The streets of West Perth echoed with rock 'n' roll anticipation on Wednesday as hundreds of dedicated AC/DC fans descended on a pop-up merchandise store, creating a scene reminiscent of a frenzied Black Friday sale.
Long Queues and Big Spending for Limited Edition Gear
A line stretching over 50 metres snaked around Cleaver House from midday, with supporters clad head-to-toe in black, eager to get their hands on exclusive tour apparel, vinyl collections, and posters. The pop-up is part of the legendary rock band's visit to Perth, the penultimate stop on their national Power Up tour, ahead of their two massive shows at Optus Stadium on Thursday and Monday nights.
Fans with tickets to both Perth concerts revealed they had spent upwards of $1500 on the entire concert experience, including their merchandise hauls, expressing no regrets. The store's stock included exclusive items only available for purchase at the Optus Stadium concerts.
Devoted Fans Travel From Near and Far
First in line was superfan Nicholas Seka, who arrived at the ungodly hour of 5.50am. Seka holds tickets to both Perth shows as well as the band's final concert in Brisbane later this month. "I'm just excited to see AC/DC up close again because it's been 10 years since the last one and the fans have been awesome," he told PerthNow.
Matthew O'Hara is undertaking an epic pilgrimage, attending a total of seven shows. He started in Melbourne, flew to Adelaide, and will finish in Brisbane after Monday's Perth performance. He passionately believes the septuagenarian rock icons still deliver unparalleled energy more than five decades into their career, declaring, "They've still got it."
Perhaps the most arduous journey was claimed by Scottish mates Bruce Williamson and Robert Anderson. Their adventure involved a 14-hour boat trip, a train to Glasgow, and flights to Melbourne for those gigs, followed by Sydney and finally Perth. "We've been to the Sydney gigs and now we've flown across to Perth," Mr Williamson said.
Iconic Props and Power Up Libations
The pop-up experience was enhanced with larger-than-life props from the band's storied history, including the actual cannon used on AC/DC's 1988 'Blow Up Your Video' world tour. Fans were encouraged to pose alongside these iconic pieces.
To keep the crowd energised after waiting in the sun, the venue's bar served a special 'Power Up Margarita', mixing tequila, grenadine, triple sec, and lime.
The West Perth pop-up store will operate from 12pm to 10pm on December 3, 5, 6, and 7. On the actual concert days, December 4 and 8, it will open earlier from 11am until 5pm, giving fans one last chance to grab collector's items before the thunder rolls at Optus Stadium.
