# Ballbreaker World Tour

The Ballbreaker World Tour was a concert tour played by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, in support of their thirteenth studio album Ballbreaker, which was released on 26 September 1995. This tour had 5 legs around the world lasting 11 months starting on 12 January 1996 in Greensboro, North Carolina finishing on 30 November 1996 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

## Background

This was Phil Rudd's first tour with the group since he rejoined in 1994. The band started the tour in North America, followed by a European leg and an Australian leg at the end of the tour. The band also performed in South America, playing to audiences of 65,000 in Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
A video was played at the beginning of each concert featuring Beavis and Butt-head. Each concert began with a large wrecking ball dropping down from a 38-foot crane and 'destroying' part of the stage which was a cement wall behind the drum riser, forming a gap in the stage, from which the band would emerge to open the show with "Back in Black". The sound system for the tour carried more than 50,000 watts. Each show would conclude with "For Those About to Rock", which featured six working cannons.
The Wildhearts supported on the second European and third US legs. "It turned from majesty to comedy to tragedy all in one month," shuddered mainstay Ginger. "We got there [the US] and took full advantage of the welcome that America affords a young band, which is as much drugs and alcohol as we could get our hands on – and then, inevitably, we started fighting with each other… I love AC/DC. They turn up, do their job and go. You tour for years and years and you don't do that by hanging out and partying all the time… We managed five dates."

## Reception

Brian Gnatt from the Michigan Daily, gave the Detroit performance a positive review. He opened his review, stating that despite the band's ages, they had a lot of untapped energy as they did 22 years ago. Gnatt praised the sound, stating that the guitar licks were as fresh as the day they were recorded as well as Brian Johnson's vocals - stating that they sounded good as ever despite the weakness of his voice on the Ballbreaker album. Also praising the performance of the band, Gnatt stated that it outshone all of the antics on stage, while also stating that Angus Young looked to be having fun while performing to screaming fans.
Dale Martin from the Victoria Advocate had also given the band's performance a positive review. He opened his review, noting that the band thrives on simplicity and is a constant in the music world. The audience at the show as more subdued and expressed many approval, with the audience singing "You Shook Me All Night Long" until they lost their voices. Martin noted on the setlist changes in which the band performed all phases of their career. When Angus Young began his guitar solo, Martin said it lasted forever and that he was all over the place until he disappeared and reappeared on top of a burly security guard. He concluded his review, stating that fans at the end of the show were in awe and probably a little deaf, with sound reading decibels coming in at 129.

