AC/DC Energize As ‘Power Up’ Tour Continues

“Hello!” greeted singer Brian Johnson as AC/DC took to the stage in Chicago as the American leg of their “Power Up” tour wound down. “It’s been too long. Where you been?” joked the singer, rejoining the band for this tour for the first time since 2016 (following a one off performance in 2023). “We’re gonna play some rock and roll so let’s have a party!”

A party atmosphere is indeed what AC/DC has created over the course of 17 albums spread across five decades.

Their 1980 effort Back In Black, a tribute to original vocalist Bon Scott, remains the second best selling album in music history, part of a catalog that’s sold in excess of 200 million records worldwide, rendering AC/DC one of the best selling groups ever.

In 2016, Johnson left the band due to hearing issues, replaced for the remaining 22 shows of AC/DC’s “Rock or Bust” tour by Guns N’ Roses vocalist Axl Rose, eventually returning for 2020’s Power Up album, with the group finally taking to the road in support of it following the quarantine of pandemic via the “Power Up" tour, an outing which resumes Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany, before wrapping up this December in the group’s home country of Australia.

“Chicago, we have officially hit my favorite part of the set, where the sun has gone down and the horns have gone up,” mused The Pretty Reckless singer and guitarist Taylor Momsen on stage at dusk inside Chicago’s Soldier Field, clad in a Chicago Bears jersey. “Get your hands in the air - every one of you!” she continued, setting up “Going To Hell” late in the band’s energetic 55 minute opening set.

Momsen was referencing the group’s patented red, light up devil horns, of which a quick look at the sold out crowd of nearly 62,000 indicated a staggering number of sales of the $25 souvenirs numbering easily in the thousands.

Guitarist Angus Young marched straight down the runway from the stage set up in the football stadium’s north end zone, stopping about the 10 yard line to rip his first solo of the evening as AC/DC revisited their momentous sixth studio album, the Mutt Lange-produced Highway To Hell, Scott’s last.

Johnson’s vocal wasn’t perfect as the group moved to “Back In Black,” but it was good enough, with the vocalist, 77, smiling wide as he continued a well-deserved victory lap on stage in Chicago. Cool white lights bathed the crowd as black and white images of the band appeared on three massive screens, with Young skipping the megahit to conclusion.

New bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) chugged along, adding a backing vocal during “Demon Fire” from the Power Up album.

Power Up is AC/DC’s first studio effort since the 2017 death of co-founding guitarist Malcolm Young, one of the best rhythm guitarists in rock history, who received a co-writing song credit on each of the album’s dozen tracks.

Rounding out the group on this run is Chaney and Malcolm’s nephew Stevie Young on rhythm guitar alongside drummer Matt Laug, who steps in for Phil Rudd (who performed on the Power Up album).

“Alrighty, here we go,” said Johnson nonchalantly as the crowd began to simmer, fully aware of what was to come.

From the group’s 12th studio album The Razor’s Edge in 1990, “Thunderstruck” remains a showcase for Angus’ still immense guitar playing prowess.

While the song’s opening trademark riffage was a tad slow early, the band soon kicked in to drive the rollicking take on the number, with Angus, 70, jacket off now, pumping his right fist as he marched on stage. Stopping for a moment, the guitarist faced off with Johnson during a quick respite. “I was shaking at the knees!” exclaimed the singer, kicking it back in.

“Thunderstruck” signaled the start of a murderer’s row of AC/DC hits, with “Have a Drink on Me” and “Hells Bells” following.

A giant bell bearing the iconic AC/DC logo descended from the stage as the unmistakable intro to “Hells Bells” was struck, with Johnson pumping both fists in the air triumphantly as Laug began the legendary anthem.

No one does rock anthems better than AC/DC, with pyro flaring up beneath the massive video screen, soaring as the house lights went up, lighting up the ocean, as the band tore into “Highway To Hell.

Angus came running back from the b stage as the song neared its conclusion. “Are you ready? Do it with us!” instructed Johnson, delivering the song’s iconic close as the lead guitarist threw up the horns to the delight of the massive throng.

Angus spastically shredded, racing up and down the fretboard as Chaney’s bass drove a propulsive take on “Sin City,” cupping his ear as he egged on the crowd.

Chipping in on vocals, Angus joined Johnson during “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” tearing through a solo out of nowhere as the track wrapped.

While Rose dusted off “Riff Raff” in 2016, a classic deep cut from the band’s stellar Scott-fronted 1978 fifth record Powerage, Johnson took his first ever stab at it in 2023, with Stevie Young ripping away on rhythm as Angus rocked out in Chicago (the backing band was particularly crucial on the sped up, unrestrained effort).

“Knocking me out with those Chicago thighs,” sang Johnson with a wink, reworking the lyrics of “You Shook me all Night Long” as AC/DC cruised toward the finish line in the Windy City - but not before a guitar solo for the ages.

“Let There be Rock” isn’t exactly slow but on stage in Chicago, AC/DC managed to speed it up nevertheless, with Young taking his tie off as he began a guitar solo that would ultimately clock in excess of a whopping 20 minutes.

At the four minute mark, Young stepped onto a hydraulic lift, soaring into the air. Two minutes later, he laid down on the runway as confetti soared. At around 14 minutes, the song itself ended and the band departed - but Angus refused to stop, moving to an upper tier of the stage above the drumkit for the first time as he laid waste to his axe. The crowd was right there with him as the band returned, with Angus taking a bow a staggering 22 minutes after “Let There be Rock” actually began.

The crowd pumped their fists in unison to the “Oi’s!” as AC/DC kicked off encore with “TNT.”

A 12 gun salute rang out across Soldier Field, with a dozen functioning cannons firing in real time as the song progressed. Fireworks soon soared overhead as the group closed up a two hour and 15 minute performance with arguably the ultimate AC/DC anthem in “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”

“Thank you, Chicago,” said Johnson, taking stock of the immense AC/DC audience. “You’ve been brilliant.”