AC/DC‘s official web site has launched a countdown clock that is scheduled to hit zero on Monday, February 12 at 3:00 a.m. EST / 12:00 a.m. PST. While there are no hints whatsoever on what fans can expect when the countdown ends, it is widely believed that it will coincide with an announcement of the initial details of the group’s first tour dates in eight years. Alongside the countdown timer, there’s a form where fans can sign up to AC/DC‘s mailing list for more information.

This past Monday, AC/DC‘s official social media channels were updated with a mysterious trailer showing the lightning bolt from the band’s iconic logo flickering before the words “ARE YOU READY” appear on the screen, soundtracked the music of the 1990 AC/DC song of the same name which appeared on the legendary rockers’ 1990 album “The Razors Edge”.

AC/DC‘s first show in seven years took place on October 7, 2023 at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California.

The band ran through a 24-song set to close out day two of the three-day event at Empire Polo Club.

AC/DC‘s performance marked the first time the band opened its set with “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”. The concert also included live debuts for two tracks from 2020’s “Power Up” album, “Demon Fire” and “Shot In The Dark”.

AC/DC recruited drummer Matt Laug to perform with the band at Power Trip.

The 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 L.A., 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 about Laug‘s addition to the band’s Power Trip lineup, AC/DC offered no 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 ousted 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 threatening to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band’s “Rock Or Bust” tour by Chris Slade, who had 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 led indirectly to Rudd‘s arrest, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

AC/DC postponed the last 10 dates of its spring 2016 North American trek after singer Brian Johnson was advised to stop playing live or “risk total hearing loss.” The band went on 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, ever 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, the now-76-year-old Johnson worked with audio expert Stephen Ambrose, who said he could help resolve the singer’s hearing problems.

Ambrose, who invented the wireless in-ear monitors that are widely used by touring artists today, claimed to have invented a new type of ear-bud that would allow Johnson to perform without causing further damage to his eardrums. After three years of experimenting and “miniaturizing” the equipment, Johnson previously said the technology could allow him to tour again.

According to rock and roll comedian Dean Delray, a huge AC/DC fan who has covered the legendary rock act’s songs with a tribute band and who has interviewed members of AC/DC in the past, bassist Cliff Williams will not tour with AC/DC this year.

Cliff announced his retirement at the end of AC/DC‘s 2015-2016 “Rock Or Bust” tour, which also saw Johnson leaving because of hearing problems. However, Williams — and Johnson — took part in the recording sessions that resulted in “Power Up”. Both of them were also part of the AC/DC lineup that performed at Power Trip.