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Power Trip live: Reviews of Metallica, Tool, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses

For those about to rock, we salute you. We'll be reporting all the action at Power Trip, Goldenvoice's three-day metal festival in the desert featuring heavy-hitters Guns N' Roses and Iron Maiden on Friday, AC/DC and Judas Priest on Saturday, and culminating with Metallica and Tool on Sunday.

Will this "once-in-a-lifetime" billing live up to the hype? Check back here for the sights, sounds, special guests and music reviews from the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif.

• Review: Metallica closes out festival in electric style
• Review: Tool underwhelms after AC/DC energy
• Power Trip Day 3: The good, the bad and the epic
• Review: AC/DC delivers epic set after seven-year hiatus
• Review: Judas Priest delivers beyond expectations, new album
• Power Trip Day 2: The good, the bad, the sweat
• Review: Guns N' Roses brings crowd pleasing, hit-filled set
• Review: Iron Maiden brings the drama to first Power Trip set
• Power Trip Day 1: The good, the bad, the hot

Tool and Metallica close out the last day of Power Trip in style

Tool and Metallica are two distinctly different bands, so, naturally, they brought two vastly different shows to the same audience Sunday night at Power Trip.

But there was a third band we couldn't help to compare them with: AC/DC.

It's probably unfair to compare the performance of one band to another, particularly when one is as beloved as AC/DC, and is playing its first live show in more than seven years. But while Tool sounded crisp and loud, and thousands appeared to enjoy the band's set at the festival, it inevitably felt like a let down after AC/DC, and as festivalgoers were gearing up for a highly anticipated show from Metallica.

Metallica, on the other hand, understood their assignment. Closing out a once-in-a-lifetime festival such as Power Trip is no easy task, and the California rockers didn't disappoint on Sunday night,

Read our full Tool review here.

Read our full Metallica review here.

—Brian Blueskye and Andrew John

Power Trip proves itself to be an international affair

What’s the furthest someone traveled to Power Trip? It’s hard to say, but Indio resident Leonard Ortiz has something that provides answers. Since Friday, Ortiz has collected signatures from attendees and their origins on a California state flag. Some of the attendees who signed included residents of Australia, Nepal, Austria, and Colombia. Ortiz said there was also “a lot of Mexico on there.”

Ortiz said he got the idea to track signatures at Power Trip from attending Metallica concerts and seeing fans with flags from their home states doing the same.

“I just thought it would be cool to do (at Power Trip),” because I knew that AC/DC and Iron Maiden have a following from all over the world, and I want to put it (the flag) up in my mancave. People are really digging it, and I’ve only had one person tell me no when I’ve asked them to sign for whatever reason,” Ortiz said. 

—Brian Blueskye

The most rockstar-worthy burger at Power Trip comes from Grill 'Em All

There’s one food vendor in the South Lounge area of the festival that gets our unofficial award for Most Clever Play on Words: the metal-inspired and Alhambra-based burger restaurant Grill ‘Em All, which is a take on Metallica’s 1983 debut album “Kill ‘Em All.”

Desert Sun reporter Andrew John tried the AC/DC burger and enthusiastically said “It’s good!” after taking his first bite.

The restaurant is known for showing pro wrestling and a selection of burgers named after metal icons such as Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and more.

Holy Dive Bar provides sports fans and non-sports fans alike a shaded place to kick back, grab a drink

Rob Vollgraf traveled to Power Trip from Northern California with the understanding that he’d be able to watch his Las Vegas Raiders at the Holy Dive Bar. He'd heard about the setup inside Empire Polo Club, but was skeptical about whether it would be anything substantial.

On Sunday, the festivalgoer admitted he was pleasantly surprised.

“They’ve done an outstanding job here,” said Vollgraf, wearing a black Raiders shirt. “This blew away my expectations.”

Read the full story here.

—Andrew John

Tool brings fans from around the world to the polo grounds

When Alejandro Grijalva Duran saw the lineup announcement in March for Power Trip and noticed the band Tool was part of it, he immediately contacted his son, Juan Pablo Grijalva Saenz. The two purchased tickets and made travel arrangements to Indio from Chihuahua, Mexico.

On Sunday, the father and son had just waited in line at Tool’s merchandise booth and was taking pictures with a poster they'd purchased. Power Trip is the first time the two will see the band perform. 

“(Tool) is a unique band,” Grijalva Saenz said. “You see the lineup and all the classic rock bands, having Tool in the lineup at this festival is mind-blowing. Their concept in music is different than other bands like Judas Priest, AC/DC and Iron Maiden, so it’s a unique occasion to see Tool at this festival and venue.”

Grijalva Duran is a longtime fan, and said there are limited opportunities to see Tool in Mexico, who typically perform in cities such as Monterrey or Guadalajara.

“I like a lot of Tool’s music and have been a fan since the beginning,” said Grijalva Duran.

Real metal fans take their grandkids to Power Trip

Brooklyn Harper and Illy Pirylis of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, both 17, have been enjoying Power Trip this weekend with their grandmother, 59-year-old Kerri Yingst of Hobe Sound, Florida. But it's not the first time they've rocked out at a concert together.

It's the third festival the trio have attended together since the 2022 Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach.

