Before she was the globe-dominating pop icon and American Horror Story scene-stealer, Lady Gaga (https://amzn.to/4kFANIM) was just a 17-year-old kid in the background of an AC/DC video, headbanging like her life depended on it! All of this taking place in the year 2000, Nearly 25 years ago. the video was “Stiff Upper Lip”, and even then, she refused to fade into the crowd. The superstar recalling that The directors told her:“hmmm. Don’t head bang…“—to keep the video ‘modern’. Gaga, naturally, didn’t. As she later admitted, “There’s only one move I can do“.
Flash forward to the present day, and the story comes full circle thanks to Apple TV’s Carpool Karaoke Christmas Special. Gaga’s riding shotgun when AC/DC’s Brian Johnson hops behind the wheel. Suddenly, the opening riff to “Highway to Hell” (https://amzn.to/4gEv0jM) blasts through the speakers. Her face lights up like the stage show for “Thunderstruck.”
“This is the moment!” she proudly exclaims before tearing into the AC/DC classic with him like a woman possessed. Johnson, clearly impressed, says, “Look at the girl!”.
It’s a nod to the past, and humble beginnings for gaga. who’s spent her entire career defying expectations and doing it her way. From singing jazz with Tony Bennett (https://amzn.to/41GyvCc), to winning a Golden Globe for her chilling turn in American Horror Story: Hotel. she’s blossomed into a multi-talented entertainer. With album sales nearly matching that of the band that gave her a start! (Lady Gaga: 170 Million Albums sold – AC/DC: 200 Million Albums sold)
Meanwhile, AC/DC—undisputed kings of hard rock—are gearing up to hit the road once again. The band has announced a 2025 U.S. tour, their first stateside stomp in nearly a decade. The Tour Kicks Off In Minneapolis, MN and Makes Nine More Stops before Coming to An End in Cleveland, OH. Get your tickets for the tour, and find out if angus & company will be stopping in your town by visiting the tour website: https://www.acdc.com/tour/
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Works Cited
- Brannigan, Paul. “This is the moment!” Watch Brian Johnson and Lady Gaga smash their duet of AC/DC classic Highway To Hell during Apple TV’s Carpool Karaoke Christmas Special. Classic Rock Magazine.
- Apple TV+. Carpool Karaoke Christmas Special.
- YouTube. AC/DC – Stiff Upper Lip (Official HD Video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Z8WIlaPH4
- AC/DC Official Tour Announcement, 2025. https://www.acdc.com/tour/
- People Magazine https://people.com/lady-gaga-headbanging-extra-acdc-music-video-carpool-karaoke-8762041
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