While a cyclone was unfolding in northern territories around Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney got some severe thunder cells and rainfall. The afternoon of the second Melbourne show started sunny but the rain gods graciously ensured our cups never ran dry during the Cassanovas and Amyl and The Sniffers warmup. Nothing serious though, rain even enhances the visual show.
"This Rock 'n Roll was made in Australia, it was born in Van Diemen's land."
From the second Paris show in 2025 we learned that humidity adds to the magic of an AC/DC performance. Not any different today: Brian's voice jubilates and cuts through the humidity, snarling and roaring with greater power as he pays tribute to Melbourne. Also Angus and his guitar are water repellent: thunder, rain, whatever—he and his guitar keep tearing it up. The guitar even sounds hotter. Wearing his purple outfit with an extra layer ('a marcelleke') beneath his white shirt, Angus was dressed a little warmer for the occasion, just like opening act Amy, though that might have had different reasons.
Perhaps the humidity also played a part in an onstage moment that had the rest of the band chuckling. Angus’ pants, long accustomed to dropping near the end of “The Jack” on past tours, were clearly in for a mischievous salute to the glory days. The pants needed attention after Dirty Deeds with the tie solo, and starting into Jailbreak.
Nearly Caught With Your Pants Down
Was the elastic stretched by the humidity, or had the garment simply reached the end of its usable life? No worries mate, Angus elegantly kept it up with the help of his tie, and his roadie tying it a little tighter after each song.
The rain adding to the already spectacular light show
This was a fabulous show, with perfectly clean and balanced sound. No distracting flaws, just pure rock 'n roll. Yet again, Loud with the big L. Both Melbourne shows were terrific and qualify for a live album! As soon as the rain dried up, we were surrounded by the smell of green Aussie herbs. Was it eucalyptus from the Koala's on the shirts in the merchandise booths, or ...?
Pretty cool Koalangus shirt - bummer, only kids size!
After the rain-soaked Paris 2 debacle, I wisely left my camera dry at the hotel, resulting in fewer photos. Spurki and Bert kindly provided some of the pictures for this article, thank you!
'A rat runs down the alley and a chill runs down your spine And someone walks across your grave, and you wish the sun would shine' - Night Prowler
First time Down Under for me and my friend & travel buddy Bert. Other obvious nicknames for Australia could have been Batuu (furthest possible frontier on the Star Wars Galactic Map) or Far(t) Out. My respect for Australians and Australian bands traveling to Europe only grew bigger. Going to Australia is an enduring pilgrimage that makes the Compostella walks look like a walk in the park. Long after James and Thomas Cook, it's the same road that AC/DC's ancestors chose to find luck and fortune in these far away territories. We packed for summer. We got 4 seasons in a day.
Going to Australia appeared quintessential in deepening our understanding of the band's music. AC/DC’s legacy is firmly rooted in Australia’s culture and music scene, echoing through the confidential bars and basement venues of vibrant Melbourne and metropolitan Sydney. Bon Scott's lyrics find meaning on every corner of the street. We really felt Melbourne's strong musical vibe and can only imagine what it would have been like in the seventies. Bars play solid seventies rock music, driven by powerful bass guitar upfront. Many venues (and even so the birth house of Angus & Malcolm) no longer exist or have been relocated or repurposed. Those who keep the spirit alive, like the Cherry Bar play solid seventies rock music, driven by powerful bass guitar upfront. Bands like The Angels and Rose Tattoo, unmistakeably wear the recognizable
signatures of Australian sound saltimbanks, the Sultans of Swing, Harry
Vanda & George Young. Never far away, the raw, energetic and unpretentious atmosphere of Albert’s Studios in Sydney, where musicians worked close together in tight rooms filled with buzzing amps, ringing guitars, and a sense of creative urgency.
AC/DC Lane, a memorial walk around the original location of the Cherry bar, is a fun labyrinth of alleys in constant movement, with new mural artwork popping up every now and then. A lot of them are AC/DC related, paying tribute to the late Bon Scott and Malcolm Young. When we first visited, the city was preparing a surprise, with AC/DC neon lettering about to be installed.
Though many in the city see AC/DC as a sweet memory from the past—all of them has an AC/DC story to tell—once the band is
back in town, nostalgia disappears. Everyone lives in the moment and
parties hard. Perfect timing for a good refresher and putting the roll back in the rock. Best story was a massive bagpipe player gathering beating a new world record, with 374 bagpipes belting out AC/DC classic It's A Long Way To The Top on Federation Square right before Melbourne show 1. Watch footage of that amazing pre show event here.
Les Kenfield and Kevin Conlon, two members of Rats of
Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums who played with AC/DC on the flatbed truck in 1976
In a way, promotor TEG Van Egmont made a smart choice in selecting an all Aussie lineup for the Australian shows. The Casanovas, a long-established band, stepped out of their comfort zone to deliver a strong support set. And, Amyl and the Sniffers—who
have been gaining a major following in Europe but are perhaps less well
known at home—had the chance to introduce themselves to a much larger
Australian audience. More on Amy and the gang later.
The Cassonovas Amyl and The Sniffers
In August, the production for AC/DC’s Australian tour was shipped
from the UK in 26 sea containers, with the 2 stages each worth 300 tons of steel shipped in 48 sea
containers. Taking the production from city to city
in Australia, the band have 26 trucks sending the main production across
the country and 42 trucks – 21 for each stage system – also on the way.
One of the 68 trucks - delivering.
Spot of the first 2 Australian nights was "The G" - the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, the eleventh largest stadium globally. This round place was built in 1853, is massive and about to be rocked. And sure it rocked (right photo credit: Christie Goodwin).
The Seismology Research Centre said the concert registered in
the 2-5 hertz range at their office in Richmond, about three-and-a-half
kilometres from the concert, enough for people to feel the
ground shake. 2 nights earlier, unidentified noise was heard as far as 7 kilometers away when the band was only performing a "sound check". Not a surprise, 500 kW of power are consumed during one AC/DC stadium show. The
band requires over 4 kilometers of cable
for power, lighting, and audio, as well as 155 crew members – including
local personnel. This goes without Angus, who could provide on his own even more energy than all solar panels, wind and water mills and Australian nuclear plants (if they had one).
Biggest suprise of the night was Jailbreak, entering the setlist, a great choice and a banger, belted out by the entire stadium:
"Get Ready - huh hah!"
Brian paid tribute to Australia and Melbourne, "where it all began", followed by a quick almost unhearable and behind-the-fist "and Scottland". This was yet another memorable show - it felt extra special from many angles, some of which are difficult to explain, but God sure said "Let There Be ROCK". A 21 gun salute in loving memory of someone very close to my heart and who left this world at the end of Jailbreak on this very 12 November 2025. FIRE!!!
Nearly Caught With Your Pants Down
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