AC/DC embark on a European tour with a new rhythm section

AC/DC are set to tour for the first time in eight years. The hard rockers announced a series of European stadium shows earlier this week, which will start on May 17 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and finish in August 17 in Dublin, Ireland.

Stevie Young, Brian Johnson, Matt Laug, Angus Young, and Cliff Williams perform onstage during the Power Trip festival at Empire Polo Club on October 07, 2023 in Indio, California. Photo: KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES

It’s going to be a new AC/DC lineup, comprising drummer Matt Laug, who played with the band at their one-off outing at the Power Trip festival in California last year, and bassist Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction fame to “carry the torch” for the group’s long-time bass player, Cliff Williams.

Matt Laug was born in 1968 in Florence, South Carolina. He moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1986. Since then he has toured the world or recorded with the likes of: Alanis Morissette, Slash’s Snakepit, Anastacia, Pat Benatar, Beth Hart, New Radicals, Alice Cooper, Lifehouse, Christina Aguilera, Vasco Rossi, Tate Stevens, Mikalah Gordon (American Idol) , Melissa Etheridge, The Calling, Richard Marx, The Corrs, Eros Ramazzotti, Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs, Edgar Winter, Eddie Money and many more. He is one of Los Angeles’ most in demand studio session drummers having performed on records that have sold over 35 million copies.

Photo source: https://www.mattlaugdrums.com/photos

Matt has worked with some of the most renowned and successful record producers: Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette), John Shanks (Van Halen), Ron Aniello (Lifehouse), Mark Hudson (Aerosmith, Ringo Starr), Saverio Principini (Vasco Rossi), Oliver Leiber (The Corrs), The Pfeifer Broz, Richard Cole (Melissa Etheridge), Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac), Marc Tanner (The Calling), Chris Horvath, Jack Douglas (Aerosmith), Lyle Workman, Curt Cuomo, Guido Elmi (Vasco Rossi), Jude Cole, Celso Valli (Eros Ramazzotti), David Darling i Richie Zito (Cheap Trick).

Matt spent 18 years as the drummer for the band Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, which included Lance Morrison (bass), Jason Sinay (guitar/vocals), Chris Holt (guitar/vocals) and songwriter/guitarist/singer/vocalist Mike Campbell, a member of the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers/Fleetwood Mac). The band toured extensively, headlining their own shows, and also supported The Who on “The Who Hits Back!” North American tour in 2022. Matt features on The Dirty Knobs’ debut release “Wreckless Abandon” (2020), their next album “External Combustion” (2022), and the third untitled album to be released in 2024.

Matt has also been touring and recording with Vasco Rossi since 2007. In 2017, Matt performed live with the Italian rock star to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vasco’s career in the music industry. The event, which took place at the Enzo Ferrari Park in Modena, Italy, broke the world record for the most successful ticketed concert, selling a total of 225,173 tickets.

Matt Laug is uses Paiste cymbals, DW drums, Vic Firth sticks and Remo drumheads.

AC/DC’s 2024 Power Up tour dates:

May 17 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Veltins Arena
May 21 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Veltins Arena
May 25 – Reggio Emilia, Italy @ RCF Arena
May 29 – Seville, Spain @ La Cartuja Stadium
June 5 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Johan Cruyff Arena
June 9 – Munich, Germany @ Olympic Stadium
June 12 – Munich, Germany @ Olympic Stadium
June 16 – Dresden, Germany @ Messe
June 23 – Vienna, Austria @ Ernst Happel Stadium
June 26 – Vienna, Austria @ Ernst Happel Stadium
June 29 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund Stadium
July 3 – London, England @ Wembley Stadium
July 7 – London, England @ Wembley Stadium
July 13 – Hockenheim @ Germany, Ring
July 17 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Wasen
July 21 – Bratislava, Slovakia @ Old Airport
July 27 – Nuremberg, Germany @ Zeppelinfeld
July 31 – Hannover, Germany @ Messe
August 9 – Dessel, Belgium @ Festivalpark Stenehei
August 13 – Paris, France @ Hippodrome Paris-Longchamp
August 17 – Dublin, Ireland @ Croke Park