Australian rock band AC/DC will launch their new album Rock or Bust from a tiny rural town called The Rock on 23 November.
Situated 30kms away from Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales, The Rock is named after a hill that overlooks the town. It is part of Lockhart Shire, which has a population of 3,082.
Rock or Bust is the band’s first album of original material since Black Ice was released six years ago. The record follows the departure of AC/DC’s founding guitarist Malcolm Young, whose family announced he was suffering from dementia in October.
Residents of The Rock will be privy to the songs five days before the album is released globally on 28 November. The first single off the album, Play Ball was released in October.
Sony Music have confirmed the band will not be appearing in the town for the launch.
The record’s unconventional launch location isn’t without precedent. In 2013 French electronic music producers Daft Punk chose another tiny NSW town called Wee Waa to premiere their album Random Access Memories. However an online leak, three days prior to the event, immediately led to attendee cancellations and seemed to dilute the impact of the stunt.
AC/DC fans are expected to travel to The Rock via the Highway to Hell.
