Brian Johnson and Angus Young, from left, of AC/DC perform at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band's Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

PITTSBURGH – Hard rock fans from near and far migrated to Pittsburgh on Thursday night for a healthy jolt of high voltage rock ‘n’ roll when AC/DC made its long-awaited return to the Steel City.

The North American leg of the iconic band’s Power Up World Tour made a stop in Pittsburgh May 8 in the city’s biggest venue – Acrisure Stadium. It was the band’s first visit to town in 16 years, having last performed in Pittsburgh back in 2009 at Mellon Arena – a venue which was demolished 14 years ago.

Their fame certainly has not waned in recent decades. In fact, love for music made by old-school hit-making rockers like AC/DC has only seemed to grow exponentially over the years – drawing new generations of fans and warranting the jump from 17,000-seat arenas to stadiums with a capacity of over 65,000.

Acrisure Stadium was brimming with excited folks of all ages, as slightly cool but otherwise picture perfect May weather greeted the crowd for a blockbuster of a show for Thursday night. Fans from Mississippi to Buffalo, N.Y., from Belmont County, Ohio to South Carolina and places in between marched eagerly into the venue ready to rock out. It seemed like maybe a fourth of the audience was wearing flashing red devil horns – a spectacle unique to AC/DC concerts and one that only enhanced the already electrifying atmosphere.

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Following a commendable opening set by the band The Pretty Reckless, AC/DC took the stage with the 1978 classic “If You Want Blood, You Got It.” Of course, singer Brian Johnson was dawning his customary newsboy cap and sleeveless shirt, and guitarist Angus Young was sporting his trademark schoolboy uniform with an “A” emblazoned on his hat.

Angus wore a navy blue outfit, but his hat was black with gold pinstripes. His tie also had black and gold stripes, and if anyone looked really closely, they would have noticed a subtle row of “Ps” in a familiar font – a necktie that is actually available as official MLB merch … and an obvious shout-out to the hometown Pittsburgh Pirates.

Huge video screens behind the band and on the side of the stage gave everyone in the stadium a good view of the action as the band tore through fan favorites like “Back in Black,” “Shot Down in Flames,” “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “Hell’s Bells,” “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Sin City.” The vintage hits were peppered with newer tunes that fit right into the mix, including “Demon Fire,” “Shot in the Dark” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train.”

Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

The band even busted out some deeper tracks and blew the dust off true gems like “Stiff Upper Lip” and “Riff Raff.”

In many ways, AC/DC’s Power Up Tour marks a triumphant return of a beloved band that has been widely revered as one of the greatest in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. The last time the band toured was in 2016, when Johnson had to step away from the group because of serious hearing loss issues. Axl Rose from Guns ‘N Roses was recruited to finish out tour dates in North America and Europe during that run, and at the time, it was unclear if Johnson would be able to perform again or if AC/DC would even continue.

But after three years of experimental high-tech treatments with hearing experts, Johnson found himself back together with the band – alongside not only Angus Young but also longtime members Phil Rudd on drums and Cliff Williams on bass – working on AC/DC’s “Power Up” album. If you’ve not given this 2020 release a listen, it’s absolutely worth it. While it may not be laced with hits like the old classic albums, “Power Up” is a solid collection of new material that highlights AC/DC’s consistency to deliver straight-forward, blues-driven hard rock with biting guitar riffs and growling vocals that sound great as ever.

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

With Johnson’s throat-ripping vocal style, his ability to sing 20-plus songs night after night live on stage has never really matched the consistently even vocal plateau that’s captured on AC/DC’s studio cuts – which is understandable. But backed by a band that on Thursday night was sounding as tight as ever, Johnson – at 77 years of age – roared through the set with energy and enthusiasm, delivering his best vocal effort quite admirably.

If singing his own catalog of gravely tunes isn’t challenging enough, Johnson is also tasked with singing an array of AC/DC favorites from the era of his predecessor – late singer Bon Scott … and the set was laced with plenty of those nuggets, from “Highway to Hell” to “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Whole Lotta Rosie” “High Voltage” and “T.N.T.,” among many others.

Although Rudd and Williams participated in recording the band’s latest release, they are not participating in the Power Up Tour. But their stunt doubles on stage are no slouches. The band recruited bassist Chris Cheney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette) and drummer Matt Laug (Morissette, Alice Cooper, Slash’s Snake Pit and Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs) to hold things down – and they do so on a pro level.

Keeping it in the family, Stevie Young – nephew of AC/DC founders Angus and Malcolm Young – has been an official member of the band since 2014. Stevie Young is the son of Angus and Malcolm’s oldest brother and is 68 – just two years younger than uncle Angus. Stevie took the rhythm guitar and backing vocal slot after Malcolm retired from band activities in the wake of suffering from dementia. Malcolm died from his illness in 2017.

Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

During every AC/DC show, the rhythm guitarist and bassist stand basically in place close to the drum riser while Johnson and Angus Young work the huge stage and engage the audience. Despite letting his hair go gray-white, the 70-year-old Angus showed no signs of aging with his guitar playing or his boundless energy. He remained the center of attention throughout the show.

Relentlessly skipping across the stage and up and down the long catwalk in his own signature stiff-legged duck walk, the diminutive guitar hero gestured and grimaced with genuine effort behind every biting note from his Gibson SG. He reportedly stands a mere 5-feet, 2-inches tall, but his stage presence is that of a titan. With unbridled pep in his step, pure magic in his fingers and steel in his eyes, he spewed unwavering confidence and was in full command of everyone’s attention in the entire stadium for the duration of the 21-song show.

The big highlight of the night for Angus came before the encore at the end of the main set with an extended version of “Let There Be Rock.” Toward the conclusion of the song, he delivered an epic guitar solo – raising his hand to his ear several times whenever he wanted to hear affirmation from the crowd.

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

As the guitar solo raged on, all video screens turned to images of Marshall amplifiers stacked to the sky. Angus took to the end of the catwalk that extended far into the crowd, and a circular platform raised him up high into the air before he collapsed onto his back – kicking, spinning and convulsing while ripping a barrage of Angus-flavored guitar licks. Confetti cannons exploded during this spectacle, and the wind off of the Ohio River hit the massive clouds of thin paper confetti just right, sending tiny colored pieces of little “AC/DC” marked souvenirs to what seemed like every seat in the house.

As usual, the night ended with the encore staple “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” complete with very loud blasts from a row of cannons that lined the stage, followed by fireworks over the stadium.

Could Thursday night’s show have been the last ever Pittsburgh stop for AC/DC? Let’s hope not. Regardless of whether or not the legendary band will make yet another return in the future, those in attendance for the Power Up Tour got what they came for and more, left with big smiles on their faces and were treated to a memory they won’t soon forget.

Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless performs on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, opening the show for AC/DC during the Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a stop on the band’s Power Up North American Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Legions of AC/DC fans gather inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the band’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh during the North American leg of its Power Up Tour. (Photo by Eric Ayres)