Tour by AC/DC | |
![]() Full stage at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, 20 October 1980 | |
Location |
|
---|---|
Associated album | Back in Black |
Start date | 29 June 1980 |
End date | 28 February 1981 |
Legs | 5 |
No. of shows | 143 |
AC/DC concert chronology |
The Back in Black Tour was a concert tour by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC in support of their seventh studio album Back in Black, which was released on 25 July 1980.
Background
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/DC_on_stage_L-R_Jonah_Jonson%2C_Malcolm_Young%2C_Angus_Young%2C_Phil_Rudd_and_Mark_Evans.jpg/300px-DC_on_stage_L-R_Jonah_Jonson%2C_Malcolm_Young%2C_Angus_Young%2C_Phil_Rudd_and_Mark_Evans.jpg)
This was AC/DC's first tour with new vocalist Brian Johnson, who replaced Bon Scott after the latter's death in February 1980, making his first appearance on stage on 29 June 1980 in Namur, Belgium.[1][2] The band transported their own one-ton "Hells Bell" on the road, which was lowered to the stage each night as the bell tolls of "Hells Bells" were heard. Johnson would finish it off with several hard hits, hammer in hand as the band commenced the show.[1]
During the North American and European legs, the band were supported by a number of different opening acts, including Humble Pie, Def Leppard, ZZ Top, Blackfoot, Gamma, Whitesnake and Maggie Bell.[1]
Reception
[edit]The responses from the audience during the band's performances in the United Kingdom were described as near rabid with anticipation.[1]
Mike London from Billboard, however, had given the show he attended in New York a negative review - stating that while the band had established itself as a leader in heavy metal, the show lacked imagination and failed to live up to the band's sound, describing the stage theatrics as lifeless and overused. He noted that the fans attending the show had shown a general positive response, but later in the show grew tired of the poses and solos that Angus Young had given. Concluding his review, London stated his disappointment - saying that AC/DC's music deserved better treatment than what the band performed that night.[3]
Set list
[edit]- "Hells Bells"
- "Shot Down in Flames"
- "Sin City" or "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be"
- "Back in Black"
- "Bad Boy Boogie"
- "The Jack"
- "Highway to Hell"
- "What Do You Do for Money Honey"
- "High Voltage"
- "Shoot to Thrill" (played on occasions)
- "Givin' the Dog a Bone" (played on occasions)
- "Whole Lotta Rosie"
- "You Shook Me All Night Long"
- "Rocker" or "Problem Child" or "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" (played on occasions)
- "T.N.T." or "Shake a Leg" ("Shake a Leg" played once)
- "Let There Be Rock"
Tour dates
[edit]Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Warm-up[5] | |||
29 June 1980 | Namur | Belgium | Palais des Expositions |
30 June 1980 | Antwerp | Borgerhout-Zaal Cine Roma | |
1 July 1980 | Deinze | Brielpoort | |
2 July 1980 | Arlon | Hall Polyvalent | |
3 July 1980 | Breda | Netherlands | Het Turfschip |
5 July 1980 | Wateringen | Velo Sporthal | |
Leg 1 — North America[5][6] | |||
13 July 1980 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
14 July 1980 | Calgary | Max Bell Arena | |
16 July 1980 | Vancouver | Pacific Coliseum | |
19 July 1980 | Winnipeg | Winnipeg Arena | |
20 July 1980 | Thunder Bay | Fort William Gardens | |
22 July 1980 | Ottawa | Ottawa Civic Center | |
23 July 1980 | Montreal | Montreal Forum | |
25 July 1980 | London | London Gardens | |
26 July 1980 | Kitchener | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | |
27 July 1980 | Sudbury | Sudbury Community Arena | |
28 July 1980 | Toronto | Maple Leaf Gardens | |
30 July 1980 | Erie | United States | Erie County Fieldhouse |
31 July 1980 | Philadelphia | The Spectrum | |
1 August 1980 | New York City | Palladium | |
3 August 1980 | Landover | Capital Centre | |
6 August 1980 | Norfolk | The Scope | |
7 August 1980 | Roanoke | Roanoke Civic Center | |
8 August 1980 | Charlotte | Charlotte Coliseum | |
9 August 1980 | Fayetteville | Cumberland County Arena | |
10 August 1980 | Greensboro | Greensboro Coliseum | |
12 August 1980 | Atlanta | Fox Theatre | |
13 August 1980 | Knoxville | James White Civic Coliseum | |
15 August 1980 | Johnson City | Freedom Hall Civic Center | |
16 August 1980 | Cincinnati | Riverfront Coliseum | |
17 August 1980 | Toledo | Toledo Speedway | |
18 August 1980 | Dayton | Hara Arena | |
19 August 1980 | Lexington | Rupp Arena | |
20 August 1980 | Nashville | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | |
22 August 1980 | Lakeland | Lakeland Civic Center | |
