Hells Bells, AC/DC Tore up AT&T

Written By Christie Bilbo

Photos by Javier Vicencio

I don’t know who at AT&T Stadium oversees entertainment, but the Dallas/Fort Worth area owes them a huge thank you for signing AC/DC to play on April 14, 2025. This was hands down one of the year’s best concerts for me.

For a band that has been around for 52 years, they drew approximately 80,000 people. This concert was not for us “older” folks—it was a family affair. Families brought their young children to this concert; you could see the excitement in those young eyes. It made my heart swell with pride to see how this was a bonding event for the entire family. All I could think was how my four-year-old granddaughter would be over the moon if I brought her with me.

I can remember when I first fell in love with AC/DC. I had heard several of their songs on the radio station Q102 in the 1970s and 1980s. However, in the summer of 1986, I knew I was listening to something that was blowing my mind—the album “Who Made Who” was popular. The movie Maximum Overdrive had the album as the soundtrack. Living in Lake Worth, we would be at the lake, my house in my bedroom, or lying by our pool, repeatedly listening to the tape until we wore it out. I knew every song and was obsessed. I stood in line at Hastings to get the tape and later the album.

That summer was memorable for me as a teenager. I had finally found my groove with the music I loved. I was starting to discover mutual friends who listened to the same music. I would spend my Friday and Saturday nights at Joe’s Garage. I was discovering this entire world of heavy metal, and once I dipped my toes into that pool, I was drawn in and have never come back from the deep end.

As someone who doesn’t attend many events at AT&T, I found parking easy. I struggled once I was in the stadium and quickly became frustrated, and I wasn’t the only one. I was looking for my section and asked the first person I encountered where section C137 was. His directions were like the directions Dorothy got from the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Pointing, he said, “It’s over that way. NO, it’s that way. Sorry, it’s this way.” He did this several times, saying, “It’s that way, through the glass doors, and you’ll see your section.” I walked the entire circle of the stadium. I found another worker, who sent me back in the opposite direction. When I made my second lap, I encountered a small group of people in black AT&T shirts and asked if they could please help me. Because it was now obvious, the people in the orange and white shirts didn’t know their heads from their butt’s. The team leader, Shanita, walked me to the section I was to be in and left me with an usher to show me my seat. Once settled and missing 30 minutes of the opening act, I was excited to see the show finally.

That’s when all hell broke loose. A man and his wife came up and told me I was in their seat. Grabbing my phone, I showed him my ticket and pointed to the number on my seat. I also explained that the usher had brought me to my seat. He was getting confrontational, and I tried telling him I would find the usher. When I found an usher, I explained what happened, and I was taken to my seat and was told that this was mine. He looked at my ticket and started yelling at me as well. I was utterly flabbergasted by all this. Not once had I raised my voice or gotten accusatory. Everyone standing around me was staring at the usher who was screaming and pointing at me, telling me I was stealing someone’s seat, and he was going to call security. Thankfully, a man stepped in and told the usher he was out of line and that it wasn’t my fault. He watched the usher show me to my seat; I wasn’t stealing any seat. I found another person who could help me and found the correct seat this time. The woman I was talking to told me that it was “Stadium People,” and they think they control the universe and have this god-like complex and bully people.

I can’t say much about the show Pretty Reckless put on. I couldn’t watch it entirely due to speed walking around the stadium. However, I did get to hear their set. From what I heard, they were good.

They took the stage at 7:00 p.m. and started the night with “Death by Rock and Roll.” One of my favorites of theirs is “Follow Me Down.” The lead singer, Taylor Momsen, has a fantastic voice. However, she is known for her roles as Cindy Lou in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Gossip Girl.”

Although their setlist included only nine songs, they put on a great show, and the crowd was enthusiastic. The band supports AC/DC on the tour’s North American and European legs.

