AC/DC unveil new website and tease "Power Up"
What lies behind that mysterious tape?
Last updated 30th Sep 2020
Exactly 24 hours after surprising the world with a teaser video and brand new social media logos, AC/DC have increased speculation by sharing another video and launching a newly revamped website, complete with mysterious "tape" covering sections.
At 1pm UK time today (Tuesday 29th September), AC/DC posted an 8 second video clip depicting their iconic lightning bolt rendered in bright red neon, with fleeting glimpses of the rest of their logo, alongside a soundtrack of high voltage electrical humming. All posts were accompanied by the hashtag "#PWRUP".
As well as this, visitors to acdc.com noticed that they were instead redirected to a new site, pwrup.acdc.com, where they are greeted by a flickering lightning bolt on a background of live stage cabling.
Here the abbreviation #PWRUP is revealed, as a large button labelled 'Power Up' sits next to the bolt, suggesting that Power Up could be either the name of the much rumoured new AC/DC album, or at very least the lead single.
More intriguing still though, are the parts of the website that have been mysteriously blanked out with electrical tape banners.
Below is a close-up of the website, where you can clearly see several parts covered up in high-vis tape. The names next to lead guitar, lead vocals, bass guitar, drums and rhythm guitar are covered, alongside three larger buttons below 'Power Up'.
Always ones to pick up on every last detail, some incredible forensic image analysis by fans on forum acdcfans.net has also unearthed what seem to be album credits, accidentally left in the preview image for the new website.
The incredibly blurry image, according to forum members, shows that the album was written by Angus and the late great Malcolm Young, with previous collaborator Brendan O'Brien producing. Long-time engineer and mixer Mike Fraser is also apparently listed on the credits, which would make sense given his history with the band, having worked on their last 10 albums.
As well as these latest online revelations from the band, AC/DC's army of fans across the globe have been spotting posters popping up from Sweden to Acca Dacca's very own Australia.
Keen-eyed observers have also noticed a billboard appear outside Angus Young's old secondary school in Sydney.
A week ago photos from AC/DC’s 'new video shoot' leaked on their official website.
On Monday 28th September, AC/DC updated all of their profile images on their various social media platforms to their iconic lightning bolt logo.
A tantalising 10-second teaser video features the AC/DC lightning bolt as a neon light:
Adding authenticity to the leaked AC/DC photos from last week, the red neon lightning bolt is very similar to the one in the ‘video shoot.’
It also appears that AC/DC band members Angus Young and Stevie Young are being joined by the returning Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams for the new record.
It’s strongly rumoured that AC/DC are primed to unleash their seventeenth studio album this November, however the band are yet to confirm this.
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In August 2018, JAM Magazine quoted sources who claimed that the new AC/DC album will be dedicated to the memory of Malcolm Young and feature his distinctive rhythm guitar playing lifted from recording sessions several years before ‘Black Ice.’
At the start of 2020, Australian broadcaster called Eddie McGuire claimed that AC/DC would release their much-rumoured new album in February or March of this year before embarking on a global tour. This didn’t happen, however it could have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speculation about new AC/DC activity was fuelled when photos emerged online in August 2018 of Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd and engineer Mike Fraser outside Vancouver’s Warehouse Studios where Stevie and Angus Young were also spotted that week.
In January 2019, grindcore trio Terrorizer said on Facebook that Brian Johnson had told them he was back in AC/DC.
They wrote: “We ran into Brian Johnson from AC/DC at the airport today after the flight home and we asked him about the rumours of him being on the new AC/DC album and he said 'yes' and that he is 'sick of denying it.' So that was a cool surprise ending to the tour."
Then in April 2019, the band’s long-term engineer Mike Fraser confirmed that AC/DC have been in the studio “doing something”and weeks later US radio DJ Eddie Trunk quoted “reliable sources” who told him AC/DC will "absolutely" tour with Brian Johnson.
Brian Johnson retired from touring during the Rock or Bust Tour and was replaced by Axl Rose after doctors warned him to quit touring or risk going deaf. Cliff Williams retired at the end of the tour.
Phil Rudd, meanwhile, was replaced by Chris Slade for the Rock or Bust World Tour due to legal woes he was facing in New Zealand.
AC/DC's 'Back In Black' was voted the 12th best rock song of all time by Planet Rock listeners in our legendary and much-debated poll. Check out where else they charted!