23 August 1980 | West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach Auditorium | |
24 August 1980 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum | |
26 August 1980 | Houston | Sam Houston Coliseum | |
27 August 1980[a] | Agora | ||
29 August 1980[b] | San Antonio | San Antonio Convention Center | |
30 August 1980 | Dallas | Dallas Convention Center | |
31 August 1980 | Amarillo | Amarillo Civic Center | |
1 September 1980 | El Paso | El Paso County Coliseum | |
4 September 1980 | Long Beach | Long Beach Arena | |
5 September 1980 | Daly City | Cow Palace | |
6 September 1980 | Oakland | Oakland Auditorium | |
7 September 1980[c] | San Bernardino | Orange Pavilion | |
10 September 1980 | Lincoln | Pershing Auditorium | |
11 September 1980 | Bloomington | Met Center | |
13 September 1980 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee Auditorium | |
14 September 1980 | Madison | Dane County Coliseum | |
16 September 1980 | Normal | Horton Fieldhouse | |
18 September 1980 | St. Louis | Kiel Opera House | |
19 September 1980 | Cedar Rapids | Five Seasons Center | |
20 September 1980 | Rosemont | Rosemont Horizon | |
21 September 1980 | Fort Wayne | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum | |
24 September 1980 | Indianapolis | Market Square Arena | |
25 September 1980 | Louisville | Louisville Gardens | |
26 September 1980 | Kalamazoo | Wings Stadium | |
27 September 1980 | Detroit | Cobo Arena | |
29 September 1980 | Columbus | St. John Arena | |
30 September 1980 | Pittsburgh | Stanley Theatre | |
1 October 1980[d] | Cleveland | Public Hall | |
3 October 1980 | Rochester | War Memorial Auditorium | |
4 October 1980 | Buffalo | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | |
5 October 1980 | Syracuse | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium | |
7 October 1980 | Allentown | Stabler Arena | |
8 October 1980 | Uniondale | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum | |
9 October 1980 | Springfield | Springfield Civic Center | |
10 October 1980 | Boston | Orpheum Theatre | |
11 October 1980 | |||
Leg 2 — Europe[5] | |||
19 October 1980 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall |
20 October 1980 | Leicester | De Montfort Hall | |
21 October 1980 | |||
22 October 1980 | Birmingham | Birmingham Odeon | |
23 October 1980 | |||
25 October 1980 | Manchester | Apollo Theatre | |
26 October 1980 | |||
27 October 1980 | Sheffield | Sheffield City Hall | |
28 October 1980 | |||
29 October 1980 | Hanley | Victoria Hall | |
31 October 1980 | Newcastle | Mayfair Ballroom | |
1 November 1980 | Glasgow | Scotland | Apollo Theatre |
2 November 1980 | |||
4 November 1980 | Newcastle | England | City Hall |
5 November 1980 | |||
6 November 1980 | Queensferry | Deeside Leisure Center | |
7 November 1980 | Southampton | Gaumont | |
8 November 1980 | |||
10 November 1980 | London | Hammersmith Odeon | |
11 November 1980 | |||
12 November 1980 | |||
14 November 1980 | Apollo Victoria Theatre | ||
15 November 1980 | |||
16 November 1980 | |||
20 November 1980 | Stockholm | Sweden | Göta Lejon |
22 November 1980 | Oslo | Norway | Chateau Neuf |
24 November 1980 | Kiel | West Germany | Ostseehalle |
25 November 1980 | Köln | Sporthalle | |
26 November 1980 | Hanover | Eilenriedehalle | |
27 November 1980 | West Berlin | Deutschlandhalle | |
29 November 1980 | Paris | France | Le Bourget |
30 November 1980 | |||
2 December 1980 | Nürnberg | West Germany | Messezentrum |
3 December 1980 | Heidelberg | Rhein-Neckar-Halle | |
4 December 1980 | Essen | Grugahalle | |
5 December 1980 | Bremen | Stadthalle | |
7 December 1980 | Frankfurt | Festhalle | |
8 December 1980 | Boblingen | Sporthalle Böblingen | |
9 December 1980 | Saarbrücken | Saarlandhalle | |
10 December 1980 | Hamburg | Messehallen | |
11 December 1980 | |||
13 December 1980 | Strasbourg | France | Hall Rhenus |
14 December 1980 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
16 December 1980 | Ravensburg | West Germany | Oberschwabenhalle |
17 December 1980 | Munich | Olympiahalle | |
19 December 1980 | Lyon | France | Palais des Sports |
20 December 1980 | Lille | Foire Expo Internationale | |
Leg 3 — Europe | |||
8 January 1981 | Metz | France | Parc Expo |
9 January 1981 | Besançon | Palais des Sports | |
10 January 1981 | Grenoble | Alpexpo | |
11 January 1981 | Nice | Trinite Stade Municipal | |
13 January 1981 | Avignon | Parc Exposition de Chateaublanc | |
15 January 1981 | Barcelona | Spain | Palacio Municipal Deportes |
17 January 1981 | Madrid | Pabellon de Deportivo del Real Madrid | |
18 January 1981[e] | San Sebastián | Velodromo Anoeta de San Sebastian | |
19 January 1981 | Toulouse | France | Hall Expo |
20 January 1981 | Pau | Foire Expo Hall F | |
