AC/DC + The Pretty Reckless at Allegiant Stadium
With a limitless supply of dirty riffs, snarling vocals, and timelessly catchy, anthemic choruses, AC/DC is one of the most important and most lasting forces in hard rock. Founded in the early ’70s by Scottish-born brothers and , the Aussie band exploded onto the international stage in 1979 with the release of their multi-platinum-selling sixth album, Highway to Hell. The death of charismatic frontman in 1980 threatened to derail the group, but AC/DC powered through. They recruited vocalist and unleashed their most successful effort to date, Back in Black, which has become the second best-selling album in history. The band continued to help define the sound of hard rock and metal throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and beyond, spawning countless imitators and enjoying steady, consistent commercial success. They also became one of the best examples of arena rock, playing to enormous crowds as the years went on, and rocking as hard as ever on studio albums like 1990’s pop-glinted The Razor’s Edge and 2020’s Power Up, both of which reached the upper tiers of multiple charts.
AC/DC were formed in 1973 in Australia by guitarist after his previous band, the Velvet Underground, collapsed (no relation to the seminal American group). With his younger brother Angus serving as lead guitarist, the band played some gigs around Sydney. Angus was only 18 at the time, and his sister suggested that he wear his school uniform on-stage; the look became the band’s visual trademark. While still in Sydney, the original lineup featuring singer Dave Evans cut a single called “Can I Sit Next to You,” with ex- Harry Vanda and George Young ( and Angus’ older brother) producing.
The band moved to Melbourne the following year, where drummer (formerly of ) and bassist Mark Evans joined the lineup. The band’s chauffeur, , became the lead vocalist when singer Dave Evans refused to go on-stage. Previously, had been vocalist for the Australian prog rock bands and . More importantly, he helped cement the group’s image as brutes — he had several convictions for minor criminal offenses and was rejected by the Australian Army for being “socially maladjusted.” AC/DC were socially maladjusted. Throughout their career they favored crude double entendres and violent imagery, all spiked with a mischievous sense of fun.
The group released two albums — High Voltage and T.N.T. — in Australia in 1974 and 1975. Material from the two records comprised the 1976 release High Voltage in the U.S. and U.K.; the group also toured both countries. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap followed at the end of the year. In the fall of 1977, AC/DC released Let There Be Rock, which became their first album to chart in the U.S. Mark Evans left the band soon after, with taking his place. Powerage, released in spring of 1978, expanded their audience even further, thanks in no small part to their dynamic live shows (which were captured on 1978’s live If You Want Blood You’ve Got It). What really broke the doors down for the band was the following year’s Highway to Hell, which hit number 17 in the U.S. and number eight in the U.K., becoming the group’s first million-seller.
AC/DC’s train was derailed when died on February 19, 1980. The official coroner’s report stated he had “drunk himself to death.” In March, the band replaced with . The following month, they recorded Back in Black, which would prove to be their biggest album, selling over ten million copies in the U.S. alone. For the next few years, they were one of the largest rock bands in the world, with For Those About to Rock We Salute You topping the charts in the U.S. In 1983, left after the recording of Flick of the Switch; he was replaced by Simon Wright.
With Flick of the Switch, AC/DC’s commercial standing began to slip, and they weren’t able to reverse their slide until 1990’s The Razor’s Edge, which spawned the hit “Thunderstruck.” While not the commercial powerhouse they were during the late ’70s and early ’80s, the ’90s saw AC/DC maintain their status as a top international concert draw. In the fall of 1995, their 16th album, Ballbreaker, was released. Produced by , the album received some of the most positive reviews of AC/DC’s career; it also entered the American charts at number four and sold over a million copies in its first six months of release. Stiff Upper Lip followed in early 2000 with similar results. AC/DC signed a multi-album deal with in 2001 that resulted in a slew of reissues and DVDs, and they returned to the studio in 2008 for Black Ice, an all-new collection of songs that topped charts in numerous countries (including Australia, the U.S., and the U.K.) and was followed by the group’s first world tour since 2001. Two years later, the band’s music was featured heavily in the action movie Iron Man 2, and a compilation was released in conjunction with the film under the title Iron Man 2.
