You recognise the opening riff of "Highway to Hell" before the first bar is over, and suddenly you can't sit still. This sound gets a pub going just as easily as a stadium. And you might be surprised where the name of this band came from: the Young brothers spotted it on a label on the back of a sewing machine, where the abbreviations for alternating and direct current were printed. The same relative who pointed out that label reportedly also had a hand in the lightning bolt in the logo. If you're searching for AC/DC Brno and want to feel that charge live, I have good news: it rings out in Brno regularly, even if not directly from Angus Young's mouth.

In the following guide we'll look at where and when you can enjoy a tribute to this Australian legend in Brno, who is behind it all, and why their rock still sounds so alive after half a century.

AC/DC Brno: where to hear that sound in Brno

The strongest event for the search term AC/DC Brno is the tribute to singer Bon Scott on 26 September 2026 at Metro Music Bar; before that, Brno also has a revival evening below Špilberk in the calendar.

Let's be upfront about it right from the start: the original AC/DC won't be visiting Brno's club scene. What you get in Brno are tributes and revivals - bands that live and breathe the Youngs' songs and try to bring that drive back to a small stage as faithfully as possible. That might sound like a substitute, but it isn't. Die-hard fans know that a club gathering where the guitarist is within arm's reach and you're surrounded by a like-minded crowd has an energy that an arena can never offer.

The main draw of the season is the evening AC/DC - Bon Scott Memorial Band + Akupunktura at Metro Music Bar on 26 September 2026. Before that you can also go to Iron Maden revival + AC/DC revival at Letní kino Špilberk on 21 August 2026. And anyone willing to travel out of the city will find AC/DC tributes elsewhere around the country - I'll go into that below. You can browse a complete overview of what's coming up in our events calendar.

Metro Music Bar, 26 September: a tribute to the Bon Scott era

On 26 September 2026, Metro Music Bar will bring together three names on one poster: Bon Scott Memorial Band, the acoustic punk of Akupunktura, and a celebration of Rudy Zelina's fiftieth birthday.

The name makes it clear what Bon Scott Memorial Band is all about: honouring the years when Bon Scott was still standing at the AC/DC microphone. And that is the rawest era of the band. While the later hit "Back in Black" is known today even by people who know nothing about rock, connoisseurs hold records like "Let There Be Rock" or "Highway to Hell" in the highest regard - albums where Scott's raspy, cocky voice and double-edged lyrics defined what AC/DC actually sounds like. That is the era this tribute focuses on.

Joining them on the same stage is the acoustic punk of Akupunktura, and the whole evening is held in the spirit of Rudy Zelina's fiftieth birthday celebration. It's not a big concert production, but rather a club celebration among fans, and that's exactly why people come. The exact start time, tickets, and further information about the event can be found on the concert page, which also links to the official Metro Music Bar programme.

Who was Bon Scott, to whom the tribute belongs

Bon Scott was the first great frontman of AC/DC, a charismatic wild spirit whose voice you'll find on the band's first seven albums, and who died tragically young.

His story is a rock film in its own right, and it begins in a rather unexpected way. Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was born in Forfar, Scotland, on 9 July 1946 and moved to Australia with his family in 1952. He left school around the age of fifteen, drifted through odd jobs while constantly trying to break through with music. He drummed in The Spektors, sang with The Valentines, then settled in with the progressive band Fraternity. In 1974, however, he found himself "between bands" again and took a job that would make him part of history: for ten dollars a night he drove tour vehicles around Australia. The first band he drove was AC/DC.

The Young brothers were not happy with their singer at the time, Dave Evans, and knowing that Scott sang and was out of work, they offered him the spot. The story goes that one evening Evans refused to go on stage and Scott stepped in for him. However exactly it happened, he stepped in so well that he stayed at the microphone and in 1974 became the second singer of AC/DC. On stage he was a force of nature that fans adored; Classic Rock magazine voted him the greatest frontman in history in 2004, ahead of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.

It was that untamed lifestyle that proved his undoing. After an evening with a heavy dose of alcohol at the Music Machine club in London on 19 February 1980, he fell asleep in a parked car and was found dead the next day. He was thirty-three, and the cause was listed as acute alcohol poisoning, officially "death by misadventure". The band considered calling it quits. In the end they decided otherwise, and that decision changed the history of rock.

Where that unmistakable sound came from

AC/DC were formed in 1973 in Sydney around Scottish brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, and their music is held together by simple but irresistible riffs.

The Youngs were born in Glasgow and as children moved with their family to Sydney, where they founded the band in 1973. Angus, the one in short trousers and a school uniform, plays lead guitar; Malcolm played rhythm and was the real driving force and main songwriter. And although the world places AC/DC among the pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, they always insisted they simply play rock'n'roll.

Back to that opening story about the name. When the brothers were racking their brains before a New Year's Eve show over what to call themselves, their relative Margaret came up with the idea: on the back of her sewing machine the letters "AC/DC" were printed, the abbreviation for alternating and direct current. The name symbolised energy and was easy to remember, and that fit perfectly. It is said that the same Margaret also had a hand in Angus's school outfit; when she was making costumes for the band, Angus apparently took a liking to the uniform. Whether that's exactly how it happened is for everyone to decide for themselves, but the schoolboy look became one of the most recognisable visual trademarks in rock.

