Sitting in a photo studio in Hackney today, having spent the previous day sightseeing at the Tower Of London, the singer seems more self-assured than she used to be. And we don’t just mean back when TPR were starting out, but even five years ago, when they last released an album, 2021’s Death By Rock And Roll. This is the result, it turns out, of keeping the company of giants – on July 26, it will be the third birthday in a row Taylor has spent on tour with AC/DC.
“If you’d told the 15-year-old me that I’d end up being in a band that would be opening for AC/DC in stadiums across the world for years, I’d have said, ‘No way is that happening’,” she says now, laughing at her own understatement, before extolling the virtues of Live At Donington, the Aussie legends’ live film recorded at 1991’s Monsters Of Rock festival, in front of more than 70,000 people.
Almost three years on the road has transformed Acca Dacca from heroes/study subjects into close pals, allowing Taylor a peek behind the curtain of one of rock’s most notorious bands.
“They’re absolutely phenomenal,” she beams, relishing the opportunity to confirm they’re great guys. “They’re so kind. They’re so gracious. They’re so down to earth in the best possible way. Getting to watch an AC/DC show after you’ve played your own show, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Obviously, traversing the world with the authors of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Have A Drink On Me and Rock ‘N’ Roll Damnation raises expectations of some revelrous behaviour. But, apparently, the only beverage binged backstage is tea, and the only yarns spun are of the literal variety.
“I learned to crochet on tour with AC/DC,” Taylor proudly admits. “Someone from AC/DC taught me to.”
Hold the phone… someone from AC/DC’s camp taught you, or someone from AC/DC?!
Taylor thinks for a moment, aware she may be talking out of school.
“They’d kill me if I said who it was,” she laughs. “There is the rule that what happens on the road stays on the road, so let’s just go say someone in their camp… we’ll just go with that.”