On Saturday afternoon, all three were excited to see the first performance by AC/DC in seven years and spent over an hour standing in line at the band's merchandise tent after the gates opened. Yingst referred to her granddaughters as her "concert buddies"

“I didn’t know they liked my music,” Yingst said. “I was (in New Jersey) visiting and I heard Black Sabbath coming from the bedroom, and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, maybe they’re just on YouTube.’ I go about my business and go back upstairs, and I asked them, ‘Do you like that?’ and they said ‘Yeah!’ That’s when we found Welcome to Rockville and started going to festivals together.”

To read the full story, click here.

AC/DC starts out strong despite seven-year performance hiatus

Shortly after AC/DC performed “Shoot to Thrill” about an hour into their Saturday set at Power Trip, CNL Executive Transportation owner and operator Craig Blucher was heading towards the exit to give a client a ride.

But as he walked, the San Diego resident who has seen AC/DC seven times described the set as “epic.”

Blucher’s first time seeing AC/DC was during the original lineup era featuring original frontman Bon Scott, who died in 1980. He also caught the band’s comeback tour that same year with current vocalist Brian Johnson.

Since AC/DC released the album “Power Up” in 2020, the band hasn’t played together live, meaning Saturday’s performance was its first show in seven years.

Even though AC/DC is celebrating 50 years, the band hasn't announced a new album or any plans to tour, leaving many to speculate whether Power Trip may be the group's last performance.

When asked if he thinks it will be the last, Blucher said he hopes not.

“They need to stay healthy and they’re getting old. These old timers don’t live forever,” Blucher said. 

Check out AC/DC's setlist here.

Check out our full review of AC/DC's set here.

Judas Priest announces new album, brings out Glenn Tipton

Judas Priest replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the first band on the Power Trip Day 2 schedule, but they didn't act like anyone's second choice.

After five decades, the English heavy metal group proved it still has plenty of gas in the tank, far exceeding expectations. The crowd cheered as Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" played as the intro, but was followed by a few moments of silence before a graphic showed on the video screens announcing Judas Priest's upcoming album, "The Invincible Shield," which is due out March 8.

Perhaps the best moment of the set was the encore, which featured guitarist Glenn Tipton, who retired from the band in 2018 due to Parkinson's disease. Tipton performed with the group during the last three songs of the set: classics "Metal Gods," "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight."

Click here to read the full Judas Priest setlist.

Coachella has 'Spectra,' Power Trip has the rocker cactus

While concertgoers are not allowed inside "Spectra," the popular illuminated installation that features a winding ramp, right next to it is a new piece of art that has many lined up to take a selfie with.

A blue devil-horned-shaped cactus has caught the attention of many here at Power Trip. It has provided a perfect photo-op for this metal festival, with Spectra, the ground’s iconic Ferris wheel and the mountains of La Quinta providing a cool backdrop. 

Power Trip's hottest accessory will cost you $20, and sellers prefer cash

One thing most festivalgoers probably didn't expect at Power Trip, which markets itself very openly as a cashless festival, is a vendor that asks for cash. That's exactly what fans are facing when they go to purchase light-up AC/DC devil horn headbands at one of the various vendor carts scattered across the festival grounds today.

Although these vendors technically take credit cards (because they have to to be part of the festival), the signs on the carts read "$ CASH IS KING !!!"

The night's hottest accessory, which will set you back $20, is a nod to AC/DC co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and only remaining founding member Angus Young, who popularized the devil horn symbol by using his two index fingers to form two horns above his head while he performs.

—Niki Kottmann

Judas Priest proves to be the most punctual band of Power Trip thus far

Judas Priest just took the stage, just a few minutes later than scheduled, unlike the Friday performers who were 20 minutes (Iron Maiden) and 40 minutes (Guns N' Roses) behind schedule. Now let's see if they can make Ozzy proud.

Group of fans decide to push through the Power Trip gates early

Those of us who entered Day 2 of Power Trip through the Red Path/camping area got a surprise Saturday when a group of rowdy festivalgoers decided they didn't want to wait any longer and pushed the gates open. Security nearby let it happen, seemingly because they were going to open the gates themselves a few minutes later, and because those who pushed through were hit by a wall of metal detectors and bag checkers on the other side of the gate.

Guns' N' Roses delivers the hits to close out the first day of Power Trip

Guns N' Roses put on a phenomenal show of heavy rock 'n' roll hits and treated festivalgoers to highlights of the band's career, even paying tribute to Sir Paul McCartney's 50th anniversary of the James Bond anthem "Live And Let Die." The two-hour set was full of stunning video production and lasers, but notably no pyrotechnics.

Even though the band was 40 minutes late for its headlining performance, the crowd was calm and there were no signs of the old days when the band would appear hours late or not at all. When the festival went dark and the band's strange animated psychedelic visuals appeared, the crowd was on its feet, screaming in anticipation.

Starting with "It's So Easy," frontman Axl Rose appeared like a lightning rod and the rest of the band, which also features original members guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, were precise in every note.

Click here to read the band's complete Power Trip setlist.

Our highs and lows of Power Trip Day 1: Where's the good food hiding?

