AC/DC Shake London’s Wembley Stadium All Night Long

by | Jul 8, 2024

Australian rock legends AC/DC return to London for the first of two sold-out gigs as the PWR/UP tour hits the capital’s Wembley Stadium. The band’s line-up has had many changes over the years, with this tour seeing the welcome return of County Durham-hailing Brian Johnson on vocals, who has recovered from the hearing problems that saw him replaced by Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose on their last tour. The iconic and only remaining founding member Angus Young is on guitar, with Stevie Young – nephew of Angus and AC/DC’s late rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar duties, Chris Chaney taking up bass and Matt Laug on drums making up the rest of the band.

AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium

Angus Young of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)
Angus Young of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

After an incredible fifty-year career, the AC/DC brand is as strong as ever. Literally everyone is wearing some form of band attire, and the queues for tour merch – including flashing horns at £20 a pop – on Wembley Way are around the length of the football pitch inside the stadium.

Huge cheers greet the band as they arrive on stage. Brian Johnson in his traditional flat cap, and Angus Young in his trademark schoolboy style outfit and the quickly launch into If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It). Johnson rarely interacts with the crowd in between songs, perhaps choosing to rest as much as possible these days, but says “let’s pick up where we left off, have some fun, and play some rock ‘n’ roll” before the familiar riff of Back In Black kicks in.

This is mainly a Greatest Hits set, with Demon Fire and Shot In The Dark the only tracks from 2020’s Power Up that get an airing. They fit in well, but it’s the classics that everyone is here for, and this incredible setlist is certainly crowd pleasing. Loud chants of “Thunder!” can only mean one thing as the epic intro to electrifying classic Thunderstruck wobbles the famous Wembley Arch.

AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium

Brian Johnson of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)
Brian Johnson of AC/DC @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

The stage production feels a little toned down compared to previous tours, but the lowering of a giant AC/DC branded bell proceeds Hells Bells. The pace of the show doesn’t really change. These are just timeless rock anthems that have inspired countless bands and given many of us sore necks as we can’t help but headbang along whenever we hear them, whether that be in a dirty, dingy rock bar or live in person in the glorious surroundings of Wembley Stadium. Shoot To Thrill, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and You Shook Me All Night Long are a joy to hear live.

The loudest reaction is reserved for Highway To Hell, as the delirious 70,000 in attendance bellow out the chorus at the top of their lungs as flames engulf the stage. A near twenty minute version of Let There Be Rock, with the energetic as-ever Angus Young giving the rest of the band a breather as he performs solo after solo brings the main set to a close. They return for an encore of T.N.T. and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) before an impressive firework display signals the end of this explosive night.

AC/DC prove that age is just a number, delivering a thrilling performance befitting of their status as one the greatest bands of all time.

Review of AC/DC at Wembley Stadium on 3rd July 2024 by Will Maxwell. Photography by Kalpesh Patel.

Nothing But Thieves Bring The Rock ‘N’ Roll To A Pop-Heavy Glastonbury 2024

Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory @ O2 Academy Birmingham (Nick Allan)

New Found Glory Never Miss, Only Hit At O2 Academy Birmingham

There’s something about a New Found Glory show that feels like coming home. No matter how many years have passed or how much life has changed, when those opening chords hit, you’re right back where it all started — shouting lyrics with your friends, sweaty, smiling, and completely lost in the moment.

Remember Monday @ Latitude Festival 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Remember Monday Return With New Single ‘More Than Ever’ Ahead Of Headline UK Tour

Country-pop trio Remember Monday continue their breakout year with the release of their new single More Than Ever, co-written with GRAMMY® winner and chart-topping artist Cian Ducrot. The track arrives just as the band kick off their highly anticipated What The Hell Just Happened? UK and Ireland headline tour, which culminates at London’s iconic O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Davina Michelle (Press)

Davina Michelle Launches Empowering New Era With ‘What A Woman’

Dutch pop sensation Davina Michelle has released her brand-new single What A Woman, an empowering anthem that celebrates the strength, intelligence, and individuality of women everywhere. The track arrives alongside a striking new music video, introducing a bold new chapter for one of the Netherlands’ most successful modern pop artists.

Ash @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Share Video for ‘Ad Astra’ Featuring Graham Coxon

Northern Irish alt-rock stalwarts Ash have shared the video for their latest single Ad Astra, featuring Blur’s Graham Coxon, taken from their brand-new album of the same name — out now on Fierce Panda Records.

Karin Ann (Press)

Karin Ann Teams Up With Suki Waterhouse For Heart-Stirring New Single ‘i was never yours’

Slovak singer-songwriter Karin Ann has unveiled her stunning new single, i was never yours, marking an evolution in sound and storytelling for the rapidly rising artist. The track — co-written with Suki Waterhouse and Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers) and produced by Benjamin Lazar Davis (Maya Hawke) — finds Karin blending folk, country, and indie rock into a sound that feels both intimate and cinematic.

Amy Macdonald (Olivia Rose)

Amy Macdonald Shares Empowering New Single ‘I’m Done (Games That You Play)’

Amy Macdonald continues her remarkable run as one of the UK’s most enduring singer-songwriters with the release of her...
Blair Davie (Press)

Blair Davie Unveil Deeply Personal New EP ‘First And Last’

Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie has released their highly anticipated new EP, First And Last, via Giant Music —...
Joyce Manor (Dan Monick)

Joyce Manor Announce New Album ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ Alongside Lead Single ‘Well, Whatever It Was’

California punk favourites Joyce Manor have announced details of their upcoming album I Used To Go To This Bar, due for release on 30th January 2026 via Epitaph Records. The band have also shared the lead single Well, Whatever It Was, accompanied by a chaotic and comedic Lance Bangs–directed music video that riffs on The Great British Bake Off, featuring cameos from comedians and musicians playing UK rock icons.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing