Six years ago, during the promotion of the album "Rock or Bust", Angus Young took his leave by throwing us "AC / DC has not finished surprising you".
From there to think that he would still go through such tragedies and adventures: the death at 64 of his brother Malcolm, rhythm guitarist, co-founder and co-author of the group, the arrest and addictions of his drummer Phil Rudd (66), the withdrawal of singer Brian Johnson (73), victim of deafness (replaced on the last tour by Axl Rose, the voice of Guns N 'Roses), the departure of bassist Cliff Williams (70), victim of dizziness on the tour ...
There was reason to wonder if the most popular of hard rock groups (200 million albums sold since 1973!) Had not switched off forever.
And then surprise, in August 2018, stolen photos showed the entire group in the studio in Vancouver.
And finally released this Friday "PWR / UP", or "Power Up", which means "power on".
To know the genesis of this almost miraculous 17th album, we joined this Tuesday in Sydney, Australia, the face and guitar hero of AC / DC, Angus Young, the last survivor of the original group, the youngest too, 65 years old. .
The eternal schoolboy, electric battery on stage but calm and balanced in life, tells with emotion how he reconnected with his fellow travelers.
This new AC / DC album is a miracle!
ANGUS YOUNG.
Ah yes, we have come a long way!
There was a very long hole, a lot of things happened.
But the happy thing is that I had so many songs and everyone was excited to get together.
Brian, Cliff and Phil, my nephew Stevie
(Editor's note: 63)
reprising the role of my brother Malcolm, we were all happy to meet in a small room to play new AC / DC songs.
The cover of "PWR / UP" ("Power Up"), the band's 17th album.
/ Columbia / Sony
Like a bunch of old friends ...
Yes that's it.
We've known each other for so long… For various reasons Brian, Phil and Cliff were part of the band, but when we don't see each other we miss each other.
You know, I never thought the band was going to break up.
At the end of the last tour, at the end of 2016, I knew that I would do something again with AC / DC, I didn't know what but I knew that there was still more to say.
When I got home I started doing what I can do again, playing guitar, writing songs… I listened to what we started to create with Malcolm for our last album together, “Black Ice ”
(Editor's note: released in 2008)
and there were really a lot of songs.
He wanted some to come out someday, so I figured it was a good time.
I called my friends back and offered to come back on board.
How? 'Or' What ?
We met again at my brother's funeral
(Editor's note: in November 2017)
.
I knew Brian was working with a specialist in new hearing technologies and was very happy with the results.
I knew he was very keen to come back.
The same goes for Cliff and Phil, who immediately answered my call.
For me that was ideal because it is the iconic AC / DC, the one that the world has known and that I have known since the 1980s.
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The disappearance of your brother brought a special emotion to your reunion.
This album is our tribute to Malcolm.
In the studio, everyone was very motivated.
With our loyal producer Brendan O'Brien, we worked hard.
We really care about it.
Brian sings thunder ...
It's true, he's a hell of a singer.
And the new technology he's using for his ears is working wonderfully.
Earlier this year, we got together in Amsterdam to shoot the video for “Shot In The Dark” and rehearse under concert conditions, to see if everything was going well.
Brian was more than enthusiastic!
It went so well that we were considering giving a few dates in the wake.
Sadly, the pandemic hit us and the world closed in.
Your album is being released in full reconfinement in many countries, in particular in France where the record stores are closed.
Are you worried?
We trust our house, Sony Music.
She had everything prepared and thought it was the best time.
Hopefully everyone can find the record ... France is a major country for us
(Editor's note: in the top 5 in terms of album sales)
.
Have you considered stopping the band?
The most difficult moment was to recover from the death of Bon Scott
(Editor's note: the first singer of the group, in February 1980)
.
We were still very young and it was very painful.
It was Malcolm who got us out of there.
He called me after a few days: "Instead of moping and being depressed, why don't we get back to work on those songs we were making with Bon?"
In retrospect, this was the best therapy.
Now for the tour?
Yes, as soon as the health situation is safe for everyone and everywhere in the world.
I don't know yet what we'll do, big or small shows.
But we are impatient.
The stage is what AC / DC does best.
And the audience is our sixth member.
Will you celebrate the band's 50th anniversary on stage in 2023?
I hope so, my fingers crossed!
It'll be a hell of a birthday, we've been on the road for so long.
We sang it from our beginnings: “It's A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock'r'roll”.
You told me during our previous interview that “AC / DC survives everything”.
Do you still think so?
Yes
(Laughs)
.
I speak only for myself, but me, I continue.
It's a part of my life, like it was a part of my brother's life.
I keep wearing AC / DC because he too had this urge to carry on until we were no longer able to.
And then I hope that we will do good to people.
Who knows ?
Maybe our music will inspire a medical genius to find the vaccine that will cure us all.
AC / DC rekindles the fire
What does not kill you makes you stronger.
The aphorism could be engraved on the front of the 17th album of AC / DC, Income of the Devil Vauvert.
"PWR / UP" is an act of resilience, of rebirth.
Echoing their monumental "Back In Black" released exactly forty years ago and sold over 50 million copies, where the group mourned their first singer Bon Scott, this album pays tribute to Malcolm Young, deceased in November 2017, older brother of Angus, co-founder and co-author of all songs in the formation, including the twelve short stories.
This gives the work an extra soul, a flame that its predecessors did not have.
This "PWR / UP" does not reinvent the powder, but it makes it speak.
The grandpas do more than resistance, they put their heart (and choirs) to work and rekindle the fire on many titles, "Realize" which spins an entrance slap, "Through The Mists Of Time", whose tribute to Malcolm Young moves, or the hard-hitting “Witch's Spell”, “Demon Fire”, “Money Shot” and “System Down”.
In a world in full blues, the return (in form) of AC / DC arrives at peak… to give a kick to the buttocks.
And relaunch record sales at half mast.
EDITOR'S RATING: 4/5
“PWR / UP”,
from AC / DC, Columbia / Sony, from € 15.99 per CD to € 44.99 (super deluxe edition).
Release Friday, November 13.