Fan row over world’s biggest music acts bound for Australia

Despite AC/DC’s Power Up tour being marred with criticism, some fans are still flocking to the gigs of aging artists. See why and vote for your favourite.

When AC/DC announced they were heading home for their first shows on Australian soil in 10 years, it was little surprise that the legendary rockers’ loyal and devoted fan base snapped up more than 320,000 seats to the band’s Power Up tour in just 24 hours.

Acca Dacca are Australian rock royalty, of course. They make us proud that a band born out of inner city working class Sydney in the early 1970s would go on to become the biggest rock band on the planet. Indeed, there’s a decades-long affection and a love for the band whose hits such as Back in Black, Highway to Hell and She Shook Me All Night Long are considered sacred in the pantheon of rock’s songbook. (Those of us of a certain age still think of Brian Johnson as the “new” singer after he replaced Bon Scott in … 1980.)

The Power Up tour, which started with a run of 2024 European dates, is significant, too. It is their first since the 2015-2016 Rock or Bust world tour was derailed when Johnson was forced to step away due to hearing issues (since rectified), while that subsequent hiatus saw the death of beloved founding member, guitarist Malcolm Young, and the retirement of bassist Cliff Williams. Drummer Phil Rudd also stepped away from the band to care for his partner who was dealing with serious health issues.

Brian Johnson and Angus Young of AC/DC perform during a stop of the Power Up tour at Ford Field on April 30, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Picture: Getty Images

And while the European and US shows sold out, there has been an unexpected noise that has grown louder and faster than an iconic Angus Young riff; the band’s American shows have been met by some mixed reviews. Common gripes have surrounded the quality of the sound and the state of Johnson’s voice, which has reportedly led to some punters leaving the shows early.

Some disgruntled fans have even said online that the band “should have called it quits when Malcolm died”.

Common gripes pf AC/DC’s Power Up tour have surrounded the quality of the sound and the state of Brian Johnson’s voice, which has reportedly led to some punters leaving the shows early. Picture: Getty Images

Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs during the Power Up tour at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

And no doubt Malcolm’s absence leaves a seismic hole on stage, not least for his brother, Angus, who by all accounts remains the driving force on stage at 70 (and still in school uniform).

One fan, however, hit the nail on the head in an online post, when he said that the band’s current shows were about managing “different expectations”.

“Brian has been giving his 110 per cent for 40 years, of course he at 77 isn’t going to sound like he did in 1980. And I know [Angus] is old and slow and he’s going to make mistakes,” the fan wrote. “The concert I saw was the concert I was expecting given the circumstances and I’m more than fine with it.”

But AC/DC aren’t the only legendary performers to be met with some negativity recently.

At Glastonbury last month, when an 80-year-old Rod Stewart stepped out on the stage in the coveted afternoon “Legends” spot, there was excitement (past Glasto legends have included Kylie Minogue, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Diana Ross). After all, in an extraordinary career, Stewart is responsible for some of modern music’s greatest songs – think Maggie May, Young Turks, I Don’t Want to Talk About It and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? – so expectations were high.

Rod Stewart’s Glastonbury Festival performance was best with problems. Picture: AP

But Stewart’s set was beset with problems; sketchy vocals, extended stage absences while he got changed, and backing singers carrying much of the load left fans flat. Even a starry line-up of Stewart’s old pals who joined him on stage – Faces bandmate (and current Rolling Stone) 78-year-old Ronnie Wood, 60s pop princess Lulu, 76, and Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, 65, couldn’t cover the cracks.

Some of the reviews were brutal. “Rod Stewart’s Glastonbury legends slot feels like wringing out the dregs of a career,” said the independent. “The Old Guard has passed.”

“A strange set,” stated London’s Evening Standard. “For all the singalong moments – The First Cut Is The Deepest an early highlight – the covers and interminable interludes made things a difficult slog for a large crowd wilting in the sun.”

Rod Stewart performs during the Glastonbury Festival last month. Picture: AP

But are we, as an audience, expecting too much? And why do we even think that our rock legends can still perform with the vigour and the same vocal abilities they had in decades gone by.

Rod Stewart is 80 – it’s amazing he can get off the couch! How can we expect Elton John, a sprightly 78, to be able to sing like he used to? We can’t. Still, it didn’t stop fans from flocking to five years’ worth of goodbye shows – at exorbitantly high ticket prices – during his never-ending Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

Then there’s Paul McCartney. It’s heresy to say this publicly, but the Beatles legend has struggled vocally on stage for years. And that’s no criticism – the man is 83 years old and looks better than most of us ever would at 35. But does it stop his legions of fans from selling out stadiums around the world?

Oasis is heading to Australia soon with sold out shows across the country. Picture: Adam Taylor

Hard rock band Metallica are coming to Australia in 2025.

Because what people want – particularly in the current fractured political climate – is to feel part of a community or to reconnect with their younger selves and, when it comes to McCartney and the Beatles, to music history if they weren’t lucky enough to be there the first time around. (It’s why Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones are still going.)

There is just no comparison to singing Hey Jude with 50,000 other people, which I was lucky enough to do at Citi Field in New York in 2009. We’ll never get the Beatles back so what can be better than still being able to see the man who actually sang it while we still can. We should cherish those moments.

Anastacia also has sold out shows coming up in Australia. Getty Images)

And fans are still flocking to the shows of artists whose twenties, let’s be honest, have long gone into the rearview mirror. Heading to Australia over the next year are Billy Ocean, Anastacia, Lenny Kravitz, Metallica, Oasis, Keith Urban and Ricky Martin, who will all play sold out shows across the country.

It’s also worth remembering that for all the flak Rod Stewart copped at Glastonbury, it was a 51-year-old post-grunge goddess from the 1990s who pretty much walked away with the entire festival. Yes, Alanis Morrisette stalked around the stage like a restless panther, belting out bangers such as You Oughta Know, Ironic, and You Learn, from an album – Jagged Little Pill – which was released in 1995. The crowd sang along to every word. And they loved every minute of it.

Originally published as Fan row over world’s biggest music acts bound for Australia