After months of rumors, AC/DC finally confirmed that frontman Brian Johnson is returning to the band along with drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams.

The band shared a new image of them alongside guitarist/co-founder Angus Young and nephew Stevie Young, who took over for the late Malcolm Young on guitar in 2015.

The band has been teasing this reunion on Twitter all week with a series of short videos that show the red AC/DC lightning bolt logo flickering back to life. There’s no official word on what the band is announcing beyond the return of these three members, but they are using the hashtag #PWRUP and that may refer to a new single or album they are on the verge of rolling out. A couple of weeks back, photos emerged that showed the band on the set of a new video.

AC/DC have shared a photo confirming the return of Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams.

The rock legends took to social media at 1pm today (Wednesday 30th September) to share a photo of their current line-up and the title of their new album (or possibly single), ‘PWR UP’.

The current incarnation of AC/DC features Angus Young on lead guitar, Brian Johnson on vocals, Cliff Williams on bass, Phil Rudd on drums and Stevie Young on rhythm guitar.

Ever since Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd were spotted at Vancouver’s Warehouse Studios back in August 2018, speculation has been rife about their return and a new AC/DC album.

Brian Johnson retired from touring during the Rock or Bust Tour and was replaced by Axl Rose after doctors warned him to quit touring or risk going deaf. Cliff Williams retired at the end of the tour.

Phil Rudd, meanwhile, was replaced by Chris Slade for the Rock or Bust World Tour due to legal woes he was facing in New Zealand.

After photos of the current line-up ‘accidentally leaked’ on the band’s official website earlier this month, AC/DC began teasing an announcement on Monday (28th September) by updating all of their profile images on their various social media platforms to their iconic lightning bolt logo.

A 10-second teaser video featuring the AC/DC lightning bolt as a neon light alongside the sound of a musical instrument plugging into an amplifier was also shared.

On Tuesday (29th September), AC/DC launched a ‘PWR UP’ website and the following video:

Eagle-eyed AC/DC fans also unearthed what seem to be album credits, accidentally left in the preview image for the new website.

The incredibly blurry image, according to forum members on acdcfans.net, shows that the album was written by Angus and the late great Malcolm Young, with previous collaborator Brendan O’Brien producing. Long-time engineer and mixer Mike Fraser is also apparently listed on the credits, which would make sense given his history with the band, having worked on their last 10 albums.

As well as these latest online revelations from the band, AC/DC’s army of fans across the globe have been spotting posters popping up from Sweden to Acca Dacca’s very own Australia.

In August 2018, JAM Magazine quoted sources who claimed that the new AC/DC album will be dedicated to the memory of Malcolm Young and feature his distinctive rhythm guitar playing lifted from recording sessions several years before ‘Black Ice.’

At the start of 2020, Australian broadcaster called Eddie McGuire claimed that AC/DC would release their much-rumoured new album in February or March of this year before embarking on a global tour. This didn’t happen, however it could have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In January 2019, grindcore trio Terrorizer said on Facebook that Brian Johnson had told them he was back in AC/DC.

They wrote: “We ran into Brian Johnson from AC/DC at the airport today after the flight home and we asked him about the rumours of him being on the new AC/DC album and he said ‘yes’ and that he is ‘sick of denying it.’ So that was a cool surprise ending to the tour.”

Then in April 2019, the band’s long-term engineer Mike Fraser confirmed that AC/DC have been in the studio “doing something”and weeks later US radio DJ Eddie Trunk quoted “reliable sources” who told him AC/DC will “absolutely” tour with Brian Johnson.

AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’ was voted the 12th best rock song of all time by Planet Rock listeners in our legendary and much-debated poll. Check out where else they charted!