Rock royalty AC/DC ready to pass down crown to Melbourne punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers

Is AC/DC passing the torch as Australia’s biggest rock band?

Embarking on their first tour of Australia in a decade, the ageing rock legends tapped Melbourne punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers as the support act for the five-city run of shows in the Power Up tour at the end of this year.

The nod to the emerging punk rock icons — who have played Glastonbury and Coachella so far this year — has sparked the question of whether AC/DC has nominated their successor to the title of the country’s biggest rock export.

Started in 2017 by four housemates, Amyl and the Sniffers is led by singer Amy Taylor — an outspoken 29-year-old whose on-stage presence mirrors that of the late great AC/DC singer Bon Scott.

Joining Taylor are drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Mehrtens and bassist Gus Romer, creating a classic rock sound with punk vibes and a thick, Aussie accent.

Tour promoter Christo van Egmond said Amyl and the Sniffers matched AC/DC’s live performance energy and attitude.

They were his top recommendation to the band for openers, describing them as “the natural choice”.

“Amyl and the Sniffers have absolutely blown up over quite a period. But they are very hot at the moment, and we’re seeing them everywhere,” van Egmond said.

“In the pub rock genre they are at the top of their game, and certainly the biggest Australia has got to offer.

“It’s a unique opportunity for them to play with their absolute heroes.

“One of the guys has got a huge AC/DC tattoo. They they love the band.”

He said AC/DC fans can expect a performance which has good Australian pub rock energy.

It’s not the first time the band has been linked to AC/DC, with Taylor highlighting them as a major influence in previous interviews.

The group covered AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap at Perth’s Highway to Hell festival in 2020, to rave reviews.

One critic said they could be Scott’s “bastard children”.

After the announcement the band would be joining AC/DC on tour, Taylor took to social media dubbing them the “the best rock and roll band in the world”.

“I just can’t believe it I am so excited. Never ever ever would have dreamed this. Highlight of my literal life,” she wrote, before adding, “a band’s music that’s been weaved through my whole life.”

“Mainly just excited to see them play multiple times.”

Van Egmond also revealed that each concert would be opened by a local support act, backing in the Perth live music scene by finding an up and coming band to play Optus Stadium for the two nights

“It’s going to be an amazing series of concerts, and at a great time of the year with, you know, Amyl and the Sniffers as a great special guest and then some great local openers in in each in each of the markets,” he said.

“We’re supporting the local music scene by having local openers, and then we’re, you know, supporting the Australian music scene by having an Aussie band like Amyl and the Sniffers.”

It comes as tickets for the second and final Perth show on December 8 went on sale on Monday, with organisers saying sales were strong.

After announcing shows across Australia last week, the band scheduled a second concert in each city after tickets sold at an average rate of 1200-a-minute

Ticketek, the official ticketing provider for most of the Australian shows, said last Thursday marked the largest concert on-sale day in its 40-year history, eclipsing AC/DC’s previous record for its Black Ice World Tour in 2009.

“This second Perth show will definitely be the final show that will be added to the Australian tour,” van Egmond said

“We can confirm that absolutely no further shows will be added to the Australian leg.”