OK, so festival food is famously never great, but Coachella always includes some trendy (and mouthwatering) Asian food from LA and Stagecoach always has delicious BBQ (when Guy Fieri's involved, you know it's good), so what is Power Trip going to be notable for cuisine-wise? So far, crappy grilled cheese.

That might be on me for ordering something a bit odd, but I thought you couldn't mess up grilled cheese! It's so simple! Tomorrow I'll be going in a totally different direction and heading straight for the booth of a Palm Springs favorite: Sandfish.

Read up on our other highs and lows from the first day of the festival here.

Parking causes headaches on Power Trip Day 1, leads some to leave early

Parking for those who tried to get in after 4:30 p.m. today was reportedly out-of-this-world difficult (our own photographer nearly ran out of gas in the middle of Miles Avenue because traffic controlers forced him to circle the venue so many times), which seems to be the reason why many people were seen leaving the festival after the first hour of Guns N' Roses' set.

I can't blame them for wanting to beat the traffic, and I can't help but wonder how long it's going to take me to get out after Guns N' Roses is done playing ... moral of the story: get here as early as possible tomorrow, festivalgoers.

Iron Maiden delivers theatrical, energetic set to kick off the night

As Iron Maiden kicked off the first set of Power Trip performing "Caught Somewhere In Time," frontman Bruce Dickinson appeared as if he stepped into the present day from a futuristic sci-fi film set.

That post-apocalyptic vibe continued throughout the stellar performance, which included stage visuals showing the flux capacitor from the 1985 time travel comedy film "Back to the Future."

Want to see the complete set list? Click here.

—Niki Kottmann and Brian Blueskye

Metal fans came from all over the world for this event

As the rumors began circulating about Power Trip in March, Rob Myers of Hershey, Pennsylvania created the Facebook community “Power Trip Festival Group,” which has over 10,000 members. On Friday afternoon, Myers met a fraction of the group in front of the Ferris wheel for a group photo. A group member brought a California state flag and is having members sign it as he meets them at the festival.

Myers said he has created similar groups for festivals such as the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio and estimates 5,000 attendees from all around the world and demographics joined the Power Trip group during April.

“People had interest in seeing six powerhouse acts all at once,” Myers said. “These bands have international recognition – Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica – even in Europe, you don’t see all three of those bands at one festival. You may see one, but you’re not going to get all at once.”

The members of the group have posted invites for carpooling to the festival, social gatherings in the area and even shared travel tips for those new to the Coachella Valley. There’s a stronger sense of community among metal fans for this festival than the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach country music festival.

“If you go to any metal festival, especially if you’re in camping, you’re never going to have an empty stomach, an empty cup or go without anything you need,” Myers said. “I have met grandmothers and mothers at metal festivals and they’re the ones helping those who say ‘Hey, I need this’ or ‘I ran out of this.’ Everybody just wants to take care of each other. With metal, there are different emotions, some of these people have been hurt and have a stronger sense of empathy. I’ve noticed people who have been through something, metal is their healing." 

Our first impression of the festival: spacious

Although it was crowded by the entrance, once the gates opened 18 minutes behind schedule, our first impression of the festival was that it's wonderfully spread out. Nobody's on top of each other, and even though the merch tents were Coachella-level busy less than 15 minutes into the start of the festival, the Iron Maiden-specific and Guns N' Roses-specific booths had shockingly small lines.

This is also a little nerdy of us to notice, but the famed Coachella/Stagecoach Ferris wheel (aka Le Grande Wheel) is back with new open-air cars (as opposed to the traditional enclosed cars we're used to at the other two festivals).

Power Trip: Gates are open and crowd has cool cross-generational vibe

The gates are open at Power Trip but the music has yet to start. The crowd so far consists of lots of big groups and families with adult children. "How you holding up mom?" was heard from a man who appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s.

Those who attended the original "Trip" ... Desert Trip in 2016 that featured the kings of classic rock ... will understand.

Also notable about the first hour on scene: It's hot. Overheard waiting to get through the gate: “I’m sweating so much I’m losing my buzz, it’s terrible!”

—Niki Kottmann and Kate Franco

Headed to Power Trip but don't want to miss the game? You can experience both

Goldevoice is typically all about the music. But this weekend at Power Trip, the promoter is offering a rare opportunity to watch live sports at one of its bar areas within the festival.

All weekend long, festivalgoers can head to the Holy Dive Bar to watch the following televised sports:

• Thursday: NFL Chicago @ Washington
• Friday: MLB Playoffs
• Saturday: MLB Playoffs
• Saturday: NCAA Football
• Sunday: NFL Football

—Niki Kottmann and Andrew John

Power Trip pre-game: Free tattoos at AC/DC-themed pop-up bar in Indio

AC/DC will hit the stage for the first time in seven years during the second day of Power Trip, but you don't have to wait until Saturday to get in on the fun.

Club 5 Bar in downtown Indio has officially opened as a pop-up fan experience called the AC/DC High Voltage Dive Bar , featuring collectible rock relics, unique Easter eggs, a beer garden food trucks and, perhaps most notably, free tattoos of the many different AC/DC logos over the band's 50-year history.

If you're looking for a place outside the festival grounds to honor the gods of rock, this is your spot.

