What ANGUS YOUNG Thinks About Fans Who Rejected AXL ROSE As AC/DC’s Singer

Summary

• Angus Young says Axl Rose was crucial to helping AC/DC finish their tour after Brian Johnson’s hearing issues.
• Axl suggested rare songs for live shows, and the band often played them on the fly.
• Brian Johnson returned for PWR/UP in 2020 thanks to experimental hearing tech, reuniting the classic lineup.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2021, guitarist Angus Young opened up about a moment that split fans of AC/DC, when Axl Rose stepped in as lead singer during their 2016 tour.

With Brian Johnson sidelined due to hearing issues, the band had to make a quick and very public decision. Young also shared details about Johnson’s return for the 2020 album PWR/UP.

“When Brian’s hearing got worse, doctors told him to stop performing. We had obligations, and I wasn’t interested in spending months arguing with lawyers. We needed a solution,” Young said. “Axl reached out, and he was incredibly professional. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Bringing in the Guns N’ Roses frontman wasn’t just a quick fix. It gave AC/DC room to explore some deep cuts from their catalog. “He remembered songs we hadn’t played in ages, or ever,” Young said. “Sometimes on the day of the show, he’d ask, ‘Can we play this one?’ I’d turn to my guitar tech, ask what the first chord was, and we’d go for it.”

While they found a rhythm on stage, any ideas about a full-time collaboration fizzled out quickly. “He had a lot on his plate. Nothing really came of it,” Young said.

Not all fans were on board with the swap. Some saw Axl’s presence as a betrayal or a bad fit. Angus doesn’t dismiss those reactions. “I get it. A lot of people saw it as a disaster. But Cliff [Williams] and I thought, ‘At least let’s finish what we committed to.’ We’ve never been a band built on public relations,” he explained.

Johnson’s return only became possible thanks to new hearing technology. “He was excited about how it was working. He kept me posted,” Young said. “When he told me he could record again, I knew we had a real shot at bringing the band back together.”

Getting the original lineup back wasn’t easy. Young reconnected with drummer Phil Rudd at Malcolm Young’s funeral, which he described as a somber but meaningful moment. As for bassist Cliff Williams, Young just asked: “If I do anything, would you want in?” Cliff said yes.

The conversation also turned to Back in Black, which marked its 40th anniversary and has sold over 50 million copies. Angus admitted he never expected that kind of impact. “We couldn’t even release it with the black cover we wanted. People thought it looked too dark. We recorded it in the Bahamas, and it wasn’t until after touring that we realized the album had taken off.”

As for why the record never hit number one in the U.S., Angus recalled Malcolm’s dry take on it: “If it hits number one, the only place left is down.”

Axl Rose didn’t become a permanent part of AC/DC, but Angus made it clear his help came at a crucial time. “He was essential to keeping the band going through one of our toughest periods,” Young said.

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