AC/DC Heading Into the Studio This Spring

AC/DC in promotional photo for ‘Black Ice’ in 2008. Photo: Courtesy of Sony Music

It looks like 2014 will be a big year for AC/DC. In an interview with a Florida radio station on Friday, frontman Brian Johnson revealed that the band is about to begin recording new music, as well as planning a special 40th anniversary tour.

“Well, you’ll be the first one to know,” Johnson told 98.7 the Gater’s Andy Preston (as Ultimate Classic Rock reports). “Really, because we’ve been denying anything, ”˜cause we weren’t sure”¦But I think we’ll be going into the studio in May in Vancouver. Which means, we should be getting ready.” 

If it is indeed a new album Johnson is talking about, it would mark AC/DC’s first new studio record since 2008’s Black Ice. Bassist Cliff Williams had revealed last spring that Angus Young and Malcolm Young were at work on new songs but hadn’t yet set a timetable.

Johnson also told the station that the band were planning a special tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. “It’s been 40 years of the band’s existence,” he continued. “So I think we’re gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we’ll have to go out, even though we’re getting a bit long in the tooth. You know what?! It’s been four years [since we last went out on the road], and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bruce Springsteen recently showed the Aussie rockers some love by opening his show in Perth with a cover of their 1979 hit, “Highway to Hell.”