Power Trip special guests: Who we think might make a stage cameo

Would it even be a Goldenvoice festival without surprise special guests? Here's a few we're hoping to see (and yes, some are far-fetched, but we can dream):

With Guns N' Roses:

• Misfits frontman Glenn Danzig (to sing "Attitude")
• Bob Dylan (to sing that cover of "Knockin' On Heavens Door")

With AC/DC:

• AC/DC could quite possibly bring out any rockers, but ... wouldn't it be amazing if they brought out actor/singer Jack Black for the cover of "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" from the movie "School of Rock"?

With Metallica:

• King Diamond (to sing "Mercyful Fate")
• St. Vincent, Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor, or another artist who performed on the "The Metallica Blacklist"

Power Trip set times: When will Tool, Guns 'N Roses, Metallica take the stage?

Need some help planning your Power Trip? Here are the set times :

• Friday, Oct. 6:  Iron Maiden at 6:45 p.m., Guns N' Roses at 9:25 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 7:  Judas Priest at 6:45 p.m., AC/DC at 9:25 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 8:  Tool at 6:55 p.m., Metallica at 9:35 p.m.

Where is Power Trip festival 2023?

Power Trip, which features six heavy metal bands from Friday, Oct. 6 to Sunday, Oct. 8, is being held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Music-lovers likely know (or know of) the venue as the home to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach country music festival, which are held on the lush grounds at 81-800 51st Ave. over three weekends in April.

But this isn't the first October "Trip" staged by Goldenvoice. Desert Trip, featuring Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Neil Young and Promise of the Real, Roger Waters and Paul McCartney , was held at the polo grounds over two October weekends in 2016. It was heralded as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the biggest names in classic rock on one stage.

—Kate Franco

From the archive: When Desert Trip rocked the music world in 2016

WATCH: AC/DC Rocks Power Trip Festival

Corey noles.

• October 8, 2023
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Home » News » Concert Reviews » WATCH: AC/DC Rocks Power Trip Festival

After a hiatus of seven long years, AC/DC returned to the live stage at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California, on October 7, 2023. Despite looking a little more gray (OK, a lot more), the band sounded as good as ever.

On Saturday night, a new generation met AC/DC for the first time. The songs were tight, and the crowd was alive. The band looked like they were having a blast, and that resonated throughout the evening.

The band’s electrifying performance not only marked their live comeback but showcased some fresh changes in their lineup, with Matt Laug taking over the drums, replacing Phil Rudd for this gig, and bassist/vocalist Cliff Williams coming out of retirement for the show​​.

The band’s setlist was a remarkable blend of classic hits and new tracks from their 2020 album, “Power Up.” They opened the set with a high-energy performance of “If You Want Blood (You Got It),” a song they hadn’t performed with Johnson on vocals since 2003. The crowd went wild as the band followed it up with their magnum opus “Back in Black,” and the first-ever live performance of “Demon Fire.” The set was front-loaded with hits, keeping the energy at a peak with tracks like “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” and “Hells Bells”​​.

Notably, this concert saw the live debut of two tracks, “Demon Fire” and “Shot In The Dark,” as well as some songs being performed for the first time in many years with Brian Johnson, like “Dog Eat Dog” and “Riff Raff”​​.

Critics and attendees alike have showered praise on the band’s set. The performance was described as hard-charging, infectious, and downright joyous. The band’s ability to engage the crowd was undeniably showcased as the crowd rocked along with each belted chorus, especially during the “Thunderstruck” performance, which was described as absolutely electric​.

AC/DC’s journey over the last decade has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Following the release of their album “Rock or Bust” in 2014, lead singer Brian Johnson had to step away from touring due to severe hearing issues. It led to Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose temporarily stepping in to fulfill the band’s touring commitments.

The band faced another blow with the passing of their rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young in 2017. However, the release of “Power Up” in 2020 signaled a positive turn, though touring was off the table due to the global pandemic.

This performance at the Power Trip festival marked AC/DC’s triumphant return to live music and re-established their position as one of the few hard rock acts ever to have transcended the genre in terms of mainstream crossover appeal and commercial success​​.

As the night descended upon the Empire Polo Club, the iconic chords of “Highway to Hell” resonated across the venue, leading a large crowd in a euphoric singalong. The band closed their set with “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Let There Be Rock,” with an extended guitar solo from Angus Young, before returning for an encore performance of “T.N.T.” and “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”​​.

This performance was a showcase of AC/DC’s undying legacy and a testament to the unbreakable bond between the band and its ardent fans. The thunderous applause that echoed as the band took their final bow was a heartfelt salute to the rock icons, marking the end of a historic night of rock ‘n’ roll at the Power Trip festival.

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AC/DC Make Victorious Return With First Live Show in Seven Years

By Charisma Madarang

Charisma Madarang

AC/DC took to the stage for the first time in seven years on Saturday night of the Power Trip festival .

It was the first time lead vocalist Brian Johnson performed live with the group since September 2016 in Philadelphia, following a 79-date Rock or Bust world tour. The ill-fated trek  required the services  of Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose for the final 22 stops after Johnson bowed out with  hearing loss issues .

Saturday’s lineup also saw Matt Laug step in for drummer Phil Rudd, while longtime bassist Cliff Williams came out of retirement with Angus and Stevie Young on guitar.

