band shifted more than 750,000 tickets on their previous Australasian visit, promoter Garry Van Egmond insists they can beat their own record despite missing vital cogs.
Engine room rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young is in a care facility suffering from dementia, with his and Angus’ nephew Stevie Young filling in on tour.
Welshman Chris Slade - drummer on 1990 album The Razors Edge and hit single Thunderstruck - replaces long-time member Phil Rudd, who goes on trial in New Zealand for threatening to kill and drug possession this month.
Rudd's future in the band remains under a cloud, with Mr Van Egmond refusing to speculate whether Slade's appointment is permanent or just for the Rock or Bust dates.
"New boy" Brian Johnson, who joined AC/DC in 1980 following the death of Fremantle-raised frontman Bon Scott, and long-serving bassist Cliff Williams round out the band.
The new-look line-up has not hurt ticket sales in Europe, where AC/DC sold 1.75 million tickets in 24 hours last month.
"Wembley Stadium, which holds 70,000 people, sold out in 12 minutes," said Mr Van Egmond, who has promoted every tour since 1985.
AC/DC plays California's Coachella festival on Friday and again on April 17, before officially kicking off the Rock or Bust tour in Holland on May 5.
The veterans rock North America during August and September before heading Down Under.
The Australian leg will see 52 trucks and a 100-strong crew carry the band's production - including the Hells Bell, cannons and giant blow-up Rosie - around capital cities, starting in Sydney on November 4.
AC/DC has set tickets at $159 for general admission and $99 for reserved seating behind the GA area.
The band does not allow VIP packages or corporate-sponsored pre-sales, Mr Van Egmond said.
The promoter expects 42,000 fans to attend the Domain Stadium gig.
"That last tour was such a good feel and a good vibe," he said from Melbourne on Wednesday.
"Out of 750,000 people there were only 12 arrests on the whole tour, most for booze. There was no violence or nothing like that."
Mr Van Egmond credited AC/DC's continued pulling power on their intergenerational appeal.
"We had grandfathers, fathers and sons going," he said.
Accadacca isn't just for the boys.
"Our female audience has become very big," Mr Van Egmond said.
"Thirty-five per cent of our tickets on the last tour were sold to females, which is not something that would have happened 15 years ago."
Tickets to AC/DC at Domain Stadium on November 27 go on sale April 20 from Ticketmaster outlets.
