Legendary rockets AC/DC will celebrate their return to the stage by launching the AC/DC High Voltage Dive Bar in Indio, California, 10 minutes from the Power Trip festival.
The bar is located at 82971 Bliss Ave and is open daily, October 5 through October 8, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It’s the ultimate way to connect and plug with fellow AC/DC fans over the weekend and check out iconic AC/DC props and exclusive merchandise.
As previously reported, AC/DC has recruited drummer Matt Laug to perform with the band at the Power Trip festival on Saturday, October 7.
AC/DC is one of the headliners on a bill of veteran rockers who will take the stage in Indio, California October 6-8. This is the band’s first gig in Australia since 2016.
55-year-old Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alanis Morissette, Alice Cooper, SLASH’S SNAKEPIT and Vasco Rossi. Matt moved to Los Angeles after graduating from South Florence High School in 1986 and after attending college in LA, Matt became a sought-after studio drummer.
In 2001, Laug supported AC/DC as part of SLASH’S SNAKEPIT on the North American and European legs of the “Stiff Upper Lip” tour.
In its announcement, AC/DC did not provide an explanation for the absence of the band’s longtime drummer Phil Rudd, who rejoined AC/DC for the recording of the group’s comeback album, “Power Up “, which came out in November 2020.
Rudd was fired from AC/DC when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of making threats to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band’s “Rock Or Bust” tour by Chris Slade, who previously served as AC/DC’s drummer between 1989 and 1994, playing on the album “The Razor’s Edge”.
Rudd, who appeared on all but three of AC/DC’s 18 previous studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, “Head Job”. It was the release of that album that indirectly led to Rudd’s arrest, with the drummer allegedly getting so angry with a personal assistant over the way the record was being promoted that he threatened to kill the man and his daughter
During an appearance on a November 2020 episode of Dean Delray’s “Let There Be Talk” podcast, Rudd confirmed that the seed for his return to AC/DC was planted at the funeral of AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017. Rudd, singer Brian Johnson and bassist Cliff Williams all attended the ceremony. At the time, all three musicians were considered former members of AC/DC, with Johnson and Williams both leaving in 2016 for health reasons, while Rudd was sidelined in 2015 with various legal issues. issues.
“Angus and I had a good chat at Mal’s funeral and caught up,” Rudd recalls. “(After I played the ‘Rock Or Bust’ record) some crazy things happened, but since then, I got my shit together and put a little band together, I went to Europe and played a little bit. and stuff and did (a solo) album. The guys knew I was still playing, so when I caught up with Angus at the funeral, we had a bit of a chat and somehow, a bit (he asked me) if I was there. for (making a new AC/DC) album. And he started writing the next day. He went into the studio and started writing right away.”
Angus told Rolling Stone that Malcolm’s funeral helped heal old wounds.
“(Phil) was there and in good shape,” said the guitarist. “He’s holding himself together really well. He’s getting therapy and getting himself together. It’s doing really well.”
Johnson added that he and the rest of AC/DC welcome Rudd with open arms. “I speak for all the guys Phil was with,” he said. “We defended Phil to the hilt. What happened there, that’s not the Phil we know. That’s one thing.
AC/DC postponed the final 10 dates of its spring 2016 North American trek after Johnson was advised to stop playing live or “risk total hearing loss.” The band continues to complete the European and North American legs of its “Rock Or Bust” tour with GUNS N’ ROSES frontman Axl Rose as a “guest vocalist.” At the time, Johnson had been AC/DC’s singer for 36 years, since replacing the late Bon Scott in 1980 and making his debut on the classic “Back In Black” album.
To enable him to perform live with AC/DC again, Johnson worked with audio expert Stephen Ambrose, who said he could help solve the singer’s hearing problems.
Ambrose, who invented the wireless in-ear monitors widely used by touring artists today, claims to have invented a new type of ear-bud that will allow Johnson to perform without damaging his eardrums. After three years of experimenting and “miniaturizing” the equipment, Johnson previously said the technology would allow him to tour again.
