AC/DC 'cannot wait' to tour new album 'Power Up'

Angus Young and Brian Johnson speak to Absolute Radio's Leona Graham

AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Angus Young on stage in 2016
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 7th Oct 2020
Last updated 7th Oct 2020

AC/DC have told Absolute Radio’s Leona Graham they “cannot wait” to take their new studio album ‘Power Up’ on tour when the situation allows.

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young joined Leona for a chat this morning (7th October) on the day their rip-roaring new single ‘Shot In The Dark’ has been unleashed to the world.

Asked by Leona if they think they will perform ‘Power Up’ on tour, AC/DC's sole constant member Angus replied: “Hopefully if they get rid of the (coronavirus), they come up with a good magic cure, we’ll be out there, I guess. I think everyone is waiting for it to get back to normal and then we get to test it all live, our new album.”

Brian added: “I cannot wait (to perform live again). We had a taste of it from our rehearsals and that was enough to whet our appetite, we just started smiling and all that. If you’ll excuse the pun, once we were powered up in the rehearsal room, it was just all smiles. It was great that feeling again to be together.

“Obviously, the audience is a big part of playing, it gives you the juice, y’know, it’s the sixth member of the band and all of those things. It’s just a great feeling.”

AC/DC

Reflecting more upon the rehearsals, Brian said: “For me it was lovely just to get back and relax really and be with, well, if I can say family again – just this bond that’s been built up over the years.

“So, what you had was this wonderful electricity in the studio together. Of course, Malcolm (Young – late-great AC/DC guitarist) was floating around all the time as well. It was brilliant. We had such a good time.”

Explaining why he decided to make a new AC/DC album and draft Brian, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd back in the band, Angus said: “It was just a good idea (to come back). We had a lot of great song ideas that Malcolm and myself had pulled together over the years. I thought ‘ah well, we’ve got a great heap of material here so let’s see who wants to be involved recording it.

“I was very glad everyone was happy to be onboard. So that was great.”

Asked by Leona how they came up with the title ‘Power Up’, Angus said: “It’s a good old something to sum up what AC/DC always was about, which was power.

“The name AC/DC is electrical power, so I thought yeah it would be a great – nice and positive. It’s exactly as what Brian said, when we get together, we power up.”

Listen to Leona Graham's interview with Brian Johnson and Angus Young:

Produced by Brendan O’Brien, who previously helmed ‘Black Ice’ in 2008 and ‘Rock Or Bust’ in 2014, ‘Power Up’ features 12 tracks and is released on Friday 13th November 2020.

The AC/DC ‘Power Up’ track-listing is as follows:

1) Realize

2) Rejection

3) Shot in the Dark

4) Through the Mists of Time

5) Kick You When You're Down

6) Witch's Spell

7) Demon Fire

8) Wild Reputation

9) No Man's Land

10) Systems Down

11) Money Shot

12) Code Red

AC/DC 'Power Up' box set

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