Excitment grows for AC/DC’s return as bagpipers descend on Fed Square for world record attempt

AC/DC fever is taking over the streets of Melbourne as eager fans arrive hours early to the MCG for the official kickoff to the band’s triumphant return to Australia.

The Wednesday night show at the MCG will be AC/DC’s first on home soil in almost a decade. They will perform again at the 100,000-person stadium on Sunday before travelling to Sydney.

Uncle Darrin Hodges and James Van Hest (right) queuing in front of the MCG.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Fan James Van Hest, who is a musician, has tickets to eight of the nine Australian shows.

The 22-year-old performs as Angus Young in an AC/DC tribute band. He has travelled to their concerts overseas and has an AC/DC tattoo.

He and uncle Darrin Hodges drove from Sydney to catch the first performance. They arrived at the MCG at 9:30am, more than seven hours before the gates are scheduled to open.

“I can’t wait … There’s no other music that gives me the same feeling,” Van Hest said. “Of course I like other bands, but to me, there’s no other band that does it the way they do it.”

Meanwhile, more than 300 bagpipe players are expected to congregate at Federation Square on Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to break the world record for the largest group performance of the Scottish instrument.

The ensemble will perform a rendition of It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll), inspired by the music video where band member Bon Scott travels down Swanston Street playing the bagpipes.

AC/DC’s Power Up tour started in Europe in 2024 before heading to North America. Wednesday’s MCG show kicks off the Australian leg of their tour – it will be the band’s first home performance since 2015.

A small smattering of fans were already queuing at the MCG on Wednesday morning.Credit: Chris Hopkins

In Australia, they will be supported by local act Amyl and the Sniffers, recently nominated for their first Grammy Award. The tour will travel to Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

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