On July 26, Phil Rudd, the former drummer of AC/DC, played his first major show since 2018 at Spark Arena in Auckland. The concert drew a crowd of 13,000 fans. Rudd joined the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Sarah-Grace Williams, for a unique blend of hard rock and orchestral music.
The 29 musicians put a fresh spin on classic hits from legendary bands. The concert featured massive metal anthems from Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and AC/DC, all enhanced by powerful orchestral arrangements, electrifying guitar solos, and stunning visuals.
Rudd took to the drum kit and powered through four tracks, including AC/DC favorites “Thunderstruck” and “Back in Black,” along with his own song, “Head Job.” The set wrapped up with “It’s a Long Way to the Top,” a track that hasn’t been performed by AC/DC since 1979.
The stage was filled with talent, as Jon Toogood from Shihad delivered strong vocals. Jennie Skulander of Devilskin and EJ Barnes, daughter of Jimmy Barnes, also joined in. Jol Mulholland handled the sound mixing for the event.
This concert marked Rudd’s return to the spotlight after leaving AC/DC in 2015 due to legal issues in New Zealand. It was his first major performance since November 2023, when he played “T.N.T.” with a local band. Although Rudd played drums on AC/DC’s 2020 album, Power Up, Matt Laug now fills in for him at live shows.
The orchestra played 15 songs, including hits from Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Van Halen, System of a Down, and Tool, blending rock and metal with strings and powerful drums. David Higgins, founder of Duco Touring, called having Rudd perform a dream come true. Rudd is looking forward to future collaborations with AC/DC.