22 January 1981 | Le Mans | La Rotonde | |
23 January 1981 | Brest | Parc de Penfeld | |
24 January 1981 | Caen | Hall Expo | |
25 January 1981 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National |
Leg 4 — Japan[5] | |||
1 February 1981 | Osaka | Japan | Expo Hall |
2 February 1981 | Nagoya | Shi Kokaido Hall | |
4 February 1981 | Tokyo | Nihon Seinenkan | |
5 February 1981 | |||
Leg 5 — Australia[5] | |||
13 February 1981 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre |
17 February 1981 | Adelaide | Memorial Drive | |
23 February 1981[f] | Sydney | Sydney Showground | |
24 February 1981 | Brisbane | Festival Hall | |
25 February 1981 | |||
27 February 1981 | Melbourne | Sidney Myer Music Bowl | |
28 February 1981 |
Cancelled dates
[edit]Date (1980) |
City | Country | Venue | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 July | Nijmegen | Netherlands | De Vereeniging | Low ticket sales (120 sold) |
16 August | Thornville | United States | Legend Valley | — |
27 August | Lafayette | Le Centre Civique | ||
19 November | Copenhagen | Denmark | Odd Fellow Palæet | Stage set did not fit |
Box office score data
[edit]Date (1980) |
City | Venue | Attendance | Gross | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 July | Calgary, Canada | Max Bell Arena | 3,426 | $33,072 | [7] |
16 July | Vancouver, Canada | Pacific Coliseum | 8,197 | $73,773 | |
20 July | Thunder Bay, Canada | Fort William Gardens | 4,249 | $34,929 | |
28 July | Toronto, Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | 8,500 | $80,750 | [3] |
1 August | New York City, United States | Palladium | 3,385 | $30,400 | |
13 August | Knoxville, United States | Coliseum | 6,886 | $54,170 | [8] |
15 August | Johnson City, United States | Freedom Hall | 6,146 | $48,959 | |
6 September | Oakland, United States | Auditorium | 6,500 | $62,350 | [9] |
10 September | Lincoln, United States | Pershing Auditorium | 4,529 | $35,343 | [10] |
13 September | Milwaukee, United States | Auditorium | 6,000 | $51,493 | |
14 September | Madison, United States | Dane County Coliseum | 10,100 | $80,701 | |
18 September | St. Louis, United States | Kiel Opera House | 3,519 | $30,367 | [11] |
27 September | Detroit, United States | Cobo Arena | 11,137 | $107,843 | [12] |
30 September | Pittsburgh, United States | Stanley Theatre | 3,742 | $32,002 | [13] |
3 October | Rochester, United States | War Memorial Auditorium | 10,200 | $76,331 | |
10–11 October | Boston, United States | Orpheum Theatre | 5,600 | $51,059 | [14] |
Personnel
[edit]- Angus Young – lead guitar
- Cliff Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Phil Rudd – drums
- Brian Johnson – lead vocals
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c d Perkins 2011.
- ^ Giles, Jeff (29 June 2015). "The Night Brian Johnson Played His First Show With AC/DC". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ a b London, Mike (16 August 1980). "Talent in Action: AC/DC, Def Leppard". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 32. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ Durieux, Arnaud. "AC/DC Tour History - 1980/81 "Back in Black" World Tour". ac-dc.net. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Masino 2015.
- ^ "North American tour dates". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2 August 1980. p. 64. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2 August 1980. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 35. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 30 August 1980. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 38. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 20 September 1980. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 39. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 September 1980. p. 37. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 40. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 4 October 1980. p. 37. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 41. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 11 October 1980. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 42. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 18 October 1980. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 43. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 25 October 1980. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
Sources
[edit]- Perkins, Jeff (2011). AC/DC: Uncensored on the Record. Warwickshire, England: Coda Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-908538-54-3.
- Masino, Susan (2015). AC/DC FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's True Rock 'n' Roll Band. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4950-2601-0.