## Opening acts

* The Poor
* The Wildhearts
* Joe Satriani
* Sepultura

## Tour dates

List of 1996 concerts, showing date, city, country and venue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 12 January 1996 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum |
| 13 January 1996 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum |
| 15 January 1996 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum |
| 17 January 1996 | Memphis | United States | Pyramid Arena |
| 18 January 1996 | Birmingham | United States | BJCC Arena |
| 20 January 1996 | St. Petersburg | United States | Thunderdome |
| 21 January 1996 | Miami | United States | Miami Arena |
| 22 January 1996 | Daytona Beach | United States | Ocean Center |
| 23 January 1996 | Atlanta | United States | The Omni |
| 25 January 1996 | Houston | United States | The Summit |
| 26 January 1996 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center |
| 27 January 1996 | San Antonio | United States | Alamodome |
| 3 February 1996 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena |
| 4 February 1996 | San Jose | United States | San Jose Arena |
| 5 February 1996 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| 7 February 1996 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena |
| 8 February 1996 | Vancouver | Canada | General Motors Place |
| 9 February 1996 | Vancouver | Canada | General Motors Place |
| 10 February 1996 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome |
| 12 February 1996 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| 13 February 1996 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond |
| 14 February 1996 | Phoenix | United States | America West Arena |
| 16 February 1996 | Mexico City | Mexico | Palacio de los Deportes |
| 17 February 1996 | Mexico City | Mexico | Palacio de los Deportes |
| 21 February 1996 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| 2 March 1996 | Minneapolis | United States | Target Center |
| 3 March 1996 | Rockford | United States | Rockford MetroCentre |
| 5 March 1996 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center |
| 7 March 1996 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| 8 March 1996 | Evansville | United States | Roberts Municipal Stadium |
| 9 March 1996 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| 11 March 1996 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall |
| 13 March 1996 | Landover | United States | USAir Arena |
| 14 March 1996 | Philadelphia | United States | CoreStates Spectrum |
| 15 March 1996 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 17 March 1996 | East Rutherford | United States | Continental Airlines Arena |
| 18 March 1996 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center |
| 19 March 1996 | Boston | United States | FleetCenter |
| 21 March 1996 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| 22 March 1996 | Toronto | Canada | SkyDome |
| 24 March 1996 | Fairborn | United States | Ervin J. Nutter Center |
| 25 March 1996 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| 27 March 1996 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| 28 March 1996 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| 30 March 1996 | Cleveland | United States | Gund Arena |
| 31 March 1996 | Cleveland | United States | Gund Arena |
| 1 April 1996 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Center |
| 2 April 1996 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena |
| 4 April 1996 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena |
| 20 April 1996 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum |
| 21 April 1996 | Stockholm | Sweden | Globen Arena |
| 23 April 1996 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Ice Hall |
| 25 April 1996 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Forum Copenhagen |
| 26 April 1996 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Scandinavium |
| 29 April 1996 | Kiel | Germany | Ostseehalle |
| 30 April 1996 | Berlin | Germany | Deutschlandhalle |
| 1 May 1996 | Leipzig | Germany | Messehalle |
| 3 May 1996 | Utrecht | Netherlands | Prins Van Oranjehal |
| 4 May 1996 | Frankfurt | Germany | Festhalle Frankfurt |
| 5 May 1996 | Frankfurt | Germany | Festhalle Frankfurt |
| 7 May 1996 | Dortmund | Germany | Westfalenhalle |
| 8 May 1996 | Dortmund | Germany | Westfalenhalle |
| 10 May 1996 | Stuttgart | Germany | Schleyerhalle |
| 11 May 1996 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| 12 May 1996 | Geneva | Switzerland | Geneva Arena |
| 14 May 1996 | Bolzano | Italy | PalaOnda |
| 15 May 1996 | Bologna | Italy | PalaDozza |
| 16 May 1996 | Rome | Italy | PalaLottomatica |
| 17 May 1996 | Milan | Italy | Filaforum |
| 19 May 1996 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
| 21 May 1996 | Mannheim | Germany | Maimarkthalle |
| 22 May 1996 | Mannheim | Germany | Maimarkthalle |
| 23 May 1996 | Liévin | France | Stade Couvert Régional |
| 24 May 1996 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 25 May 1996 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 27 May 1996 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 28 May 1996 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 29 May 1996 | Prague | Czech Republic | Prague Sports Hall |
| 1 June 1996 | Glasgow | Scotland | SECC Arena |
| 2 June 1996 | Aberdeen | Scotland | AECC Arena |
| 3 June 1996 | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | Newcastle Arena |
| 17 June 1996 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena |
| 19 June 1996 | Manchester | England | MEN Arena |
| 21 June 1996 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 22 June 1996 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 26 June 1996 | Dublin | Ireland | Point Theatre |
| 28 June 1996 | Ghent | Belgium | Flanders Expo |
| 29 June 1996 | Nancy | France | Zénith de Nancy |
| 30 June 1996 | Lyon | France | Halle Tony Garnier |
| 2 July 1996 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau Sant Jordi |
| 3 July 1996 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau Sant Jordi |
| 6 July 1996 | Lisbon | Portugal | Estádio do Restelo |
| 9 July 1996 | Madrid | Spain | Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas |
| 10 July 1996 | Madrid | Spain | Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas |
| 11 July 1996 | Madrid | Spain | Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas |
| 13 July 1996 | Bordeaux | France | Parc des Expositions |
| 1 August 1996 | Wantagh | United States | Jones Beach Amphitheater |
| 2 August 1996 | Hartford | United States | Meadows Music Theater |
| 3 August 1996 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| 6 August 1996 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena |
| 8 August 1996 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
| 10 August 1996 | Calgary | Canada | Olympic Saddledome |
| 12 August 1996 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena |
| 13 August 1996 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena |
| 15 August 1996 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| 16 August 1996 | Paradise | United States | Thomas & Mack Center |
| 17 August 1996 | Irvine | United States | Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre |
| 19 August 1996 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| 21 August 1996 | St. Louis | United States | Riverport Amphitheater |
| 22 August 1996 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center |
| 24 August 1996 | New Orleans | United States | Lakefront Arena |
| 26 August 1996 | Murfreesboro | United States | Murphy Center |
| 27 August 1996 | Lexington | United States | Rupp Arena |
| 28 August 1996 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena |
| 30 August 1996 | West Palm Beach | United States | Coral Sky Amphitheater |
| 31 August 1996 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Coliseum |
| 1 September 1996 | North Charleston | United States | North Charleston Coliseum |
| 3 September 1996 | Winston-Salem | United States | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 6 September 1996 | Philadelphia | United States | CoreStates Spectrum |
| 7 September 1996 | Albany | United States | Knickerbocker Arena |
| 8 September 1996 | Worcester | United States | Worcester Centrum |
| 10 September 1996 | Charleston | United States | Charleston Civic Center |
| 12 September 1996 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center |
| 13 September 1996 | Columbus | United States | Polaris Amphitheater |
| 14 September 1996 | Tinley Park | United States | New World Music Theater |
| 11 October 1996 | Curitiba | Brazil | Pedreira Paulo Leminski |
| 12 October 1996 | São Paulo | Brazil | Estádio do Pacaembu |
| 18 October 1996 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | River Plate Stadium |
| 19 October 1996 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | River Plate Stadium |
| 22 October 1996 | Santiago | Chile | Velódromo Estadio Nacional |
| 2 November 1996 | Perth | Australia | Burswood Dome |
| 5 November 1996 | Adelaide | Australia | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
| 7 November 1996 | Melbourne | Australia | Centre Court |
| 8 November 1996 | Melbourne | Australia | Centre Court |
| 9 November 1996 | Melbourne | Australia | Centre Court |
| 11 November 1996 | Boondall | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 13 November 1996 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 14 November 1996 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 15 November 1996 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 17 November 1996 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 18 November 1996 | Boondall | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 21 November 1996 | Darwin | Australia | Marrara Oval |
| 24 November 1996 | Cairns | Australia | Cairns Showgrounds |
| 27 November 1996 | Auckland | New Zealand | Ericsson Stadium |
| 30 November 1996 | Christchurch | New Zealand | Queen Elizabeth II Park |

