AC/DC postpone final United States tour dates

AC/DC’s recently released album might be titled Rock or Bust, but it looks like the iconic band is currently bust. On Monday (March 7), it was announced that the final ten shows of the “Rock or Bust United States Tour” has been postponed. In a press release, it was revealed that frontman Brian Johnson is currently facing some major issues with his hearing; something unfortunate for a someone who makes a living off of music.

According to the release, Johnson “has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.” The silver-lining on the unfortunate situation comes in the form of the shows being postponed, not cancelled. The shows which include New York’s Madison Square Gardens, Atlanta’s Phillips Arena, and our very own BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL, will be made up later this year, but with most likely a guest vocalist. More information about the rescheduled shows will come at a later date. Those who have tickets to the cancelled show can either hold on to the tickets for the rescheduled dates or receive a refund at the point or purchase.

The complete list of cancelled tour stops can be seen below.

CANCELLED AC/DC TOUR STOPS:

3/8 — Atlanta, Ga. — Phillips Arena
3/11 — Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. — BB&T Center
3/14 — Greensboro, N.C. — Greensboro Coliseum
3/17 — Washington, D.C. — Verizon Center
3/20 — Detroit, Mich. — The Palace
3/23 — Columbus, Ohio — Nationwide Arena
3/26 — Cleveland, Ohio — Quicken Loans Arena
3/29 — Buffalo, N.Y. — First Niagara Center
4/1 — Philadelphia, Pa. — Wells Fargo Center
4/4 — New York, N.Y. — Madison Square Gardens

“The Rock or Bust United States Tour” dates were in support of the iconic band’s recently released record, Rock or Bust.

Former AC/DC Drummer Sentence to Home Detention

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been sentenced by the Tauranga District Court (New Zealand) on Thursday, July 9, to eight months of home detention relating to charges of drug possession and threatening to kill.

Rudd, who had been arrested last November after hiring a hitman to murder two people, plead guilty to possession of cannabis and methamphetamine and one charge making a threat to kill. The drummer was originally charged with the drug offenses as well as attempting to “procure a murder.” The procuring a murder charge was dropped and replaced by “making a threat to kill.”

During the trial, Rudd and his lawyers claimed he would lose millions of dollars if he were convicted and not able to tour with AC/DC. Not having any of his excuses, the judge responded that there was no evidence of an offer to return to the band and added: “Queen replaced Freddie Mercury.”

Before going to court, Rudd had been optimist, telling reporters early in the trial that he would be returning to the drum kit for the band’s world tour and other upcoming engagements. Any optimism went out the window when the judge told him that if he violated any of the terms of his home detention, he would be put behind bars.

“I stone cold guarantee that’s where you’ll end up,” said Judge Thomas Ingram. “I’m not your headmaster, I’m not your father. I’m a judge.”

Back in November, the news of Rudd being arrested made headlines worldwide, with the band finding out at the same time as the public. Quickly, the rock icons took to social media to confirm that their world tour would go on, as planned, without Rudd, even though they had no comment about the arrest.

The band quickly asked former drummer Chris Slade to return to the band for their performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards earlier this year. That one performance has now led to Slade returning to the group for their current world tour which will touchdown in North American beginning on Aug. 22 at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

AC/DC to Bring the “Rock” to North America in the Fall

When AC/DC announced they would be releasing a new album last year, talks immediately began as to when the rock icons would hit the road to promote said record. That was quickly answered when they announced a world tour, but somehow managed to leave out the North American portion of dates.

Today, that was quickly remedied when they revealed their month-long tour schedule for North America. The “Rock or Bust North American Tour” will begin on Aug. 22 at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA and conclude on Sept. 28 at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.

Tickets for the shows will be available beginning Monday, Feb. 16 through Ticketmaster. Check out the list of the stadium tour dates below.

AC/DC’s ROCK OR BUST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

August 22 – Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium
August 26 – E. Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
August 28 – Quebec City, ON @ Plains Of Abraham
August 31 – Montreal, QC @ Olympic Stadium
September 3 – Ottawa, ON @ TD Place
September 5 – Moncton, NB @ Magnetic Hill
September 8 – Detroit, MI @ Ford Field
September 10 – Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park
September 15 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
September 20 – Edmonton, AL @ Commonwealth Stadium
September 2 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place
September 25 – San Francisco, CA @ AT&T Park
September 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium

The “Rock of Bust World Tour” will be the first without founding member Malcolm Young, who is currently residing in a Sydney, Australia nursing home for dementia. Taking his place is his nephew Stephen who made his debut on this past weekend’s Grammy Awards during AC/DC’s fantastic opening performance.