AC/DC played a 24-song set and opened for the first time with “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” according to Spin . The performance also packed hits “Back in Black,” “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Highway to Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

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Shakin’ at the knees ⚡️ @acdc pic.twitter.com/KAV6oFzvLW — Power Trip (@Powertriplive) October 8, 2023

Last year, Johnson told  Rolling Stone   he didn’t know if AC/DC would perform again. “I would love to,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. I think everybody would. There’s a groundswell of people just asking. But I hate talking about the future, because, fuck, we were ready two years ago, and the pandemic came, and it screwed everything up. So I’m terrified to say what could happen and what couldn’t.”

Power Trip also saw Judas Priest reunite with guitarist Glenn Tipton, who retired in 2018 due to Parkinson’s disease. The band filled in for former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who was scheduled to headline at the festival, but withdrew due to ongoing health issues .

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AC/DC at Power Trip: if this is the band's last hurrah, they've gone out with an incredible, weekend-stealing set for the ages

Ac/dc's headline performance at power trip featured hits, debuts and rarities aplenty.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

It's a miracle that AC/DC still exist. Between wayward drummers, retired bassists and cited hearing issues that forced singer Brian Johnson to sit out the majority of the band's 2016 tour - Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose guesting in his place - it was starting to look like a very real possibility that we might never see the band again. And good god, what a tragedy that would have been. 

Seven years away might have added a few more creaks and groans to the band's frame, but a sprawling 24-song set soon blows the cobwebs off as they pull out hits, rarities and even a few new tracks for their Power Trip headline spot. Kicking off with If You Want Blood (You've Got It) , AC/DC don't so much ease themselves in as leap headfirst, anthems coming thick and fast as Back In Black, Shot Down In Flames and Thunderstruck all fly out as early inclusions. 

A band built for - and from - the sweat of live performance, it's refreshing to see how surprisingly austere their production is. Yes, the on-stage visuals are gorgeous, but there are no massive trains, bulldozers or even an inflatable Rosie this time out; the focus instead being drawn entirely to the band on-stage and the sheer magic of their performance (and maybe the odd massive bell).  

“How lovely's this? Nice to see ya. Let’s get rocking and rolling.” Johnson remains a cheeky and lively presence on-stage, looking like one of the more hale members of the group as even Angus has to tone down his duckwalking antics to selected songs ( Shoot To Thrill and Let There Be Rock , if you're asking). But what he lacks in physical theatrics, he makes up for in instrumental wizardry, his every touch sending the guitar wailing as if 50,000 volts are being blasted through it. 

And when the guitar isn't screaming, the fans are. Power Up tracks Demon Fire and Shot In The Dark receive a warm welcome as new boogie-friendly additions to the band's canon, but it's anthems like Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap , Whole Lotta Rosie and You Shook Me All Night Long that have voices roaring into the night sky. But there's a place for hits and rarities alike in the set, a two-hour extravaganza that throws up a miscellany of styles and tones.

Much like the ship of Theseus – or Trigger’s broom if you’d rather a reference from the last century – AC/DC have changed enough over the past 50 years that it can be hard to reconcile the band that wrote rock'n'roll tracks that take off at 100mph like Riff Raff with the more blues based Have A Drink On Me or Stiff Upper Lip . Yet the band approach each with the same expert craftmanship that ensures nothing but good times and massive smiles all around, indisputably AC/DC in everything they put their hand to. 

By the time AC/DC signal for the 21-gun salute of For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) , there's no doubt in our minds that they are still the greatest rock'n'roll stars to ever (duck) walk the planet. Whether Power Trip remains a one-off, or the staging ground for another massive global tour remains to be seen. But even if this is the band's last hurrah, there's no better way to go out than with a final almighty showing of raucous, rougish rock'n'roll that is celebrated the world over. Oft-copied, never surpassed. 

AC/DC setlist Power Trip festival October 7 2023

If You Want Blood (You've Got It) Back In Black Demon Fire Shot Down In Flames Thunderstruck Have A Drink On Me Hells Bells Shot In The Dark Stiff Upper Lip Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Shoot To Thrill Sin City Givin The Dog A Bone Rock'n'Roll Train You Shook Me All Night Long Dog Eat Dog High Voltage Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be Riff Raff Highway To Hell Whole Lotta Rosie Let There Be Rock T.N.T. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

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AC/DC Rock Power Trip Festival for First Show in Seven Years: Photos + Video

Judas Priest also play electrifying set on middle day of historic three-day fest

AC/DC played their first show in seven years on Saturday night (October 7th) at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California. The evening also featured a set by fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Judas Priest .

For this Power Trip gig, AC/DC’s lineup featured classic members Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), and Cliff Williams (bass) alongside Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) and drummer Matt Laug.

Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden set the bar high at Power Trip the night before, but AC/DC were up to the challenge, showing no signs of rust as they ripped into “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” marking the first time they’ve ever kicked off a set with the Highway to Hell song.

From there, the 24-song set featured one classic after another, with the very next tune being the iconic “Back in Black,” followed by other favorites like “Thunderstruck,” “Hells Bells,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and “Highway to Hell.”

