Not long ago, rumours started to swirl around the internet of an imminent return of the legendary rock band AC/DC, inducing both delight and trepidation from the fanbase. After months of speculation, the full story of AC/DC’s possible return has yet to be revealed. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the likelihood of a comeback and the efforts being taken by various stakeholders to make it happen.
The decision of whether or not AC/DC will resume their status as one of the world’s most celebrated rock bands is rife with difficulties. The iconic band has not performed or released any new material since 2014, meaning the possibility of new AC/DC music is uncertain. The band is especially notable for its unique, signature sound, making it tough to create something both true to the band’s style and creative enough to captivate audiences.
What’s worse is the fact that two of the band’s founders, Malcolm and Angus Young, passed away in 2020 and 2017 respectively. For many fans, no AC/DC can exist without these two figures at its core.
This has been mirrored by AC/DC’s guitarist, Stevie Young’s, words: “Put it this way, the DC has been a big part of my life and still is. But there is no AC/DC without Malcolm and Angus.” In spite of the traditionalist, conservative approach the band has taken, amicably encapsulated by Stevie Young’s words, a remarkable outpouring of demand from legions of fans makes an AC/DC comeback hard to ignore.
Accounting for this demand, some stakeholders have already taken steps to initiate AC/DC’s return. For example, the band’s former bassist extraordinaire, Simon Wright, whose own musical expertise played a great part in AC/DC’s success, has expressed his interest in potentially reprising his role to help bring the band back to the spotlight.
All the same, the greatest source of optimism for any thriving comeback comes from the involvement of Cliff Williams, Stevie Young and Brian Johnson. Both Cliff Williams and Stevie Young have expressed in interviews their interest in avidly contributing to a new tour. Meanwhile, Brian Johnson has released a statement in which he admitted to writing new AC/DC songs in collaboration with Angus’s nephew, Stevie Young.
Dustin Schoenhofer, drummer of AC/DC tribute band Back In Black, believes a legendary band’s return is not an impossibility: “I think that the fans need to understand that AC/DC is on the premises of making a major comeback in due time. A few years or so maybe, but it’s coming.” He echoes this sentiment: “Someday, soon, we’ll be screaming along to AC/DC songs, again. Whether or not it will be headlined by Angus is yet to be seen, but I for one wouldn’t put it past them. Adversity has never deterred the band before”.
The Creative Process
In creating a possible comeback, a challenging yet integral part of AC/DC’s potential reemergence must be addressed: the creation of new music. Angus and co. have always been carefully managed with their musical output, ensuring that any new music released by the band is derived from the same creative sources they’ve been relying on since their formation in 1973.
In order to revitalise AC/DC’s sound in a new album, the band would need to make the most of the individual and collective talents of its members, whilst still staying in tune with what has always been the band’s sonic philosophy: the classic blend of hard rock riffs and vocal hooks. From Brian Johnson’s exceptional singing to Angus and Stevie Young’s unmistakable guitar proficiency, there is certainly enough musical prowess required to lend itself to a successful and innovative rebirth.
An exciting development in this respect has been Brian Johnson’s own words: “Angus came to me with a handful of songs and ideas – which are great. I’ve been working with Angus on it. We’ve written some new stuff together. That’s been happening during the pandemic”. While these words don’t come directly from the band, they still paint a picture of AC/DC’s necessary, behind-the-scenes efforts in creating a full-length album.
Nevertheless, with respect to whether or not AC/DC will successfully conquer the music scene once again, some industry professionals remain unconvinced. Music journalist Nick Valinote notes: “AC/DC’s sonic imprint on history cannot and should not be overlooked, their impact in popular culture still undeniably resounds today. But it’s hard to believe they have much to prove, having already attained the collective ego highs of crowd-pleasing global sensation. With the original lineup more or less gone, youthful brilliance seems impossible and against the spirit of the band”.
Hopes and Expectations
In spite of this, many still hold out hope for the band’s future prospects. Matt Menon, an AC/DC promoter, recently shared the following insights: “I’m expecting a great deal from the band – [they] wouldn’t be making a comeback if they weren’t ready to come back in a big way. As someone who has worked on the tour scene for years, I am confident that AC/DC is preparing something special.”
These expectations aren’t unfounded. It hasn’t only been promoters like Matt Menon expressing enthusiasm for the band: booking agents, managers, and promoterss have all followed suit. As music industry veteran Paul Edwards shared, “There’s no shortage of people interested in working with AC/DC, regardless of their lineup. Everyone wants to see the band back in action, and they’re all willing to make it happen.”
In expanding on this sentiment, Matt Menon remarks: “I’ve been in talks with several of their previous collaborators who’ve expressed true excitement at the possibility of a comeback from the band… and they’ve all been very communicative about what their goals and plans would be for the band, should they make it through the door.”
The Revival or Retirement?
Considering this varied and wide array of differing yet intersecting perspectives, a clear answer has yet to emerge as to the veracity of AC/DC’s potential return. As popular music minister Mary Lou Williams has suggested, it is a waiting game: “It’s hard to tell until the band officially states their intentions. We can only know for sure once they make a formal announcement and give the public the chance to draw its own conclusions”.
At the same time, the sheer volume of both support and doubt for the band’s possible return suggests that the decision is far from unanimous. As a result, the upcoming months could prove critical in determining whether AC/DC will once again rise to become one of the all-time greats, or whether they will ultimately put an end to their celebrated career.
The Aftermath
Although the outcomes of AC/DC’s potential return remain uncertain, one fact stands true: the economics of music would be forever changed in the aftermath. Should the band’s return be a success, we can expect to see a spike in expenditure on AC/DC related materials, merchandise, gigs, and albums. At the same time, a successful return could have an exponential effect on the industry as a whole, allowing a new wave of inspiration to take the global mainstream by storm.
In the alternative case, a failed AC/DC comeback would send shockwaves reverberating different musical circles. A recent FABCO study indicates that AC/DC sustained and reinvigorated multiple generations’ interest in rock music, with some bands even styling themselves after AC/DC’s music. Consequently, a failure for AC/DC resurfacing would not just send ripples through the industry but could potentially increase insecurity within the music scene and wider society.
Conclusion?
This article has provided an extensive overview of the likelihood of AC/DC’s potential return and demonstrated how a successful or failed attempt has far-reaching consequences
