Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has revealed the emotional experience he had watching AC/DC return to the stage after seven long years at this month's Power Trip Festival. The event, which saw both bands perform headline sets alongside Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Tool, took place from Friday October 6 to Sunday October 8 at the Empire Polo Club In Indio, California, the same venue that hosts Coachella Festival.
For AC/DC, it marked their first live show since 2016, and the return of Brian Johnson after he was forced to leave the band's last world tour due to alleged hearing issues. Appearing on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation to talk about Metallica's appearance at Power Trip and the festival in general, Ulrich describes AC/DC's set (as transcribed by Blabbermouth) as "a triumph."
"As a lifelong fan, I actually got a little misty-eyed a couple of times when Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] was kind of going out and you could hear the… When he walked out and played his solos on the ramp and stuff, it felt like people were sort of holding him up and really just loving him, appreciating him," Ulrich remembers. "And there was a unity. I'm actually getting misty eyed as we're talking about it. There was a unity and it's that unity that you and I have talked about and that thing about when this community comes together around what we all share, that it was just such a beautiful moment.
"It was just such a triumph," he adds. "And Brian who looked like — I didn't feel like there was anybody anywhere in Southern California that was having a better time than Brian… That shit-eating grin he had on his face. It was so great. What a wonderful moment."
There is no news of any further planned AC/DC dates at present, but rumours persist that the Aussie legends will play more shows next year. Metallica, meanwhile, already have the next stage of their 72 Seasons world tour booked in, with a handful of dates taking place in the US next month before the band hit Europe, North America and Mexico in 2024.