With the show being AC/DC’s first gig since the release of their 2020 album, Power Up , the band gave that LP’s “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark” their live debuts. And for the encore, they went back to a couple of classics: “T.N.T.” and the set-closing “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”

AC/DC last performed in September 2016, with Axl Rose filling in for Johnson, who was experiencing hearing issues at the time. Last night’s show with Johnson marked his first gig with the band since February 2016.

Judas Priest had an equally daunting challenge, filling in for the originally scheduled Ozzy Osbourne, who had to drop out of the gig due to his ongoing health issues. Rob Halford and company did not disappoint, delivering an electrifying 18-song performance.

At the beginning of their set, Judas Priest surprised the audience by announcing their long-awaited new album. The band’s 19th studio LP, titled Invisible Shield , will arrive March 8th.

Kicking things off with “Electric Eye,” Judas Priest offered up such classics as “The Sentinel,” “Turbo Lover,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” and “Painkiller” during their main set.

Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden Kick Off Power Trip Festival: Video + Photos

After starting their encore with “Hell Bent for Leather,” Priest welcomed classic guitarist Glenn Tipton to the stage for the final three numbers: “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law,” and “Living After Midnight.” Tipton only plays with the band occasionally as he is battling Parkinson’s disease, so his appearance at Power Trip was a real treat for fans.

Power Trip concludes on Sunday (October 8th) with sets from Metallica and Tool.

See our photographer Alex Kluft’s photos of AC/DC and Judas Priest below, followed by fan-filmed video footage and each of the band’s setlists.

Photo Gallery – AC/DC and Judas Priest at Power Trip (click to expand and scroll through):

AC/DC Setlist: If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) Back in Black Demon Fire (Live debut) Shot Down in Flames Thunderstruck Have a Drink on Me Hells Bells Shot in the Dark (Live debut) Stiff Upper Lip (first time since 2003) Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Shoot to Thrill Sin City Givin the Dog a Bone Rock ‘n’ Roll Train You Shook Me All Night Long Dog Eat Dog (first time with Brian since 2009) High Voltage Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be Riff Raff (first time with Brian Johnson since 1996) Highway to Hell Whole Lotta Rosie Let There Be Rock (with Angus Young guitar solo) Encore: T.N.T. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Judas Priest Setlist: Electric Eye Riding on the Wind Heading Out to the Highway Lightning Strike Diamonds & Rust (Joan Baez cover) The Sentinel A Touch of Evil Turbo Lover Firepower Desert Plains Rapid Fire The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover) You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ Painkiller Encore: Hell Bent for Leather Metal Gods (with Glenn Tipton) Breaking the Law (with Glenn Tipton) Living After Midnight (with Glenn Tipton)

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AC/DC Perform Live For The First Time In Seven Years At Power Trip Festival 2023; Fan-Filmed Video Streaming

October 8, 2023, 6 months ago

news ac/dc power trip festival 2023 heavy metal

Power Trip, the historic three-day event takes place this weekend - October 6th, 7th and 8th - at Empire Polo Fields in Indio, CA, bringing together six iconic bands that define loud and powerful music. 

On October 7th, AC/DC performed live for the first time in seven years at Power Trip 2023. Fan-filmed video from the band's 24 song set can be viewed below.

"If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" "Back In Black" "Demon Fire" (live debut) "Shot Down In Flames" "Thunderstruck" "Have A Drink On Me" "Hells Bells" "Shot In The Dark" (live debut) "Stiff Upper Lip" (first time since 2003) "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" "Shoot To Thrill" "Sin City" "Givin The Dog A Bone" "Rock 'N' Roll Train" "You Shook Me All Night Long" "Dog Eat Dog" (first performance with Brian Johnson since 2009) "High Voltage" "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be" "Riff Raff" (first performance with Brian Johnson since 1996) "Highway To Hell" "Whole Lotta Rosie" "Let There Be Rock"

Encore: "T.N.T." "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)"

AC/DC and Judas Priest performed on Saturday, October 7th, and Metallica and Tool perform on Sunday, October 8th.

This unique night-time desert setting with unmatched concert production will amplify the experience beyond the traditional stadium or parking lot concert norm with three double-billed headlining performances. This is the most rocking lineup to ever perform in an unparalleled location for heavy music audiences looking for an unforgettable weekend escape.

For more information about ticket types, packages and more, head here .

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Power Trip 2023: AC/DC rocks festival with first live show in seven years

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It had been seven years since AC/DC played a live show, but on Saturday at Power Trip, it was evident that the iconic hard rock band had little, if any, rust to shake.

AC/DC brought a ton of energy to the crowd of an estimated more than 80,000 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

The performance came following years of speculation over whether the band would play together again. In their sixth decade making music, lead singer Brian Johnson was losing his hearing and had followed doctor’s orders to stop performing live.

The last time the group played together live was on Sept. 20, 2016, in Philadelphia, following a seven-leg, 79-date "Rock or Bust" world tour that included Gus N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose on vocals for the final 22 shows.

With longtime bassist Cliff Williams coming out of retirement, Matt Laug filling in on drums for Phil Rudd, and Angus and Stevie Young back on guitar, the band was reunited for at least one show here at Power Trip.

AC/DC went on stage promptly at 9:45 p.m., following Judas Priest, and played 25 songs until concluding at midnight. Fireworks exploded in the sky following the energetic performance.

