From opening for AC/DC to the Melodifestivalen stage: The rock journey of Danne Stråhed

In recent days, it was announced that one of Australia’s greatest rock exports, AC/DC, will return home for a long-awaited tour across Australia in November and December 2025.

While it's highly unlikely we'll ever see AC/DC represent Australia at Eurovision (although many fans would like to see Angus Young strut his stuff on the world's biggest stage), the legendary band does have a surprising Eurovision connection.

Back in 1976, during their first-ever tour of Sweden, a relatively unknown AC/DC was supported by a local group called Chinox—which included Danne Stråhed, a singer who would go on to compete in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen in 2022.

Who is Danne Stråhed?

Danne Stråhed a 69 year-old Swedish singer truly has an exciting background. He has been playing music for as long as he can remember and has been part of numerous bands since the mid-1970s.

At the peak of his career, he performed over 300 gigs per year. As a member of the band Chinox, where previously mentioned, they opened for AC/DC!

In 1981, he started the band Änglabarn ("Angel children"), who released one music album and was the pre-show act for Queen during their Scandinavian tour.

For 13 years, he was the frontman of Wizex, one of Sweden’s most popular dance bands. He has had several songs on Svensktoppen which is a Swedish radio record chart, and his music has been streamed over 25 million times. Today, he primarily performs with his own band, Danne & The Dynamo.

In 2022, Danne & The Dynamo competed in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen with the song Hallabaloo where they finished 4th in semi-final 1.

Opening for AC/DC

It was July of 1976 when AC/DC, who were then billed as "Australia’s answer to Status Quo", embarked on their first tour in Sweden.

The venues for the tour were quite small and the group only played in five locations:

• The Cortina Dancehall in Falkenberg

• Nyckelhålet (The Keyhole) in Höllviken

• Glädjehuset in Stockholm

• Barbarella Disco in Växjö

• Racerbanan (The Speedway) in Anderstorp

While on tour AC/DC were supported by two Swedish schlager/dance bands called Chinox and Matz-Ronnies.

The show started at 8pm and the price was 20 Swedish Krona which is equivalent to just over three Australian dollars. Minimum age was 15 years, and you were required to wear clothes suitable for dancing.

AC/DC on that tour in 1976 had Bon Scott as their lead singer and their setlist comprised many of their early hits including Live Wire, She’s Got Balls, Problem Child, The Jack and High Voltage which they still perform at most concerts to this day.

Even though it was almost 50 years ago now, Danne Stråhed has many happy memories of opening for what would become of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

As AC/DC gears up for another explosive tour, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the hidden stories and unexpected connections forged in the band’s early years. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see Danne Stråhed take another shot at Eurovision—rocking just as hard as ever.

We hope to see Danne return to Melodifestivalen in the near future!

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