As AC/DC began work on a new album with producer in 2014, they announced that was suffering from dementia and had left the band; his nephew took his place at recording sessions and the accompanying 40th anniversary tour, and subsequently joined the group full-time. Just prior to the December release of Rock or Bust, drummer was arrested under charges of attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill, and possession of cannabis and methamphetamine. Although the arranged murder charges were dropped, the others remained and the drummer’s future with the band was uncertain. Nevertheless, AC/DC marched forward with the release of Rock or Bust and plans for a tour in 2015. In 2017, died in November at the age of 64. Following a two-year hiatus, the band reunited with producer for their 17th studio album, Power Up, which became their third consecutive number one album in Australia and their third chart-topper in the U.S. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
A swaggering outfit influenced by rock, post-grunge, and metal, the Pretty Reckless is the main musical vehicle for lead singer and actress Taylor Momsen. Emerging in 2010 after Momsen‘s success as a star on the hit TV series Gossip Girl, the band grabbed fans with their glammy, trad-rock sound, inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Hole, and the Runaways. Following some early chart success, the group broke through with 2014’s Going to Hell, hitting number five on the Billboard 200 and topping the mainstream rock charts with the song “Messed Up World (F’d Up World).” They have continued to build a loyal fan base, touring alongside veteran acts like Soundgarden and scoring more mainstream rock hits like “Take Me Down” (from 2016’s Who You Selling For), as well as the title track off 2021’s Death by Rock and Roll. The latter was followed a year later by a companion release called Other Worlds. The holiday-themed Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas arrived in 2025, with the full-length Dear God appearing the following year.
Born in 1993 in St. Louis, Missouri, Momsen grew up acting and modeling from a young age and initially rose to fame while still in her teens starring on the popular CW TV drama Gossip Girl. While acting was a main focus, she had been raised listening to her parent’s classic rock albums and long harbored a love of singing. She formed the Reckless in 2009, later changing the band’s name to the Pretty Reckless to avoid trademark problems. With Momsen on vocals, John Secolo on guitar, Matt Chiarelli on bass, and Nick Carbone on drums, the group began finding a balance between classic hard rock and more contemporary post-grunge. They worked quickly, playing some initial shows in New York City before landing an opening slot on the Veronicas‘ North American tour several months later. The tour went well, and Interscope Records signed the band before the year was up.
The Pretty Reckless completely revised their lineup in 2010, with Momsen retaining her frontwoman role as guitarist Ben Phillips, bassist Mark Damon, and drummer Jamie Perkins all replaced her previous bandmates. After spending several months in the studio, the group released their first single, “Make Me Wanna Die,” on the Kick-Ass soundtrack. The band’s first album, Light Me Up, saw release in Europe and Australia in late summer of 2010 and the record rolled out in North America in 2011. The Pretty Reckless toured steadily behind Light Me Up, releasing the Hit Me Like a Man EP in March 2012. A year later, the group’s second full-length album, Going to Hell, appeared. Going to Hell performed better than their first LP, debuting at number five on Billboard’s Top 200, partially on the strength of the mainstream rock hits “Heaven Knows,” “Messed Up World,” and “Follow Me Down.” The album also went to number eight in the U.K.
Two years later, the Pretty Reckless returned with their third album, the Kato Khandwala-produced Who You Selling For. Buoyed by the number one mainstream rock single “Take Me Down,” the set reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and spawned several more singles with “Oh My God” and “Back to the River.” The band toured for the album, eventually joining Soundgarden as an opening act. They were with Soundgarden for the group’s last performance with singer Chris Cornell on May 17, 2017, at Detroit’s Fox Theatre the night before his death.
By November 2019, Momsen and the Pretty Reckless were back in the studio, working on tracks with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron. They eventually signed with Fearless Records and in February 2021 released their fourth full-length, Death by Rock and Roll. The title-track single debuted on top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and was followed by “And So It Went,” which landed at number 12 and featured Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello. The album itself hit number 28 on the Billboard 200 and was followed in October 2022 by Other Worlds, a collection of covers, remixes, and alternate version of songs from Death by Rock and Roll.
Continuing her close association with Soundgarden, Momsen joined the surviving members of the band, along with guests Brandi Carlile and Mike McCready, for a live performance during their November 2025 induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same month, she released the holiday-themed EP, Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, which featured a reworked version of the song “Where Are You Christmas?” (aka “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You?”) which she originally sang in her role as Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dear God, the band’s fifth studio long-player, appeared the following year; it took an unflinching, hard-rock-leaning collection of songs, including the streaming hit “For I Am Death,” that saw the Pretty Reckless pair their signature heavy sound with deeply personal songwriting.