The crowd was so excited about the preparation of AC/DC getting set up on stage. The throng of people moving to their seats was overwhelming. Hundreds of people were rushing to get ready. I had seen a video on Facebook that showed the bell installation and knew that we all would be in for one helluva ride once the guys took the stage.

At 8:35 p.m., the lights went down, and the band strolled out. The crowd erupted in a tremendous roar, and with the first strum of the guitar from Angus, there was no stopping them. Opening with “If You Want Blood,” the mood was set, and Angus and Brian took center stage and lit the place up.

Brian Johnson, in his usual all black attire and signature pageboy hat, you couldn’t tell he was 77 years old. Where many have lost their ability to sound like they did in their youth, Johnson still has the strong, distinctive voice he is known for.

Phil Rudd was backing the band up on drums. At 70, he can still lay down a great beat that holds the magic the band is known for. He’s been the drummer for the band three separate times: 1975-1983, 1994-2015, and 2018-present.  You can say what you want about his abilities, but for the band to keep bringing him back is a testament to how good he is.

Chris Chaney stepped in for Cliff Williams as the touring bassist. With his career and notoriety as a member of Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette, and Taylor Hawkins and the Coattails Riders, he has proven to hold his own against such a formidable member of AC/DC.

I’ve saved the best for last: Angus Young. The lead guitarist for the band since 1970, he is known for his schoolboy outfits, jumping and duckwalking, and pentatonic scales. His love for the blues and the aggressiveness of rock ‘n’ roll have solidified his style as one of the greatest guitarists ever.

Their entire setlist was amazing:

1. If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
2. Back in Black
3. Demon Fire
4. Shot Down in Flames
5. Thunderstruck

Almost every school, college, and professional sport has played this at some time. It’s just one of those songs that everyone knows and will never get old.

1. Have a Drink on Me
2. Hells Bells

They lowered an illuminated bell when this song played, and you could hear it tolling. The crowd went crazy. The entire stadium sang along, and you couldn’t hear Johnson for the crowd. All I can say is it was AWESOME!

1. Shot in the Dark
2. Stiff Upper Lip
3. Highway to Hell

Angus did what Angus is known for. He donned his devil horns and tore up the stage, moving everywhere. He was doing his notorious duckwalk. He ripped the guitar to shreds, throwing out such frisson that it was palpable. The synesthesia was felt through my entire body and by the time the song was over, my body felt overstimulated.

1. Shoot to Thrill
2. Sin City
3. Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

This is just a down-and-dirty song. It makes you feel a little angst. If you are having some unwanted trouble in your life, just ring 3-6-2-4-3-6. He leads a life of crime.

1. High Voltage
2. Riff Raff
3. You Shook Me All Night Long

Who hasn’t heard this amazing song at a bar while out with their friends? Just singing this song with 80,000 people was probably the most exhilarating thing I have experienced thus far.

1. Whole Lotta Rosie
2. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

1. N.T.
2. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

During the final two songs, they rolled out 12 cannons with spotlights illuminating them. During the song “For Those About to Rock,” the cannons started to fire. All I can say is that it was EPIC! It was perfect for the song.

I simply want to say that if you didn’t have chills down your spine at some point, then you were not invested in the vibe. Not only was the music pulsating, and you could feel the vibrations, but I had chills down my arms and spine. For someone who loves music as much as I do, this was possibly one of the best moments in my concert-attending history.

Music has played such a pivotal role in my life. I can listen to a song and recall everything happening around me for the first time. Monday night, I saw and felt just pure, unadulterated bliss. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some amazing concerts. But this has been one of my bucket list bands that I have never had the opportunity to visit. Now, I can say that if I never see another concert in my life, I will be content.

I’ve been watching this summer’s concerts, which are starting to pop up. We are in for some fantastic shows. It’s still early, so there will be plenty of time for more to be added. That said, get ready to party it up and see your favorite band or artist this summer…because with everything going on in this crazy world, we need a little distraction.

See you at the next concert!

THE FANS

PRETTY RECKLESS

AC/DC