{"id":41816,"date":"2026-02-11T15:23:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=41816"},"modified":"2026-02-11T15:23:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:23:55","slug":"they-shook-the-earth-ac-dcs-first-show-in-8-years-stuns-60000-fans-proving-one-76-year-old-can-still-scream-like-a-demon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=41816","title":{"rendered":"“They Shook the Earth.” \u2014 AC\/DC\u2019s First Show in 8 Years Stuns 60,000 Fans, Proving One 76-Year-Old Can Still Scream Like a Demon."},"content":{"rendered":"

The bell tolled. The cannons fired. And after eight long years of uncertainty, silence was obliterated.<\/span><\/p>\n

On May 17, 2024, AC\/DC<\/span><\/span> stormed back onto a full touring stage in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, launching their long-awaited \u201cPower Up\u201d World Tour in front of more than 60,000 fans at the Veltins-Arena. For many in attendance, it wasn\u2019t just another rock concert \u2014 it was proof of survival.<\/span><\/p>\n

And at the center of it all stood 76-year-old frontman Brian Johnson<\/span><\/span>, roaring through a 24-song set as if the clock had frozen somewhere in 1981.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The Voice That Refused to Fade<\/span><\/h3>\n

Johnson\u2019s return to full-scale touring carries extra weight. In 2016, he was forced off the road due to severe hearing issues, prompting fears that his career with the band might be over. Yet on opening night in Germany, he didn\u2019t sound cautious \u2014 he sounded unleashed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Critics described his performance as feral, locked-in, and shockingly powerful. From the first scream of \u201cIf You Want Blood (You\u2019ve Got It)\u201d to the closing cannon blasts of \u201cFor Those About to Rock (We Salute You),\u201d Johnson delivered with grit that defied both age and adversity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beside him, 69-year-old guitarist Angus Young<\/span><\/span> was a blur of motion in his trademark schoolboy uniform. Duck-walking across the stage, ripping into extended solos during \u201cLet There Be Rock,\u201d he reminded fans why he remains one of hard rock\u2019s most recognizable figures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A New Rhythm, Same Voltage<\/span><\/h3>\n

The 2024 lineup marked a subtle but historic shift. With longtime bassist Cliff Williams retired and drummer Phil Rudd absent from the touring configuration, the rhythm section welcomed new blood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Jane\u2019s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney stepped in, delivering a tight, confident low end that seamlessly anchored classics like \u201cBack In Black\u201d and \u201cThunderstruck.\u201d On drums, Matt Laug \u2014 who debuted with the band at 2023\u2019s Power Trip festival \u2014 provided the metronomic punch essential to the AC\/DC engine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite personnel changes, the chemistry felt intact. Reviews praised the band\u2019s discipline and sonic precision, describing the overall mix as a \u201cwall of sound\u201d \u2014 loud, yes, but controlled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A Setlist Built for Generations<\/span><\/h3>\n

The 24-song lineup functioned like a greatest-hits masterclass:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    Openers: \u201cIf You Want Blood (You\u2019ve Got It),\u201d \u201cBack In Black\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    New Material: \u201cDemon Fire,\u201d \u201cShot in the Dark\u201d (from 2020\u2019s Power Up<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Stadium Anthems: \u201cHells Bells,\u201d \u201cYou Shook Me All Night Long,\u201d \u201cThunderstruck\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Encore: \u201cT.N.T.\u201d and the cannon-heavy \u201cFor Those About to Rock\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    European audiences were particularly energized by hearing Power Up<\/em> tracks live for the first time, confirming that the band isn\u2019t merely reliving history \u2014 they\u2019re extending it.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    More Than a Comeback<\/span><\/h3>\n

    For a group formed in 1973, that has weathered the loss of founding members and major health scares, this tour opener felt less like nostalgia and more like defiance.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The \u201cPower Up\u201d run has since expanded, with additional legs planned beyond Europe \u2014 reinforcing that this isn\u2019t a one-night resurrection.<\/span><\/p>\n

    When the final cannons thundered in Gelsenkirchen, the message wasn\u2019t subtle:<\/span><\/p>\n

    Rock may age.<\/span>
    Legends may stumble.<\/span>
    But AC\/DC still hits like a lightning strike.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And after eight years of doubt, they didn\u2019t just return.<\/span><\/p>\n

    They shook the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The bell tolled. The cannons fired. And after eight long years of uncertainty, silence was obliterated. On May 17, 2024, AC\/DC stormed back onto a full touring stage in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, launching their long-awaited \u201cPower Up\u201d World Tour in front of more than 60,000 fans at the Veltins-Arena. For many in attendance, it wasn\u2019t just…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41816\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}