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BRIAN JOHNSON On Performing Live With AC/DC At Age 78: ‘It’s Just More Fun Because We Don’t Care Anymore’
AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson, 78, has spoken about how performing live has changed at this stage of his career, saying the band now enjoys itself more because "we don't care anymore." Speaking alongside guitarist Angus Young, 71, to USA Today during the 2026 North American leg of the band's "Power Up" world tour, Johnson said the unpredictability of live shows still keeps the band sharp, while Young joked his main concern nowadays is simply not tripping over on stage. Both reflected on how age has freed them from the self-seriousness of their younger years, allowing more spontaneous interaction during performances.
The 2026 North American tour launched on 11 July at Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a 21-song set spanning classics such as "Back In Black", "Thunderstruck" and "Highway To Hell", alongside two tracks from the "Power Up" album. It is an 18-date run with support from The Pretty Reckless, marking the second stretch of US dates on a tour that began with AC/DC's 2023 return at California's Power Trip festival and has since included sold-out stadium shows across four continents, including legs in North America and Europe in 2024 and 2025.
In short
- Brian Johnson, 78, says AC/DC now performs with less pressure and more fun
- AC/DC's 2026 North American "Power Up" tour leg began 11 July in Charlotte
- 18-date US run follows earlier 2024-2025 North American and European legs
Explained simply
AC/DC is one of the world's biggest rock bands, formed in Australia in the 1970s. They are known for hard rock classics like "Back In Black" and "Highway To Hell" and have sold tens of millions of albums worldwide.
Brian Johnson, now 78, has been the band's frontman since 1980. The band stepped back from touring for several years but reunited for live performances in 2023 and is currently on an extensive world tour.
Touring as a rock frontman in one's late seventies is relatively uncommon. AC/DC's large-scale stadium tour, which spans multiple continents, represents a significant physical undertaking for performers at this stage of their careers.
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