Axl Rose Confirmed As AC/DC Replacement

Welp. I just didn't believe the rumors, but here it is: a rep for AC/DC has apparently confirmed that Axl Rose will take over vocal duties from Brian Johnson. Johnson can't tour anymore because his hearing is nearly gone. Axl will help AC/DC finish their remaining tour dates. Here's the statement:

“AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures. As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian’s decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment.”

Comments

[Him]

Corporate gargle and a travesty. It reads like a curt dismissal and a snide (no less impersonal) toss off to a guy that helped get them back into the groove after Bon's death. Can you feel the passion in this line?

"We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures."

That's what things degrade to when you done the "long way to the top" thing. I guess Jim Breuer was right. Fancy that?!!?

AC/DC (LLC.) is (not) dead. Long live Geordie! I guess they wrote it and it fits: "Money talks, B.S. walks." Sad that they place Johnson in the latter category and their purported reputation in the former.

[Gary]

Fitting it's Axl replacing Brian in a perverse kind of way. Now Angus can run off Cliff Williams, then he can have a Chinese Democracy version of AC/DC,where its him and a load of talented sidemen on a meager salary. There's no doubt in my mind Axl will do a bang up job filling in for the rest of these cancelled shows,as Guns have covered AC/DC songs live in the past, and kicked ass with their versions. But after these shows I hope Angus hangs up the schoolboy outfit and retires the AC/DC brand,as he's doing nothing but tarnishing an iconic bands legacy.

[Rita]

Wow. I am speechless. Don't know what to say about this. Other than "Poor Brian".

[Bob]

Him, before I even saw your comment, I was thinking the same thing. That is one of the most impersonal statements I've ever read on behalf of a band, especially considering Johnson's 36 years of service to them -- to the point where he is nearly deaf. Johnson deserves way way better than that.

[Metalboy!]

I'm thinkin' there's gotta be another side to this... Johnson had to have done something other than go deaf to have gotten such a cold send off.

And you have to remember how Angus wound up in this situation... His original lead singer, Bon Scott, died from alcohol poisoning, his brother, Malcolm, to whom he was joined at the hip, basically went insane -- Okay, suffers from severe dementia... Phil Rudd, the "original" classic line-up drummer, got busted for meth and other sh*t, and now, Johnson was told by doctors to quit.

The current line-up has his nephew in Malcolm's shoes -- not just anyone -- and it's shoes he's filled before when Malcolm had to go on haitus to deal with a severe alcohol problem. The current drummer, Chris Slade, is no stranger to the band, having held that position from 1989 to 1994, most notably iconically captured in the "Thunderstruck" video.

And now this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e0yEI4E-j3c

Meta-HUUUUUGE!!!

Enjoy!

[Dj]

Like I said before, this would be cool as a one off type of thing, but it's not AC/DC...

[Metalboy!]

Wrong, DJ... As I've noted above, horrific twists and turns of the history of the band Sngus has to pull through makes it perfectly legit to get Axl Rose, albeit, no one else but him. Just as Johnson is a die hard fan, so is Axl. Keep on Rockin', Angus! Prove the naysayers wrong, AGAIN!!!

[Him]

Thanks Bob. The news in recent days has done nothing to dampen my opinion. I like Axl. I like Johnson. But I don't like this.

I think Fink (read more recent posts) has it right.

I have no issue with a band carrying on. So be it. But to place yourself in this sort of category smacks of nothing more than a moo-lah grab. It isn't about legacy at this point. It ends up being about tarnishing it. When you reduce yourself to the level of LA Guns (no offense) in a bid to keep on keeping on . . . well, that ain't rock (and I welcome any queries as to how this relates to other bands that carry on without original members).