The band opened for the first time ever with the song "If you Want Blood (You Got It)." By the fifth song, "Thunderstruck," the crowd was headbanging, dancing and singing along.

The set included all of the band’s big hits, yet also included "Demon Fire" and "Shot in the Dark" for the first time live. The two songs are from the band’s 2020 studio album "Power Up."

The band also played "Stiff Upper Lip" in a live show for the first time since 2003, and "Riff Raff" for the first time with Johnson since 1996.

The show felt like a full-circle moment, with the band playing here at Coachella in 2015, a year before AC/DC stopped touring.

Halfway through Saturday’s set, it appeared that a teenage boy sitting behind me was having a moment.

“This is the best time of my life,” the boy told his dad following "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "Shoot to Thrill," the 10th and 11th songs of the set.

The visual effects of the set were as impressive as the vitality. When the band played "Thunderstruck," the massive video monitors behind the stage displayed a video with thunder. During "Highway to Hell," huge (graphic) flames shot up the monitors and on the stage.

Angus Young was especially animated. By the fifth song, his hat had blown off. He eventually ripped his trademark sports coat off, and not long after, his tie was gone and his shirt was unbuttoned. He played a more than 10-minute guitar solo toward the end of the set.

The band concluded its set with an encore featuring "T.N.T" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)."

Fans from all across the globe made the trek to see this show. A Power Trip Facebook group drew thousands of members leading up to the festival, which included Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses on Friday and will conclude with Tool and Metallica Sunday. Some on the fan page said they'd traveled to Indio from as far as Brazil, Germany, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand and seemingly everywhere in between.

Many did so likely because this could be a one-time-only show by the legendary group — or it’s perhaps the start of what could be more shows still to come.

If Saturday provided any indication, this group could still put on a live show with the best of them.

We spent years speculating whether AC/DC would ever play a live show again. Hopefully we don’t have to do that again.

More: AC/DC setlist

Andrew John is a reporter for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network covering Power Trip. Email him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AC/DC brought the energy to Power Trip, its first show in seven years

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Related tags, ac/dc to play first live show in seven years after power trip festival announcement.

This will be the first time they have performed together since 2016.

Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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AC/DC have announced that they will be playing live for the first time since 2016, after the final line up for Power Trip Festival was confirmed this morning.

• READ MORE: Guns N’ Roses to release limited-edition ‘London 1991’ CD

Despite the band releasing a new album, Power Up , in 2020, this will be the first time they have played live together in seven years, and the first since guitarist Malcolm Young passed away in 2017. Young was forced to retire from touring due to ill health in 2014, and was joined in retirement by vocalist Brian Johnson in 2016, who was advised by doctors to retire mid-tour due to hearing damage – he was replaced for the rest of the tour by Axl Rose.

Happily, however, Johnson will likely be able to return to the stage with AC/DC for the Power Trip performance thanks to a new type of in-ear monitor that will protect his damaged hearing while he fronts one of rock’s most enduringly popular bands.

Young’s nephew Stevie replaced Malcolm following his retirement and will join the returning Phil Rudd on drums, alongside the ever-present and seemingly indefatigable Angus Young on lead guitar.

Alongside AC/DC the Power Trip Festival will see performances from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne, who announced he would be performing this week just months after retiring from touring due to ongoing health problems.

Tickets for the three-day rock festival, which take place in the Coachella festival grounds, are set for release on 6 April at 10am Pacific Time. There are also a variety of hotel and VIP packages to choose from.

This is not the first time that some of the star-studded line up have been on the same bill – Metallica did a co-headline tour with Guns N’ Roses back in 1992.

AC/DC has not yet scheduled any future performances, but considering the whole band is performing for this one show, it would be unsurprising if they had more planned in the future.

For more information about Power Trip Festival, and how to get tickets, you can head to PowerTrip.live .

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Watch New Video Of AC/DC's Performance At POWER TRIP Festival

The Joel Steele   YouTube channel has uploaded quality new fan-filmed video of AC/DC 's first show in seven years, which took place on October 7 at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California.

The legendary hard rockers ran through a 24-song set to close out day two of the three-day event at Empire Polo Club.

AC/DC 's performance marked the first time the band opened its set with "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" . The concert also included live debuts for two tracks from 2020's "Power Up" album, "Demon Fire" and "Shot In The Dark" .

AC/DC 's setlist was as follows:

01. If You Want Blood (You've Got It) 02. Back In Black 03. Demon Fire (live debut) 04. Shot Down In Flames 05. Thunderstruck 06. Have A Drink On Me 07. Hells Bells 08. Shot In The Dark (live debut) 09. Stiff Upper Lip (first time since 2003) 10. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 11. Shoot To Thrill 12. Sin City 13. Givin The Dog A Bone 14. Rock 'N' Roll Train 15. You Shook Me All Night Long 16. Dog Eat Dog (first performance with Brian Johnson since 2009) 17. High Voltage 18 Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be 19. Riff Raff (first performance with Brian Johnson since 1996) 20. Highway To Hell 21. Whole Lotta Rosie 22. Let There Be Rock

23. T.N.T. 24. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

AC/DC recruited drummer Matt Laug to perform with the band at Power Trip .