### Cancelled dates

List of cancelled dates, showing date, city, country, venue and reason of cancellation :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Reason |
| 22 March 1996 | Quebec City | Canada | Colisée de Québec | — |
| 18 June 1996 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — |
| 10 September 1996 | College Park | United States | Bryce Jordan Centre | — |

### Box office score data

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references :
| Date (1996) | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross |
| 12 January | Greensboro, United States | Coliseum | 15,899 | $375,487 |
| 13 January | Charlotte, United States | Coliseum | 15,870 | $387,982 |
| 17 January | Memphis, United States | The Pyramid | 16,463 | $356,992 |
| 18 January | Birmingham, United States | BJCC Arena | 10,005 / 10,704 | $245,123 |
| 20 January | St. Petersburg, United States | Thunderdome | 12,583 / 15,000 | $293,974 |
| 23 January | Atlanta, United States | Omni Arena | 12,994 | $331,347 |
| 25 January | Houston, United States | Summit | 13,433 | $315,975 |
| 27 January | San Antonio, United States | Alamodome | 15,237 | $361,482 |
| 7 February | Portland, United States | Rose Garden | 15,626 / 17,000 | $355,740 |
| 10 February | Tacoma, United States | Dome | 19,397 | $443,469 |
| 13 February | Anaheim, United States | Arrowhead Pond | 10,503 / 11,400 | $241,742 |
| 14 February | Phoenix, United States | America West Arena | 12,737 | $314,109 |
| 16–17 February | Mexico City, Mexico | Sports Palace | 29,304 / 31,218 | $595,105 |
| 2 March | Minneapolis, United States | Target Center | 15,010 | $367,745 |
| 9 March | Chicago, United States | United Center | 15,725 | $393,125 |
| 11 March | Louisville, United States | Freedom Hall | 16,404 | $390,138 |
| 15 March | New York City, United States | Madison Square Garden | 13,656 | $461,770 |
| 19 March | Boston, United States | FleetCenter | 15,033 | $428,441 |
| 27–28 March | Auburn Hills, United States | Palace | 32,887 | $822,175 |
| 30–31 March | Cleveland, United States | Gund Arena | 35,082 | $860,430 |
| 4 April | Dallas, United States | Reunion Arena | 15,671 | $352,515 |

## Personnel

* Brian Johnson – lead vocals
* Angus Young – lead guitar
* Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Cliff Williams – bass, backing vocals
* Phil Rudd – drums