Also gone form the line-up is drummer Phil Rudd who was arrested back in November on charges of attempting to “procure” the murders of two people and drug possession in New Zealand.

Instead of looking for someone new to take over the vacant drum kit, the band enlisted former drummer Chris Slade to come back. Slade, like Stephen, made his return to the band during the Grammys. In a recent interview, Rudd was optimistic saying that the would be returning to the band, but it looks like they had other plans.

AC/DC’s Rock or Bust was released last December and the official “Rock or Bust World Tour” will begin on May 5 in Holland.

Watch the 2015 Grammy Awards Performances

After three and a half hours of sitting in front of a television, many people probably turned off the TV or changed the channel, we know we did at a few points.

For those who missed one of the many live performances that happened at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last night or just want to relive one of them, we have managed to get some of them together in one place.

Check them all out below.

Coachella Organizers Reveal Long-Awaited 2015 Line-Up

Following a few months of speculation and predictions, the line-up for this year’s Coachella has been revealed.

The festival organizers took to Twitter to break the new in which they wrote, “For those about to RT.” A photo was attached to the tweet which contained the full line-up of all the artists who will take the trip to California in April.

Performers for the two weekend-long festival will include: AC/DC, Jack White, Brand New, Bad Religion, Circa Survive, Interpol, Belle and Sebastian, Drake, Florence and the Machine, Kaskade, Ryan Adams, David Guetta, Fitz and the Tantrum, Marina and the Diamonds, LIGHTS, Andrew McMahon, and many, many more.

Check out the full, and pretty lengthy, list below.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will take place in Indio during two consecutive weekends in April. The first weekend will take place April 10-12 while the second weekend will take place April 17-19.

AC/DC Drummer Arrested for Murder-for-Hire Plot

UPDATE:

It looks like the other members of AC/DC have found out about Rudd’s arrest at the same time the press did. They have now released a short statement about Rudd which can be read below:

“We’ve only become aware of Phil’s arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album, Rock of Bust and upcoming tour next year.”

The rock gods have spoken.

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AC/DC might be down another member following the news that drummer Phil Rudd has been arrest, but now is free on bail.

Police arrested the sticksman in Tauranga, NZ Thursday morning (Nov. 6) local time, on charges of attempting to “procure” the murders of two people. The alleged hiring of the hitman reportedly took place in late September, according to details released in court.

After being arrested at his home, which was later searched, Rudd has been released on bail after entering a no plea; his next court appearance will be on Nov. 27.

Rudd was ordered by Judge Louis Bidois to have no contact with the man he allegedly tried to hire to carry out the hit. The judge has also decided that it would be in the best interest of everyone else, if he would keep the identity of the victims under lock and key as well as the identity of the person who was hired to perform the hit.

Considering the way the press operates, it won’t be long until those identities as well as the motive behind the murder for hire becomes known.

The procure charge is not the only one the 60-year-old drummer is being charged with. While searching his home, officers discovered methamphetamine and cannabis resulting in the possession charges for both he now faces as well.

Rudd’s arrest and inevitable trial follows the news that founding member, Malcolm Young has left the band due to health concerns following a stroke earlier in the year. Young was officially removed from the line-up about two months ago to be replaced by his nephew Stephen.

AC/DC are set to release their new studio album, Rock or Bust, on Dec. 5 and to reportedly head out on a world tour in 2015. With Rudd’s arrest, there’s not telling what this might mean for that tour.

AC/DC “Play Ball” on First New Song in Six Years

With the sad news last week that AC/DC had lost one of their founding members due to illness, came the good news that the rock icons would be releasing a new album with the first official single available to hear now.

After six years of no new music, the Australian band have given fans their first taste of their new album, Rock or Bust. The first single from the album is titled, “Play Ball” and can be heard below. Like it was reported last week, the song will soundtrack the MLB’s postseason game.

Last week, AC/DC broke the news that founding member Malcolm Young has officially left the band. At the time, the band had said that it was due to health concerns; Malcolm had suffered a stroke earlier in the year.

