BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For AC/DC fans about to rock ... Walmart salutes you! This weekend thousands of fans will converge in groups, stores and in special events for the release of Black Ice -- AC/DC's first album in eight years, coming to all Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations Monday, Oct. 20. The album will begin selling at 12:01 a.m. in 24-hour Walmart stores.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081017/LAF506A)

Since the original announcement for Black Ice, news on the band continues, including the recent announcement of a new U.S. concert tour and the advent of the unique AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band(R) Track Pack(TM) video game, also to be sold exclusively by Walmart and Sam's Club starting early November.

Now, upon the retail launch of Black Ice, Columbia Records and Walmart plan to give fans even more access to this legendary band. In each of its 3,500 Walmart stores, Walmart will create a "Rock Again AC/DC Store" within the store. While the new $11.88 Black Ice CD album holds centerstage, it will be surrounded by new AC/DC apparel, DVDs, past albums, games, and even a social gaming station for fans to try out their rock-n-roll skills on Rock Band.

In addition, Walmart and Columbia Records have partnered with MTV to create an "AC/DC Rock Band Store" in New York's Times Square and in Los Angeles to give fans in the these cities fast access to the band's newest items. These pop up stores will open 12:01 midnight Oct. 20 to begin selling the album, AC/DC apparel, the Rock Band video game, and Rock Band branded apparel and accessories.

Also new, Walmart has dispatched interactive Black Ice trucks on the streets of New York City and Los Angeles this week. Making new stops each day, the trucks fill the air with AC/DC music, invite fans to be the first to hear the new album before release, and allow players to demo the new AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band(R) Track Pack game on the truck's back stage. These trucks will also sell the album starting 12:01 a.m. Oct. 20.

Featuring 15 tracks, Black Ice is AC/DC's first album of all new material in eight years. It will be sold exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com, Sam's Club, samsclub.com, and acdc.com for $11.88, with free shipping online. Fans can go to walmart.com/acdc to preview tracks from the new CD, checkout new videos of the band, get information on the pop up store and Black Ice truck schedules, shop for apparel and more.

"Fans have waited more than eight years for a new record from AC/DC and finally the wait is over," said Columbia Records co-Chairman Steve Barnett. "The band has consistently delivered the kind of anthemic rock music that defines generations and 'Black Ice' continues in that tradition."

"We've turned up the volume to support what we know is one of this year's most awaited albums from one of the world's most popular bands," said Gary Severson, Wal-Mart's senior vice president of Entertainment. "This is the first time in our history where we've taken such a large area within our store to celebrate a legendary band, and we invite fans of all ages to come out with us and get ready to rock. Only at Walmart can you find all of these items together, easily and affordably, to celebrate their U.S. tour and music."

The "Rock Again AC/DC Store" provides music fans with unbeatable values on everything AC/DC, including:

    -- Exclusive Black Ice album
    -- More than nine varieties of AC/DC and Black Ice t-shirts
    -- AC/DC sleepwear and hats
    -- "No Bull: The Director's Cut" AC/DC DVD
    -- A wide selection of past albums, still some of the most popular
       catalogue music sold
    -- Rock Band 2
    -- Exclusive AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band(R) Track Pack (in November)

The AC/DC Rock Band stores will open Sunday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. The stores will be open through Jan. 4, 2009 in New York at the MTV Store in Times Square and at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles.

    Locations
    The MTV Store featuring AC/DC and Rock Band
    1515 Broadway
    New York, NY 10036

    AC/DC Rock Band Store -- LA
    6801 Hollywood Blvd (at Highland)
    Los Angeles, CA 90028

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)

Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at http://www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com.

SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.