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AC/DC confirm comeback with veteran members Angus Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd

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Simon CollinsThe West Australian
Angus Young.
Camera IconAngus Young. Credit: Ben Crabtree/WA News

Are AC/DC powering up for a new album?

After teasing fans earlier this week by replacing their Twitter icon with a red neon lightning bolt, the Thunderstruck rock icons today posted a picture of their reunited line-up.

“Are you ready? #PWRUP”, the band posted alongside a photo of founding guitar legend Angus Young and returning singer Brian Johnson with his fist raised flanked by guitarist Stevie Young, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd.

Since AC/DC released most recent album Rock or Bust in 2014, the storied Oz rockers have lost founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who died with dementia three years ago.

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His role has been taken by his nephew Stevie.

AC/DC have unveiled their new line-up.
Camera IconAC/DC have unveiled their new line-up.

The son of the oldest Young brother Stephen, he filled in for Malcolm on Acca Dacca’s 1988 US tour and rejoined the band in 2014.

Before today’s social media buzz, a reunion seemed off the cards.

In 2015, drummer Rudd pleaded guilty in New Zealand to drug possession and threatening to kill, which preventing him from joining the band’s 2016 Rock or Bust Tour.

Johnson was also missing from those shows due to hearing problems.

The 72-year-old singer was replaced by Guns N Roses vocalist Axl Rose, whose tenure with AC/DC has seemingly ended with today’s announcement.

Williams retired from the hugely popular group at the Rock or Bust Tour but now rejoins a line-up that boasts nearly 150 years of rocking and rolling between the five members.

Still tearing out riffs and duck-walking at 65, Angus is the only original member of the current band, which is one of the most successful rock acts of all-time with sales of more than 200 million records.

Angus Young & Brian Johnson belt out the rock tunes.
Camera IconAngus Young & Brian Johnson belt out the rock tunes. Credit: Sharon Smith/The West Australian

While AC/DC are yet to confirm details of their 17th studio album, there are rumours that previously unreleased recordings of Malcolm playing guitar will be incorporated into the new long-player.

The announcement comes 40 years after the release of the band’s most successful album Back in Black, which was unveiled only months after the death of Perth-raised frontman Bon Scott.

Seven months ago, his life and legacy was celebrated during Perth Festival finale Highway to Hell, which saw bands perform on flatbed trucks along a 10km stretch of Canning Highway.

An enormous crowd of around 140,000 people turned out for the massive AC/DC-themed street party on March 1.

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