The magic of AC/DC lies paradoxically in that simplicity. Angus builds on the legacy of Chuck Berry, Malcolm's rhythm guitar was rooted in fifties rock'n'roll and blues rock, and a typical song is recognisable by a strong riff, a few simple chords, a blues solo, and a sudden ending. When someone pointed out to Angus that the band kept making the same album, he reportedly replied calmly that that wasn't true, because they had made the same album sixteen times. The breakthrough came at the end of the seventies: in 1979 they exploded onto the international scene with their sixth, multi-platinum record Highway to Hell.

The comeback of all comebacks: Back in Black

When it seemed that Scott's death would finish the band, one of the greatest returns in rock history arrived - the record Back in Black.

After Scott's death in February 1980, the band briefly considered calling it a day, but eventually found a new singer in Brian Johnson, formerly the frontman of Geordie. The album Back in Black, which they recorded with him, was released as a tribute to the late Bon; the black cover was a symbol of mourning, and tracks like "Hells Bells" and the title track "Back in Black" are dedicated to Scott directly. The result exceeded all expectations: the record became the second best-selling album in history, right behind Michael Jackson's Thriller.

That it was no fluke is proven by the numbers across their entire career. AC/DC have sold over 200 million records, they rank among the most successful rock bands of all time, and in 2003 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That is precisely why their songs are played in clubs around the world to this day, and why faithful tributes make sense: the repertoire is timeless and the audience knows it to the last note.

Revival or original? And where to find AC/DC around Brno

The original AC/DC play enormous stadiums; revivals offer something different: club intimacy and an evening built from exactly what a fan wants to hear. Around Brno you can choose from several events.

The Brno offering illustrates this nicely. Alongside the club evening at Metro Music Bar, you have the open-air revival double bill at Letní kino Špilberk on 21 August 2026, where an AC/DC revival meets a tribute to Iron Maiden. A classic summer rock ride, a great way to kick off the season beneath the castle.

Those who enjoy travelling for music can head beyond the region's borders. AC/CZ and their "Top AC/DC tribute show" play on 8 August 2026 in Mečichov, specifically at the Mečichov sports ground. Three weeks later, on 29 August 2026, the AC/DC revival Concert takes place at the TJ Ligmet sports ground in Milín. Both are typical summer open-air events where rock goes hand in hand with sitting outside and a beer. More rock evenings across the Czech Republic can be found in our concerts section.

Practical tips: tickets, venue, and what to expect

Tickets for club events disappear faster than you'd expect, so sort them out in advance and go through the organiser's official channels or the event detail page.

Metro Music Bar is an established Brno club with a long rock and metal programme, but also with limited capacity. If the evening of 26 September with Bon Scott Memorial Band appeals to you, don't leave your ticket to the last minute. Tickets and the exact start time can be found on the event detail page, which links to the organiser's official programme. For the open-air concerts in Milín and Mečichov, bear in mind that they take place outdoors, so keep an eye on the weather and bring a layer in case it gets cold.

A few tips that come in handy at any tribute event. Arrive a little early so you have time for a drink and can grab a decent spot, because club concerts have no numbered seats and you'll be standing. And if you're going mainly for the hits from the Bon Scott era, check in advance which era the band focuses on; with Bon Scott Memorial Band, fortunately, it's clear right from the name. If you're also drawn to other live music, browse the overview of other acts in the artists section.

Frequently asked questions

Do AC/DC actually play in Brno?

No, the original AC/DC with Angus Young and Brian Johnson do not come to Brno's clubs. When you come across their songs in Brno, it's revival and tribute bands playing their repertoire live. The nearest of these is the tribute to Bon Scott at Metro Music Bar on 26 September 2026.

Who was Bon Scott and why does he get his own evening?

Bon Scott was the first great singer of AC/DC and his voice can be found on the band's first seven albums. He died in February 1980 after a night of excessive alcohol consumption, at just thirty-three years of age. His era is considered by fans to be the rawest and most beloved, and that is precisely why bands like Bon Scott Memorial Band dedicate an entire concert to it.

Where can I buy tickets for the concert at Metro Music Bar?

The surest route is through the event detail on kdykam, from where you can reach the organiser's official programme. For club events I recommend buying a ticket in advance, as capacity is limited and good rock evenings tend to sell out.

What other AC/DC-themed events are there around Brno?

Right in Brno, an AC/DC revival plays on 21 August 2026 at Letní kino Špilberk. Further afield you'll find AC/CZ on 8 August 2026 in Mečichov and an AC/DC revival Concert on 29 August 2026 in Milín.

Where did the name AC/DC actually come from?

The abbreviation comes from a label on the back of a sewing machine, where it stood for alternating and direct current. The idea was brought to the band by the Young brothers' relative, and the name caught on mainly because it symbolised energy well and was easy to remember.

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