After the announcement was made, it was revealed through the Sydney Morning Herald that Malcolm was suffering from dementia and is currently residing in a Sydney, Australia nursing home where he has full-time care.

Malcolm’s nephew, Stephen was announced as the group’s replacement guitarist. Stephen filled in for his uncle during the recording of Rock or Bust and will reportedly continue to do so on AC/DC’s yet-to-be-announced world tour.

Full track list for the upcoming album which is scheduled to be released on Dec. 2, can be seen below.

ROCK OR BUST TRACK LIST:

1. Rock or Bust
2. Play Ball
3. Rock The Blues Away
4. Miss Adventure
5. Dogs of War
6. Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder
7. Hard Times
8. Baptism By Fire
9. Rock The House
10. Sweet Candy
11. Emission Control

Malcolm Young Suffering from Dementia

The news that Malcolm Young would no longer be a member of AC/DC was revealed earlier this week, but it looks like it the guitarist reason for “leaving” was a lot more serious than the band originally led on.

Malcolm, who co-founded the now legendary band with brother Angus, suffered a stroke in April, but according to the Sydney Morning Herald, the former guitarist is suffering from dementia and is receiving full-time care in a Sydney, Australia nursing home.

A press release from the band earlier in the week read, “due to the nature of his condition, he will not be returning to the band.”

Malcolm’s stroke earlier this year began rumors that AC/DC would be dismantling. The rumors ended up being just that with the band revealing that they would be releasing a brand new album later this year. This week’s revelation also brought a new member in the band, but the group decided to keep it “all in the family” by hiring Malcolm’s nephew, Stephen, to fill in on guitar for his uncle.

On top of the new record which has been titled Rock or Bust, their lead single, “Play Ball” will be featured during the Major League Baseball’s postseason games beginning next month. There’s also talk about a world tour scheduled for 2015, but until tour dates are unveiled, it will be just that.

Check out the new song below.

AC/DC Down a Member As New Album is Announced

AC/DC are about to releases a new studio album, but with that good piece of news comes some bad news as well.

Earlier this year, founding member Malcolm Young had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke which started a firestorm or rumors that the band would be dismantling even though a new record was in the works.

The rumors turned out to be just that, rumors, while any talk about Malcolm’s health had been at a minimal until today when a press release was issued confirming what some fans were expecting; Malcolm has departed the band.

“Due to the nature of [his] condition, he will not be returning to the band,” read the press release from the band.

Before those former rumors were able to pick up again, AC/DC announced that Malcolm’s nephew Stephen would be handling all the guitar work on the new record as well as their still-to-be-announced world tour scheduled for 2015.

When asked about the likelihood of Malcolm’s departure being permanent, AC/DC biographer Jesse Finke responded with, “The important thing is we all let Mal be and hope he can recover. We should all expect that Stevie is in the band now.”

Not a complete confirmation that Malcolm may never return to the group.

AC/DC’s new record, Rock or Bust is set to be released on Dec. 2 while the first single from the record, “Play Ball” will soundtrack Major League Baseball’s postseason game beginning next month.

As for the world tour, like we said before, no confirmation or tour dates have been hinted at yet, so we’ll just wait for that.

Eddie Vedder Joins Bruce Springsteen On Stage

Bruce Springsteen had a little help opening his show in Melbourne, Australia yesterday evening (February 15). The guest of honor was none other than Pearl Jam frontman, Eddie Vedder. Vedder came on stage to lend vocals to two songs: Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and a cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”

This show is not the first time Vedder has joined forces with Springsteen on stage; the duo have performed together a handful of times including a 2002 gig in Chicago, a few shows in 2004 and most recently in 2012 when they performed at Chicago’s Wrigley Stadium.

Rage Against the Machine guitarist, Tom Morello is also on tour with Springsteen and posted up a picture of the three of them on his Instagram page with the caption, “Vedder/Springsteen/Morello trifecta bask in afterglow of Melbourne #1. Ed slayed Highway To Hell/Darkness On The Edge Of Town.”

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Vedder/Springsteen/Morello trifecta bask in afterglow of Melbourne #1. Ed slayed Highway To Hell/Darkness On The Edge Of Town

A post shared by Tom Morello (@tommorello) on Feb 15, 2014 at 8:12am PST

Vedder was currently in town on his solo tour in Australia following Pearl Jam’s headlining gig at the annual Big Day Out Festival.