AC/DC played their first show in seven years on Saturday night (October 7th) at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California. The evening also featured a set by fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Judas Priest.
For this Power Trip gig, AC/DC’s lineup featured classic members Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), and Cliff Williams (bass) alongside Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) and drummer Matt Laug.
Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden set the bar high at Power Trip the night before, but AC/DC were up to the challenge, showing no signs of rust as they ripped into “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” marking the first time they’ve ever kicked off a set with the Highway to Hell song.
From there, the 24-song set featured one classic after another, with the very next tune being the iconic “Back in Black,” followed by other favorites like “Thunderstruck,” “Hells Bells,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and “Highway to Hell.”
With the show being AC/DC’s first gig since the release of their 2020 album, Power Up, the band gave that LP’s “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark” their live debuts. And for the encore, they went back to a couple of classics: “T.N.T.” and the set-closing “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”
AC/DC last performed in September 2016, with Axl Rose filling in for Johnson, who was experiencing hearing issues at the time. Last night’s show with Johnson marked his first gig with the band since February 2016.
Judas Priest had an equally daunting challenge, filling in for the originally scheduled Ozzy Osbourne, who had to drop out of the gig due to his ongoing health issues. Rob Halford and company did not disappoint, delivering an electrifying 18-song performance.
At the beginning of their set, Judas Priest surprised the audience by announcing their long-awaited new album. The band’s 19th studio LP, titled Invisible Shield, will arrive March 8th.
Kicking things off with “Electric Eye,” Judas Priest offered up such classics as “The Sentinel,” “Turbo Lover,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” and “Painkiller” during their main set.
After starting their encore with “Hell Bent for Leather,” Priest welcomed classic guitarist Glenn Tipton to the stage for the final three numbers: “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law,” and “Living After Midnight.” Tipton only plays with the band occasionally as he is battling Parkinson’s disease, so his appearance at Power Trip was a real treat for fans.
Power Trip concludes on Sunday (October 8th) with sets from Metallica and Tool.
See our photographer Alex Kluft’s photos of AC/DC and Judas Priest below, followed by fan-filmed video footage and each of the band’s setlists.
Photo Gallery – AC/DC and Judas Priest at Power Trip (click to expand and scroll through):
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip crowd, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip crowd, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip crowd, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip crowd, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip Grounds, photo by Alex Kluft
Power Trip Grounds, photo by Alex Kluft
AC/DC Setlist:
If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire (Live debut)
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark (Live debut)
Stiff Upper Lip (first time since 2003)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Givin the Dog a Bone
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
You Shook Me All Night Long
Dog Eat Dog (first time with Brian since 2009)
High Voltage
Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be
Riff Raff (first time with Brian Johnson since 1996)
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock (with Angus Young guitar solo)
Encore:
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Judas Priest Setlist:
Electric Eye
Riding on the Wind
Heading Out to the Highway
Lightning Strike
Diamonds & Rust (Joan Baez cover)
The Sentinel
A Touch of Evil
Turbo Lover
Firepower
Desert Plains
Rapid Fire
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover)
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Painkiller
Encore:
Hell Bent for Leather
Metal Gods (with Glenn Tipton)
Breaking the Law (with Glenn Tipton)
Living After Midnight (with Glenn Tipton)
