Laying to rest rumors of an imminent retirement, Columbia Records has announced the release of Rock or Bust, the new studio album from AC/DC, available December 2. Beginning Saturday, Turner Sports will provide fans a sneak peek of the new track “Play Ball” as part of the 2014 Major League Baseball postseason campaign. The content will run for several weeks across TBS, the home to this year’s American League postseason coverage.
Rock or Bust is the first AC/DC studio album in six years – and first without rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in the band’s 41 year history. It features 11 songs, along with the addition of Stevie Young, nephew of founding members Angus and Malcolm Young. Stevie filled in for Malcolm in the studio and will accompany the band on tour, much like he did during the three-leg, six month long North American tour for 1988’s Blow Up Your Video while Malcolm battled alcohol addiction. Earlier this year AC/DC released a statement explaining that due to illness, Malcolm would be taking a break from the band. Unfortunately, due to the nature of Malcolm’s condition, he will not be returning to the band. AC/DC will undertake a world tour in support of Rock or Bust in 2015.
It remains to be seen how much the departure of Malcolm will be affect the sound of the group, as the guitarist was responsible for some of the core riffs in the AC/DC catalog, including “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap),” “Riff Raff” and “Overdose.” He’s also credited as a primary songwriter for all of the band’s songs, and has been the sole c0-writer with Angus since 1990’s The Razor’s Edge.
Rock or Bust follows the successful Black Ice album, which debuted at #1 in 31 countries upon its release in 2008 and has gone on to sell nearly eight million copies worldwide. Rock or Bust was recorded in this past spring at Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC and finds AC/DC once again working with producer Brendan O’Brien and mixer Mike Fraser.
Joining Stevie and Angus Young will be longtime bassist Cliff Williams, drummer Phil Rudd and singer Brian Johnson, who replaced the late Bon Scott after the band released the classic Highway to Hell, which turned 35 last month and received the New Ordered treatment from Vanyaland.
