For those about to rock, AC/DC are turning it up to 11 for their Rock Or Bust homecoming concerts

AC/DC’s soundcheck at ANZ Stadium signals the world’s greatest band are back in black and still the loudest rockers on the planet.

ROCK heroes AC/DC announced their arrival back in Australia with a soundcheck you could hear more than 10km from ANZ Stadium in Sydney’s west on Tuesday.

Co-founder Angus Young swapped his trademark school uniform for rock civvies — black tshirt and blue jeans — for the rehearsal witnessed by a clutch of appreciative crew and media.

It was a rare glimpse of AC/DC at work, with the band renowned for maintaining their privacy behind-the-scenes and in their personal lives.

“Everyone loves AC/DC,” remarked one of Team AC/DC as frontman Brian Johnson encouraged the privileged private audience of a couple of dozen people to chant Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

The band, including rhythm guitarist Stevie Young who stepped into Malcolm’s shoes for the Rock Or Bust tour, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Chris Slade, warmed up with Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be.

Stage fright? ... Brian Johnson joked that he was nervous rehearsing in front of a small crowd at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“You are making me nervous,” Johnson joked as he surveyed the smallest crowd he will play to on the tour.

When someone yelled out for Back In Black, the singer suggested the song was “pretty f ... ing tough, mate” before the distinctive opening chords rang out across the stadium where 60,000 people will witness the opening night of the Australian leg on Wednesday.

They turned it up to 11 with a deafening and precise Back In Black, signalling a match fit outfit with dozens of concerts in more than 20 countries under their belt since opening the world tour in Europe in May.

AC/DC don’t even do rehearsals by halves, with their longtime production manager Dale Skjerseth confirming fans would expect them to be loud. Real loud.

“It’s like standing in front of a freight train. It is a loud show,” he said.

He said everyone in the band and the crew still miss Malcolm Young’s presence since the co-founder of the band was forced to retire last year after being diagnosed with dementia.

“We will always miss Malcolm,” he said.

Homecoming shows ... AC/DC are excited to be playing to homegrown fans and family this week. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Drummer Phil Rudd was replaced this year by Slade, who played with AC/DC from 1989 to 1994, after he arrested on drugs and threatening to kill charges.

Skjerseth said the band and crew were particularly looking forward to the nine Australian concerts because it was AC/DC’s home.

“It’s home, that’s what’s special about it. For them, this is a special moment,” he said.

The massive production, including a stage topped with the signature devil’s horns, takes three days to build but the production manager insisted everything else about the band was “simple”.

“Their dressing room is very simple, their music is very simple and their lives are very simple,” he said.

“Their preparation is showing up ... they know it’s a job and they come out to perform, to give it their all.”

Going strong ... AC/DC show no signs of wanting to retire according to their longtime Australian promoter. Picture: Supplied, AC/DC

He revealed Angus Young has about a dozen of his schoolboy kit in different colours.

Their longtime Australian promoter Garry van Egmond, who has organised their past seven tours over 34 years, said the band showed no desire to retire.

“They are still looking forward, you don’t get any feeling of (retirement) at all,” he said.

“The great part about working with them is they haven’t changed, they are the same people and great people to work with.

“They care about their fans and the people they work with.”

Among the 60,000 people at the opening concert on Wednesday night will be “hundreds” of relatives with the Young clan expected to turn out in force to welcome AC/DC home.

“Having the family here in Sydney makes it even more exciting; it’s definitely the biggest guestlist on the tour,” the promoter said.

AC/DC perform at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday and Saturday, QSAC, Brisbane on November 12 and 14, Adelaide Oval on November 21, Domain Stadium, Perth on November 27 and 29 and Etihad Stadium, Melbourne on December 6 and 8.