Today AC / DC releases their 17th album «Power Up». This will be the first time since 2014 that the legendary band releases new music. The band now has an average age of 67 years.
In an exclusive interview with Brian Johnson on Zoom, the 73-year-old tells TV 2 about how the band found each other again.
– Four years ago, no one thought that this could happen, but never say never, we never lie down and die. Hopefully this album gives something to enjoy and something that makes us forget the virus for a while, says Brian Johnson to TV 2.
Watch video of the interview at the top of the case.
Troubled reunion
AC / DC have had a long troubled road and go since the previous album «Rock or Bust» in 2014. Drummer Phil Rudd (66) was arrested in 2014 for drug possession and death threats, bassist Cliff Williams (70) quit, Malcolm Young (64) died and was replaced by his nephew, Stevie Young, and Brian Johnson had to retire because he was in danger of losing his hearing. The only one left alone was Angus Young (65).
– We were together at Malcolm’s funeral and it was very emotional. A few months after this, the record company Angus asked if he had songs for a new record. Angus had many songs like Malcolm and he had in stock. Later he contacted us one by one, and everyone wanted to join. We went to Vancouver and recorded the record, says the rock star.
«Duck walk»
Now the gang is reunited, and all AC / DC fans are ecstatic and looking forward to the reunion. In the music video for the first song they released, “Shot in the dark”, Angus Young is back in school uniform with shorts, where he performs his characteristic “duck walk”.
– You never settle down, how do you get motivation to continue?
– It is difficult to understand. In the band we are just ourselves and we have our feet firmly planted on the ground. We stay away from awards and such nonsense, Brian answers.
Billions of streams
AC / DC is one of the most influential rock bands in history with over 200 million albums sold worldwide, of which 71.5 million in the United States alone. Back in Black from 1980 stands out as the best-selling album by a band ever and the third best-selling album by an artist.
They continue to sell out stadiums on several continents, selling millions of albums annually and generating billions of streams.
– VALLE HOVIN: AC / DC has visited Norway 10 times. Here they are during their last concert at Valle Hovin, July, 2015. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / Scanpix
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Friends of Norway
The band has visited Norway ten times. The first time was in Drammenhallen in 1980 and the last time at Valle Hovin in 2015. They hope and wish with all their heart to come back when everything is fine again.
– We miss playing in Norway and Oslo and we always come by you on world tours. I remember how the fans in Norway showed up in all kinds of weather. We wondered how every day we would get from the hotel to the concert stage, it was completely wild with all the snow, Brian Johnson concludes to TV 2.
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