Phil Rudd returned to the stage – with several AC/DC classics and a full orchestra! The legendary ex – AC/DC drummer returned to action at a sold-out, 13,000-capacity show in New Zealand.
Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has made a triumphant return to the big stage. While his former bandmates tour across Northern Europe, Rudd took to the spotlight in Auckland, New Zealand, playing to a packed crowd of 13,000 at the Spark Arena.
He appeared as a special guest with the Full Metal Orchestra — a powerful fusion of a 29-piece classical orchestra and prominent figures from New Zealand’s rock and metal scenes. Together, they delivered epic renditions of tracks by Metallica, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, Tool, and more.
The show’s star-studded lineup featured Shihad’s Jon Toogood, Devilskin’s Jennie Skulander, and EJ Barnes, daughter of Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes. However, the evening’s biggest highlight was undoubtedly the participation of Phil Rudd himself, who resides in New Zealand.
Rudd took the stage with the band to perform powerful renditions of AC/DC classics “Thunderstruck” and “Back In Black,” as well as his solo track “Head Job”. He later returned for the grand finale — a rousing version of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’N’ Roll),” complete with traditional bagpipes.
“He was a quietly spoken, pleasant sort of guy with a dry sense of humour, though he became a juggernaut behind the kit,” says guitarist Brett Adams, who also plys his trade with country star Tami Neilson, former Crowded House man Tim Finn and just anybody else you care to mention in Kiwi music.
“He knew what he wanted from the (admittedly slightly nervous) band, feel-wise, and gave some pointers. The best one he said to someone, with one song, was, ‘you need to drink a bottle of whiskey and get into a street fight!’
“Having thrashed the albums “Highway To Hell”, “For Those About To Rock” and “Back In Black” in my teens, it was a surreal experience to be just feet away from Phil pumping out that unmistakable powerful groove, and very rewarding when he winked at me and simply said, ‘Good, Brett!'”.
It has not yet been confirmed if the Full Metal Orchestra show was a one-off, or if they (and Rudd, perhaps) will return in the future.
