AC/DC confirm 2020 line-up, reveal first official photo of reunited band
The Rock or Bust-era lineup, with singer Brian Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd, is back together
Hot on the heels of AC/DC’s recent teaser on their social media sites of a short video clip featuring their iconic lightning bolt, the band has officially released the first photo of the reunited band.
As speculated, the official AC/DC 2020 lineup is electric guitar player and stalwart leader Angus Young, vocalist Brian Johnson, bassist Cliff Williams, drummer Phil Rudd and rhythm guitarist Stevie Young – the same configuration that played on the band’s most recent album, 2014’s Rock or Bust.
Since then, drummer Phil Rudd had been replaced on the Rock or Bust tour by Chris Slade, after Rudd was found guilty of drug possession and other charges in 2015.
Later on during the outing, Brian Johnson exited the band due to hearing issues, with his slot filled by Axl Rose for the remaining dates.
A photo posted by @acdc on Sep 30, 2020 at 5:00am PDT
At the end of the tour, Williams announced his retirement from the band after close to 40 years of service.
Meanwhile, guitarist Stevie Young, who is also Angus’ nephew, stepped in for founding member Malcolm Young in 2014 when it was revealed he was suffering from dementia. Young passed away in 2017.
This poster has popped up outside Angus Young's old High School. What are AC/DC up to? Triple M Rock
A photo posted by @triplemrock on Sep 28, 2020 at 8:33pm PDT
In addition to the new photo, readers of local newspapers in the UK have been treated to AC/DC ads featuring the question "Are you ready?" above the PWR UP logo – the same one that appeared on a poster outside Angus' old high school, Ashfield Boys, in Sydney, Australia.
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Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
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