The 55-year-old Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alanis Morissette , Alice Cooper , SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and Vasco Rossi . Matt moved to Los Angeles after graduating from South Florence High School in 1986 and after attending college in L.A., Matt became a sought-after studio drummer.

In 2001, Laug supported AC/DC as part of SLASH'S SNAKEPIT on the North American and European legs of the "Stiff Upper Lip" tour.

In its announcement about Laug 's addition to the band's Power Trip lineup, AC/DC offered no explanation for the absence of the band's longtime drummer Phil Rudd , who rejoined AC/DC for the recording of the group's comeback album, "Power Up" , which came out in November 2020.

Rudd was ousted from AC/DC when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band's "Rock Or Bust" tour by Chris Slade , who had previously served as AC/DC 's drummer between 1989 and 1994, playing on the album "The Razor's Edge" .

Rudd , who appeared on all but three of AC/DC 's 18 previous studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job" . It was the release of that album that led indirectly to Rudd 's arrest, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

During an appearance on a November 2020 episode of Dean Delray 's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, Rudd confirmed that the seed for his return to AC/DC was planted at the funeral of AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017. Rudd , singer Brian Johnson and bassist Cliff Williams all attended the ceremony. At the time, the three musicians were considered former members of AC/DC , with Johnson and Williams both having left in 2016 for health reasons, while Rudd was sidelined in 2015 with various legal issues.

" Angus and I had a good chat at Mal 's funeral and caught up," Rudd recalled. "[After I played on the 'Rock Or Bust' record] there was crazy shit going on, but since then, I'd got my shit together and put a little band together, I went to Europe and was doing a bit of playing and stuff and did [a solo] album. The guys knew I was still playing, so when I caught up with Angus at the funeral, we were sort of chatting away and somehow, he just sort of [asked me] if I was up for [doing a new AC/DC ] album. And he started writing the next day. He went in the studio and started writing straight away."

Angus told Rolling Stone that it was indeed Malcolm 's funeral that helped heal old wounds.

"[ Phil ] was there and in good shape," the guitarist said. "He was keeping himself well together. He was getting therapy and sorting himself out. It was really good."

Johnson added that he and the rest of AC/DC welcomed Rudd with open arms. "I speak for all the boys with Phil ," he said. "We defend Phil to the hilt. What happened up there, that's not the Phil we know. That was just something else. He's really looking brilliant now and doing everything great."

AC/DC postponed the last 10 dates of its spring 2016 North American trek after Johnson was advised to stop playing live or "risk total hearing loss." The band went on to complete the European and North American legs of its "Rock Or Bust" tour with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist." At the time, Johnson had been AC/DC 's singer for 36 years, ever since replacing the late Bon Scott in 1980 and making his debut on the classic "Back In Black" album.

To enable him to perform live with AC/DC again, Johnson worked with audio expert Stephen Ambrose , who said he could help resolve the singer's hearing problems.

Ambrose , who invented the wireless in-ear monitors that are widely used by touring artists today, claimed to have invented a new type of ear-bud that would allow Johnson to perform without causing further damage to his eardrums. After three years of experimenting and "miniaturizing" the equipment, Johnson previously said the technology could allow him to tour again.

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Watch remastered HD footage of Bon Scott-fronted AC/DC performing Jailbreak live in London in 1976

AC/DC have released a remastered high-definition video of their performance of classic track Jailbreak in London in 1976.

The performance, featuring the late Bon Scott on vocals, can be be viewed below.

Scott was joined in AC/DC's lineup at the time by guitarists Angus Young and the late Malcolm Young, drummer Phil Rudd and bass player Mark Evans.

Alongside a social media post teasing the video, AC/DC say: "Not aired in 40 years, check out this promo clip of the band performing Jailbreak , shot in London in July 1976, remastered in HD!"

The performance was shot at Wimbledon Theatre on July 13, 1976, for the Super Pop-Rollin' Bolan show. Two other tracks were performed alongside Jailbreak – Live Wire and Can I Sit Next To You Girl.

AC/DC  kick off their 21-date Power Up tour at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on May 17, and wrap things up at the Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, on August 17. The schedule includes two UK shows at London's Wembley Stadium on July 3 and 7.

AC/DC: Power Up tour dates

May 07: Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena, Germany

May 21: Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena, Germany

May 25: Reggio Emilia RCF Arena, Italy

May 29: Seville La Cartuja Stadium, Spain

Jun 05: Amsterdam Johan Cruyff Arena, The Netherlands

Jun 09: Munich Olympic Stadium, Germany

Jun 12: Munich Olympic Stadium, Germany

Jun 16: Dresden Messe, Germany

Jun 23: Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium, Austria

Jun 26: Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium, Austria

Jun 29: Zurich Letzigrund Stadium, Switzerland

Jul 03: London Wembley Stadium, UK

Jul 07: London Wembley Stadium, UK

Jul 13: Hockenheim Ring, Germany

Jul 17: Stuttgart Wasen, Germany

Jul 21: Bratislava Old Airport, Slovakia

Jul 27: Nuremberg Zeppelinfeld, Germany

Jul 31: Hannover Messe, Germany

Aug 09: Dessel Festivalpark Stenehei, Belgium  

Aug 13: Paris Hippodrome, France

Aug 17: Dublin Croke Park, Ireland

Ticket information .